MAFF official reaffirms commitment to expanding rubber sector
The Royal Government of Cambodia has reiterated its strong commitment to strengthening the country’s rubber sector, with senior agriculture official Prak David highlighting ongoing efforts to expand production, boost labour participation, and enhance competitiveness.
Speaking as the high representative of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina, Secretary of State Prak David addressed attendees at the opening ceremony of a national rubber tapping contest held in Memot district, Tboung Khmum province.
He said the annual event aims not only to showcase technical excellence but also to raise public awareness of rubber tapping as a viable and attractive profession.
According to David, the contest plays a critical role in encouraging more workers to join both industrial and family-run rubber farms, while also strengthening unity within the broader rubber community.
This year’s competition brought together more than 80 skilled participants from 10 provinces, including Kampong Cham, Tboung Khmum, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Ratanakkiri, Mondulkiri, Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey, Pursat and Pailin.
Organised for the second time through cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and Memot Rubber Farm Co Ltd, the event seeks to identify top-performing tappers and reward them with incentive prizes for 2025.
David noted that the experienced workers competing this year demonstrate the potential of the field to provide stable monthly and yearly incomes while serving as the foundation of the sector’s entire value chain.
Cambodia’s rubber industry continued to grow in 2024, producing 407,209 tonnes of natural rubber – a four percent increase compared to 2023. Export revenues from rubber and rubberwood exceeded $671.7 million.
A key development last year was a significant rise in domestic demand, driven by three newly established Chinese-owned tyre factories operating in the special economic zones of Sihanoukville, Svay Rieng and Kratie.
These factories absorbed more than 58,000 tonnes of locally produced rubber, resulting in a slight decline in raw latex exports despite overall production growth.
By the end of 2024, Cambodia had a total of 425,443 hectares of rubber plantations, of which around 78 percent – 330,359 hectares – were mature and ready for tapping. The Kingdom’s primary export markets include Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and China.
Officials say the government will continue supporting initiatives that modernise the sector, boost farmer incomes, and promote sustainable rubber production nationwide.
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