April 22, 2016
Cambodia seeks to end feed imports, boost local production
Cambodiacould eventually end the import of livestock and poultry feed from neighbouring countries once local animal husbandries and production meet optimal conditions.
Additionally, the country's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is educating and encouraging farmers to produce livestock feed at household and trade level, Ieng Sophalet, spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, said. This would not only improve local supply but living standards as well.
At the moment, strong demand at home is prompting continual imports from Vietnam and Thailand. The trade is important as the Cambodian feedindustry is still in the "intermediate stage", according to Sophalet.
"In the near future, we will depend on locally produced feed and will be able to stop importing from other countries," he said.
Stronger laws and regulations will be in place to control imports and prevent illegal entry of feeds.
The overall monthly demand for feed is 100,000 tonnes, with 55% sold in the open market and the rest produced and used by livestock producers themselves, based on a 2013 report by World Poultry.
- Khmer Times