Holy cow! Nation’s new dairy industry may be moo-ving on

            A dairy farm in Cambodia. Local milk has found a market.  KT/Chor Sokunthea

The call was made yesterday at a meeting between the Agriculture Minister and Alexandre Huynh, FAO country representative, in Cambodia to discuss development support projects for the Kingdom up to 2023 and to develop the agriculture sector in Cambodia.

Minister of Agriculture Veng Sakhon said that dairy cows can provide valuable nutrients, especially for children.

He said that good cooperation with the FAO has promoted the livelihoods and living standards of the Cambodian people.

He believed that the FAO is still a good partner to work with the Cambodian government to achieve the long-term vision of Cambodia by transforming it to a medium-income country in 2030 and high-income country by 2050.

FAO’s representative Huynh agreed with the agriculture minister and said that he will seek the possibility of providing cooperation. He said that the FAO continues to provide the support of the Ministry to jointly develop the agriculture sector in Cambodia.

Huynh explained the FAO’s supporting development programme 2019-2023, outlining two main drives. One focuses on adapting to climate change and the resilience of the fisheries community along the coastal areas. It  has a $4.3 million fund. The second is a $10 million programme to boost the capacity and livelihood of rice farmers along the Tonle Sap Lake, which is badly affected by climate change.

Hean Vanhan, secretary of state of the Ministry of Agriculture, told Khmer Times that local fresh milk farm production is one of the priority sectors for the Ministry of Agriculture. He said that it is not only the fresh milk, but some other local products that are serving the domestic market and reducing imported products to boost the national economy.

“In general, the FAO will facilitate and support the government’s policy or the ministry’s priority sector if the minister of agriculture told them it is a necessary sector or production. Fresh milk is one of our priorities to focus on,” Hean added.

Loem Sophanmai, administration officer at the Royal Academy of Cambodia Techo Sen Russey Trep Park in Preah Vihear province, which produces the fresh milk to supply the domestic market, told Khmer Times that there is demand for fresh local milk in the market.

She said that the farm, which has 100 cows, produced fresh milk of around 500-600 litres per day. Loem added the milk is exported to Phnom Penh capital city. “We sold the fresh milk exclusively to a company and they bring it to sell in the market,” Loem added.

“We produce fresh milk complying with the required standards so that we comply with the best quality. Our fresh milk is sold at $2.5 per litre,” she added. “Our leader is considering whether to import more cows from Thailand to meet the high demand,” she added.

Loem said there is tough competition in the market because it is a new product that faces difficulties in competing with imported products, but research conducted by Khmer Times shows there is still support from local people because it is 100 percent purified fresh milk.