Mango Driers to Boost Exports

KHMER TIMES
CHEA VANNAK



As part of ongoing efforts to boost exports of Cambodian mangoes, the Mong Riththy Group, an agro-industrial conglomerate that is heavily invested in the mango sector, announced yesterday that it was in negotiations to import drying machinery, which would greatly increase production of dried mango of a standard acceptable to foreign markets.

There is a demand for dried mango, especially from South Korea, which signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) last year to import mango from five Cambodian provinces, said Tan Monivan, vice president of Mong Riththy Group yesterday.

“As such, it makes sense to modernize and increase drying capabilities so that we can be ready to export dried mango,” said Mr. Monivan.

He said his company was speaking with companies in South Korea, Japan and in Europe about the machines, which cost up to $3 million each, although he declined to say how many the group was looking to import.

“We cannot set a specific number of machines we need right now,” Mr. Monivan said. “What is important now is we have to make [them] arrive first, and then we expect that [mango] exports will shortly follow.”

Hean Vanhan, under-secretary of state at the Agriculture Ministry, explained that the current limited exports of mangoes is directly linked to the lack of suitable drying machinery.

“It’s been a year already since the MoU was reached, but we still cannot export due to the lack of mango drying machines in the country,” he said, adding that it remained the final obstacle to be overcome before exports could begin.

Mr. Vanhan said that the government was working with mango farmers to ensure they are able to provide mangoes regularly to drying plants once the machinery has been installed.

“If we have the drying machines, but mangoes are not sent to them, it will push those investors who purchased the machines into bankruptcy,” he said.

Thailand, the Philippines and Taiwan are currently the top exporters of mangoes to South Korea, but Cambodia, with 65,000 hectares of mango plantations has been pushed to join the list. Last year, the country grew some 2.6 million tons of mangoes, but quality – and processing capabilities – remains an issue, with most exports ending up in Thailand and Vietnam where they fetch low prices.