Vietnamese urged to establish K Speu soil nutrient plant
KAMPONG Speu provincial governor Vei Samnang has requested Vietnamese authorities to establish a fertiliser factory in the province, aiming to facilitate local farmers in obtaining nutritional soil inputs at reasonable prices and to create additional job opportunities for Cambodians.
The governor made the proposal during a visit to the Nha May Phan Bon Truong Xuan factory in Vinh Long province, Vietnam, alongside Yim Sokhom, chair of the Kampong Speu provincial council, on January 28, ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, also known as Spring Festival.
He noted that the reciprocal visits between the two provinces occur annually, coinciding with the Spring Festival and the Khmer New Year, respectively.
Samnang requested Vietnamese assistance in improving the living conditions and livelihoods of over 220,000 Cambodians residing in Vietnam.
He also suggested the establishment of a facility in Kampong Speu for producing and processing nutrient inputs, drawing inspiration from Vinh Long’s natural fertiliser production line.
“According to the report from Vinh Long’s … factory, approximately 300 tonnes of fertiliser were exported to Kampong Speu last year. I proposed that the Vietnamese reconsider the logistics of transporting fertiliser from Vietnam to Cambodia and instead establish a … factory in our province. We have abundant … raw materials such as manure, straw and other plants suitable for creating organic fertiliser,” he told reporters.
The factory responded positively, agreeing to conduct a detailed study after the upcoming Lunar New Year, which falls on February 10 this year.
Yang Saing Koma, secretary of state at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, commented on the country’s heavy reliance on imported soil nutrients.
He said the dependence, coupled with modest domestic agricultural production, could impact the prices and production costs for farmers.
To address this, Saing Koma noted that the ministry has been encouraging private sector involvement in domestic production.
“Our agricultural officials, soon visiting communes across the country, will assist farmers with various issues, including how to produce organic fertiliser independently. This will help in cutting down the costs associated with agricultural fertilisers and pesticides,” he said.
According to a report from the Ministry of Commerce, the Kingdom imported fertilisers worth nearly $235 million in the first nine months of 2023, an increase of over 18 per cent from the previous year. Imports of pesticides or herbicides amounted to more than $120 million, showing a nearly 30 per cent decrease from 2022.