The Cambodian agricultural sector, particularly the husbandry of animals such as pigs, chickens and ducks, has grown because of regulations and policies directed from the central government, according to Srun Pov, president of the Cambodian Breeders Association.

Because of the spread of Covid-19 and the consequent adverse economic effects on the agricultural sector, the government has encouraged special lending programmes through the Development and Agricultural Bank of Cambodia, as well as  other lending institutions, to small and medium enterprises. This has enabled the agricultural and livestock sector to grow.

Tan Phannara, director general of the general directorate of animal health and production at the Ministry of Agricuture, Forestry and Fisheries, said before the pandemic the country was reliant on the import of pigs, but the significant increase in domestic livestock production had reduced that necessity to a minimum. Cambodia previously spent  roughly $400 million annually on pork imports, averaging around 8,000 pigs per day, specifically from Thailand and Vietnam.

Reducing Cambodia’s reliance on imports was necessitated also by the resurgence of African Swine Fever (ASF), in the region. Vietnam has suffered several ASF outbreak, most recently on May 4. It was forced to cull 43,150 pigs between January and August 2020. The resulting reduction in production raised the price of pork in Cambodia.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has forbidden the illegal importation of pigs, pork and pork-based products to avoid the spread of ASF to Cambodian pigs, particularly from areas bordering Vietnam.

• Tags: agricultural, husbandry