Rural rules: Agriculture reforms on the table

THE Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has begun finalising a draft law which will prohibit imports of low quality agricultural products – including some chemical fertilisers and pesticides – in order to boost farming yields.

“After the law comes into effect, we will be better able to control the quality of imports, in the interest of both farmers and traders,” according to Sokhan Rithykun, director at the Department of Agriculture.

After receiving the ministry’s ascent, the law would be sent to the Council of Ministers for approval, he said.

The draft law calls for a ban of low-quality agricultural materials from being imported to the Kingdom, according to a copy obtained by The Post. Presently, the quality of some imported products, such as chemical pesticides and fertilisers, were not effectively managed, according to Yang Saing Koma, director at the Cambodian Centre for Study and Development in Agriculture.

“That’s why we support this draft – we hope it will enable farmers to access higher quality imports,” he said.

An Sam Un, a representative for farmers in Svay Rieng, said the current uncontrolled use of low-quality chemical pesticides and fertilisers seriously affected rice production.
(source from the phnompenhpost newspaper,Friday, 19 November 2010 15:01 Chun Sophal)