PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's diesel price on Wednesday (April 1) reached double its level at the start of the Middle East conflict after the latest government increase, official figures showed, raising concerns among farmers ahead of ploughing season.
The price rose to 7,500 riel (US$1.88) per litre as of midnight Wednesday, up from 7,200 the previous day and 3,750 in late February, the commerce ministry said in a statement.
The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering a regional conflict that has caused global oil and gas prices to surge and sparked fears of fuel shortages, especially in import-reliant Asia.
A litre of regular gasoline in Cambodia now costs 5,450 riel, up from around 3,750 in late February, the commerce ministry said.
The South-East Asian nation relies totally on imports for its consumer fuel, and the government caps oil and gasoline prices.
Bun Thoeun, 71, in Battambang -- a major rice-producing province bordering Thailand -- said that the surging fuel price was worrying farmers like him.
"The high price of diesel has put farmers in a difficult situation," said Bun Thoeun, who owns a homemade tractor that runs on diesel.
The local price to rent a tractor to plough rice fields has nearly doubled, from 80,000 riel to 150,000, he said.
Farmers would begin ploughing from May, he added.
Diesel is also needed to fuel water pumps to irrigate paddy fields, he added.
"We hope there will be a lot of rain; that would help." - AFP
