Background
This clarification was issued in response to a report by The Nation Thailand referencing the USDA Rice Outlook – February 2026, which attributed Cambodia’s rice production growth to increased use of hybrid rice and chemical fertilizers. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) aims to correct inaccuracies in this external reporting.
Scope of Application
The clarification covers Cambodia’s rice production growth in 2025 and the factors influencing it, including agricultural inputs, rice varieties used, and fertilizer import data.
Key Provisions or Decisions
- Cambodia does not adopt hybrid rice varieties; rather, improved non-hybrid varieties are used.
- Rice production increased by approximately 1 million tons in 2025 due to expanded cultivation areas, enhanced farming techniques and pest management, favorable rainfall distribution, and successful climate impact mitigation.
- Fertilizer imports declined slightly in 2025, indicating that increased fertilizer use was not a driver of production growth.
- Misrepresentation of fertilizer use as “chemical fertilizer” by external media is explicitly rejected to avoid negative perceptions toward Cambodian farmers and markets.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
This clarification supports accurate understanding of Cambodia’s agricultural production drivers, informing market participants, policymakers, and agricultural development stakeholders. It underscores the importance of relying on official data for assessments related to agricultural input use and production trends.
Official Source
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Facebook Post, 27 February 2026
