Cassava leaves farmers struggling
Cassava prices rose this month compared with a few months ago due to limited supply, but the market for cassava is uncertain. Sorn Yin, the president of Malai Trading that collects cassava in Banteay Meanchey province and sells to Thailand, said that despite the price rising slightly, farmers are still struggling to pay higher costs, especially debts to banks because it is not the full harvesting season. “Right now cassava is not harvested much. Harvesting waits until January to get into full swing and we are near Thailand, so this is our export market,” Mr. Yin said. “Thailand allows us to export only dry cassava, but not fresh, because they are worried about their own cassava price. “Thai merchants buy cassava from us, then they export directly to China,” he said. The price was traded in Thai currency because trading took place near Thailand. Dry cassava is priced from 554 to 565 riel (about $0.15) per kilogram and fresh cassava is priced from 170 to 205 riel (about $0.05). Last month it was about 508 riel for the dry version and 136 riel for the fresh one, Mr. Yin said.
