Farmers in Kampong Thom province’s Baray Taing Kork Modern Agricultural Community have elected to plant the Sen Kra’op 01 fragrant rice variety. They now earn more than one million riel per hectare more than those cultivating the common OM rice variety.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported the success of the new crop on Tuesday, July 22, a day after agriculture minister Dith Tina inspected the community’s harvest.
“This profit margin was achieved through collective organisation as a modern agricultural community, strategic seed selection and pre-arranged contract farming agreements,” the ministry explained.
Currently, Sen Kra’op 01 rice sells for 1,270 riel per kilogramme. Farming as a collective ensures a market is secured in advance and significantly reduces production costs, especially in fertiliser expenses — down to 30,000 riel per sack, compared to higher costs faced by individual farmers.
Tina stated that in the past, when rice prices dropped, farmers in the district grew concerned because they had been planting the OM rice variety, which did not yield favourable prices — especially now that global production has recovered following the El Niño climate event, which previously affected rice output in other countries.
“Since prices returned to normal in early 2025, we’ve informed the farmers that if you want to increase your profits, you must adapt. First, by switching rice varieties, and second, by organising into modern agricultural communities. Both are equally important. The farmers here in Baray are leading the way,” he said.
He explained that the community first started by switching rice varieties, with the ministry supporting them by providing Sen Kra’op 01 seeds and fertiliser. The switch has produced excellent results, with both high market prices and strong yields — over 4 tonnes per hectare. In this second harvest, Sen Kra’op rice is selling for up to 1,270 riel per kilogramme, while OM rice sells for only 840 to 850 riel per kilogramme.
Ministry spokesperson Khim Finan said that the next planting season will see new members joining the community, with total production area expected to expand from 1,000 hectares to more than 5,000 hectares from 178 families.
Tina emphasised the benefits of forming modern agricultural communities, using strategic Cambodian rice varieties and entering pre-sale contract agreements. He also encouraged the community to develop clear plans for the upcoming season, particularly by preparing capital, seeds and market access in advance.
Tina congratulated the Baray Taing Kork community on its achievements, adding that the ministry will continue to support and promote the growth and sustainability of modern agricultural communities, with the goal of improving farmers’ livelihoods.
It will also collaborate with the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology to develop a master irrigation system, ensuring that rice production in the area has an adequate and reliable water supply to meet their needs.
