The Philippines and Cambodia have forged a strategic partnership designed to help boost rice production in the country and agricultural trade between them.
The two nations’ partnership forms part of the Philippines’ food security strategy and targets under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s administration. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the memorandum of understanding (MOU) will allow exploration of agricultural cooperation options, that will help ensure Philippine food security.
The MOU was signed on February 11 during the official visit of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet to the Philippines.
Under the partnership, the DA will look into possible trade opportunities with Cambodia alongside other collaborations in “agricultural planning, animal feed development, animal health protection, irrigation management, and agricultural marketing systems,” as well as the “non-geographical Indication-protected plant commodities” exchange for innovation.
Exploration will include possible trade in rice, vegetables, and meat, according to the DA. Laurel said “Cambodia will gradually be an important agricultural trading partner as the country diversifies its markets, particularly for rice.”
In 2023, the trade between the Philippines and Cambodia hit USD80.50 million, with USD20.40 million recorded for agricultural trade, Philippine Statistics Authority figures show.