China offers cassava hope
Cambodia has marked its first Cassava Day with expectations of greater exports to China, one of the world’s big markets for the tuberous root. Speaking at the celebration in Battambang province on Monday, Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak said the government is speeding up exports of cassava products to China after the countries reached general specialized preference and sanitary and phyto-sanitary agreements. Thailand and Vietnam are currently the main markets for cassava exports, he said. Exports to China will add more markets for cassava at competitive prices. Cambodia’s cassava products are already in China’s markets but in small amounts which traders export directly and indirectly, said Hean Vanhan, director-general of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ general directorate of agriculture.
