Price of corn to increase due to new Thai government policy

The prices will also shoot up due to a reduced supply of corn, said Cambodian officials in provinces bordering Thailand.

A report of the Bangkok Post has revealed that the Thai cabinet has approved the import of 450,000 tonnes of tariff-free maize from Cambodia and Laos.

Cambodian farmers, however, greeted the new policy warily, expressing doubts as to the effectiveness of the price raise.

According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Cambodian farmers planted 184,872ha of corn across the country and cultivated about 770,860 tonnes of corn in 2012, with Battambang, Preah Vihear, Kan­dal, Kampong Cham, Pai­lin, Banteay Meanchey and Pursat provinces leading in production.

Data from the Ministry of Commerce showed that Cambodia’s total corn exports dropped 42.21 per cent to 20,443.66 tonnes in 2012 from 35,381.63 tonnes in 2011.