Cambodian rice to achieve worldwide fame, new CRF president promises

Cambodian rice will be recognised around the world for its quality and sustainability, the newly-elected president of the Cambodia Rice Federation has promised.

Song Saran, CEO of Amru Rice and now also president of CRF, said last week during CRF’s annual meeting and election ceremony that he aims to turn the rice sector into a sustainable and competitive industry that improves the lives of all involved.

Mr Saran, who will hold the new position until 2022, said the federation should be run as a public-private-producer partnership, and that modernising the industry, diversifying markets and enhancing access to finance will be prioritised.

“In the decade ahead, I believe the most important challenges for the sector will be globalisation, digitalisation, populism, and protectionism. These have the potential to negatively impact low-income producers and farmers as well as the competitiveness of the sector,” Mr Saran said.

“[To overcome these challenges], we must work closely with all stakeholders, including government agencies, non-government agencies, local and international institutions, agriculture cooperatives, and the private sector, particularly rice millers, to improve the competitiveness of the value chain, from the farm to the market, and create innovation, extra value and new products,” he said.

The Cambodian Rice Federation was established in 2014 with 213 member representing exporters, farmers and millers. The number of members has now reached 292.

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