08 April 2008
By Ky Soklim
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Prime minister Hun Sen changed his mind on his previous decision to ban the export of Cambodian rice to Vietnam without providing any explanation.
Hun Sen’s (previous) announce (on the ban of rice export) was done to make it memorable. Less than 2 weeks ago, when the price of rice reached a new high, Hun Sen announced a 2-month ban on rice export.
But now, at the express request of Cham Prasidh, the minister of Commerce, Hun Sen just authorized farmers from three provinces – Takeo, Kandal and Prey Veng – to continue their export of rice paddy (unhusked rice) to Vietnam.
The reason for this u-turn remains unclear. To some, this was done so as not to penalize farmers who will have to stock rice from the rainy (KI-Media: CSD indicated “dry”) season crop – at a time when the price of rice is at its highest – and resell them back a few months later, when the price is lower because of the availability of the new (dry season) crop.
For now, farmers from other provinces who are still under Hun Sen’s export ban order, did not react yet.
Hun Sen’s (previous) announce (on the ban of rice export) was done to make it memorable. Less than 2 weeks ago, when the price of rice reached a new high, Hun Sen announced a 2-month ban on rice export.
But now, at the express request of Cham Prasidh, the minister of Commerce, Hun Sen just authorized farmers from three provinces – Takeo, Kandal and Prey Veng – to continue their export of rice paddy (unhusked rice) to Vietnam.
The reason for this u-turn remains unclear. To some, this was done so as not to penalize farmers who will have to stock rice from the rainy (KI-Media: CSD indicated “dry”) season crop – at a time when the price of rice is at its highest – and resell them back a few months later, when the price is lower because of the availability of the new (dry season) crop.
For now, farmers from other provinces who are still under Hun Sen’s export ban order, did not react yet.
