AKP Phnom Penh, November 25, 2025 --

Farmers in Banteay Neang commune, Mongkul Borei district, Banteay Meanchey province, are exploring the formation of a modern agricultural community (MAC) to significantly boost production, standardise practices, and secure better access to markets, a senior Ministry of Agriculture official confirmed on Nov. 24.

H.E. Khim Finan, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), stated that discussions are underway among the local irrigation-based farming community to reorganise themselves into a formalised, modern agricultural cooperative.

The proposed MAC would encompass approximately 800 farming households currently cultivating around 1,000 hectares of land within an existing irrigation network.

"Should all farmers agree to consolidate into a modern agricultural community, they stand to benefit from reduced production costs, strengthened market support, access to improved technologies, and better financing mechanisms," H.E. Finan noted.

A modern agricultural community functions like a traditional cooperative but emphasises large-scale, collective output. Members pool resources, adopt uniform standards for quality and cultivation, and jointly manage operations to achieve higher efficiency and international competitiveness.

The Undersecretary of State cautioned that while the framework is being considered, the farmers have not yet specified which specific crops will be prioritised for collective production under the new model.

This initiative aligns with MAFF’s broader strategy to modernise and professionalise Cambodia’s agricultural sector, moving away from subsistence farming toward commercially viable, export-ready operations.

By K. Rithy Reak