Following successful trials, two new disease resistant, high-yield species of cassava and rice have been approved for use and distribution.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries formally approved the release of the TMEB419 cassava and the Sro Nge rice variety, following a final evaluation meeting, held on September 29.
The meeting was chaired by ministry secretary of state Touch Bun Hour, who heads the Cambodian Varietal Recommendation Committee (CVRC).
According to the ministry, from 2022 to 2024, the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the General Department of Agriculture conducted multi-location trials across eight sites in the provinces of Preah Vihear, Kratie, Tbong Khmum, Kampong Cham, Banteay Meanchey and Oddar Meanchey.
Through trials at farmer stations and field day showcases, CARDI identified and selected the TMEB419 cassava variety as the best performer. This variety has strong upright stems, an average yield of 25 to 45 tonnes per hectare, a high starch content of 19–25%, and notable resistance to cassava mosaic disease and brown streak disease. It is also well-suited to Cambodia’s cultivation conditions.
Regarding the Sro Nge rice variety, the ministry explained that it was developed by the AMRU RICE Company who selected and refined traditional strains from several provinces. The company collected the Sro Nge, light Sro Nge (Srov Sro Nge Sral) and Kramom Chen varieties, originally sourced from Ous Touk village, Kampong Preang commune, Sangke district, Battambang province. This rice type is in high demand, has an established market, and is favoured by farmers for cultivation and export to neighbouring countries.
Based on seasonal field trials over two cropping periods — the 2024 rainy season and the 2024–2025 dry season — agronomists selected the Sro Nge variety in line 05 for early-season farmer trials in the 2025 rainy season, in order to monitor its economic performance and profitability.
Trials showed that this rice variety has a short growth cycle of 87 to 90 days, produces soft, aromatic rice, and is resistant to stem borer pests and brown planthopper. It also demonstrated high tolerance to Blast disease and yielded 6 to 6.5 tonnes per hectare.
“As a result of the evaluation meeting, the CVRC unanimously approved the release of the TMEB419 cassava variety as proposed by CARDI, and the Sro Nge variety of the AMRU RICE Company, for use and distribution,” the ministry stated.
