“Land is a granary. You should not sell it”27 February 2008
By Ky Soklim
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Experts are concerned about the progressive disappearance of cultivable lands. The minister of agriculture issued a warning to farmers, advising them against selling their lands.
During a visit to Takeo, Chan Sarun, the minister of agriculture, called on farmers to resist from the temptation of money and to preserve their lands. He said that he is concerned that the pursuit of consumer products will push more and more farmers to get rid of cultivable lands to buy for themselves TV, radio sets, or motorbikes with the money they earn.
This call follows the concerns expressed recently in a report issued by agriculture experts. The latter insist on alerting the government about the upcoming dangers created by a progressive disappearance of cultivable lands which are currently under strong land speculation influence from investors.
“Agriculture land is a granary in which money lies dormant. You should not sell it because it will bring income to you year in year out, and with this money, you can buy material things to help you live better and work better. If you sell it, you will get money only once, then it will all be gone. If you sell all your lands, you will no longer produce rice. Rice does not come from the sky,” Chan Sarun tried to explain, adding that the price of lands will continue to rise in Takeo in the upcoming years.
During a visit to Takeo, Chan Sarun, the minister of agriculture, called on farmers to resist from the temptation of money and to preserve their lands. He said that he is concerned that the pursuit of consumer products will push more and more farmers to get rid of cultivable lands to buy for themselves TV, radio sets, or motorbikes with the money they earn.
This call follows the concerns expressed recently in a report issued by agriculture experts. The latter insist on alerting the government about the upcoming dangers created by a progressive disappearance of cultivable lands which are currently under strong land speculation influence from investors.
“Agriculture land is a granary in which money lies dormant. You should not sell it because it will bring income to you year in year out, and with this money, you can buy material things to help you live better and work better. If you sell it, you will get money only once, then it will all be gone. If you sell all your lands, you will no longer produce rice. Rice does not come from the sky,” Chan Sarun tried to explain, adding that the price of lands will continue to rise in Takeo in the upcoming years.
