Cambodia - Agriculture



Cambodia Agriculture 2027
Photo by: Siegfried Schnepf

Because of the lack of natural resources and the primitive industrial base in Cambodia, agriculture is the key sector in the economy. Arable land amounted to 3,807,000 hectares (9,007,000 acres) in 1998, or 22% of the total land area. In 2001, agriculture accounted for 50% of GDP and engaged 80% of the economically active population.

Rice provides the staple diet and prior to 1970 was Cambodia's major export, along with rubber. Production peaked at 3,200,000 tons in 1968; it began falling because of the expansion of the war and by 1974 had declined to 635,000 tons, but had risen back to 2,155,000 tons in 1990. Production in 1999 totaled 3,800,000 tons from 1,961,000 ha (4,846,000 acres).

Upon coming to power in April 1975, the Pol Pot regime embarked on a major rice production program, but the highest output achieved was only 1,800,000 tons in 1976 and in 1977; civil war, holocaust, and the Vietnamese invasion lowered the rice harvest in 1979 to one million tons. During the 1980s, rice production gradually increased, from about 1,564,000 tons in 1980–81 to an estimated 1,680,000 tons in 1985/86. During the mid–1980s the Khmer Rouge government attempted to stimulate production by delaying its plans for collectivization of the countryside. In 1989, the new government returned agricultural land to the tiller, which significantly boosted food production; average annual production in 1989–91 was 2,524,000 tons.

Rubber has traditionally been the second most important agricultural crop. However, rubber plantings, which covered 48,000 hectares (119,000 acres) in 1969, were almost completely destroyed by the end of 1971. Production, up to 51,100 tons in 1969, declined to virtually nil in 1971, recovering to about 16,000 tons in 1974. The Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge governments continued efforts to revive the rubber industry, the latter with aid from the former USSR and GDR. Recovery has been uneven and slow, however, and reached 40,000 tons in 1999. Other crops, with 1999 production levels, are: coconuts (56,000 tons), corn (50,000 tons), soybeans (28,000 tons), sweet potatoes (25,000 tons), dry beans (11,000 tons), cassava (68,000 tons), tobacco (10,000 tons), and peanuts (7,000 tons).

Also read article about Cambodia from Wikipedia

User Contributions:

1
joseph
This helped alot ,thanks i had to do a school project
2
Saran
It is nice to read it because i could see all information from long time ago. But it seems not up date because some data which found by NGOs not describe here so it is better for all if you could up date it.

Thanks
3
John
thanx this helped a little again thanx for the info
4
shannen
Great. I needed this exact info for my skool project!! Once again GREAT!!
5
Tom
This information help me alots. This is a very nice Web.
I was looking for many webs, but not the same this web.

If the Information build with pictures of the Products, it would be batter.
6
Cheng bo
I want ot know about agriculture because I need some document for thisis
finish graduate in Royal university, and some data related agriculture or agriculture section.
7
CHHON SITHORN
i want to know about agriculture because On Tuesday i will presentation.and I will must know about agriculture.
Goodbye see you again!
1. What percentage of population of Cambodia do you estimated to be involved in agriculture?
2. How does this compare to the past?
3. How do the incomes of farmers in Cambodia compare with the incomes of people working in other sectors of the economy?
4. What do you think are the main problems faced by farmers in Cambodia?
5. How do you see the future for Cambodia’s farmers?
This really helps with work.It is so hard without a good website to use.
10
Panchapor
can u tell how can to solve agriculture problem in Cambodia?
I need it coz I need it to make my presentation this week.pls feedback ASAP
11
Ath Sokbovin
This information is very existing. I learned a lot from this. Great
12
Sierra
Good information on an report...but dont tell teacher about it lol.But its a good site for a country.
13
jamal ahmed
This is a really good website. This website really help me out for collect my thesis about agriculture research on Cambodia.

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: