Cambodia exported approximately 290,000 tons of fresh bananas in 2023, which is a decline of over 21% year-on-year, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
According to Hun Lak, CEO of Longmate Agriculture Co Ltd, the drop in exports was not due to reduced demand; he attributed it to climate change. He confirmed the accuracy of the report, noting that his company's banana exports to China had diminished due to lower yields harvested in 2023 compared to the year prior.
Lak added that when farms are impacted by severe weather phenomena like El Niño, which lead to soil moisture depletion due to water scarcity, it results in increased pest problems, rendering the use of pesticides less effective.
"The decline is due to output, not the market. Shipping costs remain reasonable, while expenses are not high. In general, climate change will become more problematic in the future, making the direct agricultural sector more vulnerable. This is why global intervention is necessary because the issue affects not only Cambodia but the entire world," he explained.
Source: phnompenhpost.com
