Organic vegetable and chemical vegetable from neighboring countries

Most of vegetables are imported from neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Thailand in order to distribute in Cambodia market. A massive importation of vegetable from those countries is because Cambodian farmers cannot supply domestic-planted vegetable to local market such as restaurants, and hotels.

Generally, it is noticed that most vegetable bought from neighboring countries are used pesticide and chemicals that are affecting Cambodian people and consumers in Cambodia. That is the matter that the Cambodia government has to take immediate action against chemical vegetables imported within Cambodia market.

What is important is that the government has to encourage local farmers to plant vegetable which is used natural fertilizers instead of pesticides and chemicals. We know that most of restaurants and hotels really need regular supply for their business if the supply cannot meet their demand. They will find out oversea suppliers.

Organic vegetable production has many advantages for farmers - especially in developing countries. Expensive fertilizers and pesticides don’t have to be bought or even imported. Seeds can be produced by local farmers themselves. But the farmers’ knowledge about organic production is usually limited. In order to fill this gap the NGO CEDAC (Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture) organizes trainings in which farmers learn the skills of organic production.