PHNOM PENH: (Bernama) Cambodian farmers are transforming cassava cultivation into a lucrative industry in a big boost to the rural economy and the agriculture sector.
Once considered a subsistence crop, the lifeless, weather-beaten cassava are being converted into a multi-billion-ringgit export industry for the kingdom.
Cambodian smallholders produced nearly 16 million metric tonnes of cassava last year. Exports of fresh and dried cassava and cassava starch were valued at about US$690 million (RM2.7 billion) in 2025.
"The kingdom is blessed with large, fertile land suitable for growing various crops, including cassava. Naturally, it is favourable, and farmers are more motivated to farm rather than migrating abroad (to work),” Cambodian Cassava Federation Chairman Chray Son told Bernama.
The Cambodian Commerce Ministry’s February iTrade bulletin titled "Exploring the potential of Cassava Products in Cambodia” said the variety grown by local farmers contains high starch that is easy to cultivate, disease-resistant, and high-yielding.
Cassava is now ranked the second most important export crop after rice in the kingdom. Other prominent crops cultivated on a large scale are cashew nuts, palm sugar, rubber, pepper, mangoes, and bananas.
Cambodia’s tropical weather, plenty of sunshine, and heavy rainfall allow this hardy crop to be grown in nearly all the provinces.
Cultivated areas expanded from 663,929 hectares in 2020 to 774,843 hectares last year. The average yield per acre is about 20 tonnes.
"The federation supports farmers in the cultivation techniques, use of good quality varieties that are resistant to diseases and weather. Crops are high in powder and have the standard quality required by factories and buyers,” said Chray.
Cambodia is now a leading exporter of fresh and dried cassava and is the fourth largest exporter of cassava starch in the world, with export earnings of about US$28 million (RM110 million).
According to the bulletin, cassava exports could reach $1.2 billion (RM4.7 billion) by 2030, and cassava starch exports could hit $26 million (RM102 million).
Globally, there is a high demand for cassava waste. They are used as animal feed, fertilisers, biotechnological products, and biogas. High-quality liquid glucose can also be derived from the crop, said industry experts.
However, this year, there could be a slight drop in production due to the scorching heat, according to the federation.
"It is estimated that there will be a slight decrease to about 15 million metric tonnes. Very hot summers can have some side effects, with extreme heat causing the death of the cassava plants in some areas,” said Chray.
Cambodia is striving to become a major producer of cassava and its byproducts for the global market, where there is steady demand for crop-based products, especially from China. Chinese demand for cassava pellets as an animal feed and biofuel remains robust, according to experts.
Southeast Asia’s cassava production is a fairly competitive trade with Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam growers dominating the segment. Thailand, which exports 30 million metric tonnes, is the world’s third largest producer. Vietnam’s output is about 18 million metric tonnes, while Indonesia produces 17 million metric tonnes. - Bernama
