Ministry pushing mango exports

KHMER TIMES
SUM MANET



The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is pushing mango farmers to increase their knowledge of growing the fruit before exporting to South Korea in an effort to boost production.

Hean Vanhorn, deputy director general at the ministry, said at a workshop in Kampong Speu province yesterday that the ministry is fulfilling its mission of finding markets for the kingdom’s agricultural products.

The ministry is inspiring, encouraging and providing guidance to farmers to boost the country’s exports of fresh mangoes to South Korea, added Mr. Vanhorn.

“This workshop was attended by farmers and mango plantation owners – about 180 people who will receive guidance from expert officials of the general department of agriculture,” he said.

“[We will talk] about technical measures used in the cultivation, harvesting, processing, packing and export of fresh mangoes that will comply with the hygiene and sanitation conditions as set by our South Korea counterpart.”

South Korea has not placed a limit on the amount of mangoes it will import from Cambodia but requires suppliers to upgrade their processing facilities by installing steaming technology to eradicate insects that may be on the fruit or inside packaging.

Last year, mango growers had access to the South Korean market following an agreement signed between officials from South Korea and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).

Mong Reththy, known as the king of agriculture in Cambodia, said that his Mong Reththy Group had recently purchased, collected and organized the packing of about 6,500 kilograms of mangoes from growers in Oddar Meanchey province’s O’Smach town to ship to Paris.

“We currently export once a week. Because of the good quality of Cambodian mangoes, distributors in France have suggested that we double the number of flights each month to the equivalent quantity of 52,000 kilograms of mangoes.”