(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) issued a clarification following a report by The Nation Thailand on Cambodia’s rice production growth in 2025.

According to Khim Finan, Under Secretary of State and Spokesperson for the MAFF, the Nation Thailand recently reported on the USDA Rice Outlook – February 2026, which concluded that Cambodia’s rice production growth was attributed to increased use of fertilizer and the adoption of hybrid rice varieties. In its coverage, The Nation Thailand explicitly added the term "chemical fertilizer," which is a significant deviation from the original USDA report.

The spokesperson underlined that such misrepresentation creates a negative perception regarding the use of agricultural inputs and could adversely affect Cambodian farmers and our agricultural markets.

Khim Finan further clarified that Cambodia does not adopt hybrid rice. Cambodia’s agricultural development relies on long-standing, improved non-hybrid varieties.

The spokesperson underscored that Cambodia's rice production increased by approximately 1 million tons in 2025. This growth is the result of expanded cultivation areas, improved farming techniques and pest management, favorable rainfall distribution, and successful mitigation of climate impacts. It is not driven by the cultivation of hybrid varieties or an increase in agricultural fertilizer use, he added.

Official data indicated that Cambodia's fertilizer imports actually declined slightly in 2025, said the spokesperson.
=FRESH NEWS