The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has called for increased private sector investment in longan processing for export, as the kingdom seeks to negotiate market access with phytosanitary authorities in a number of countries.
The move intends to broaden markets for local longan growers struggling to sell their produce to traders, processors and exporters, which are significantly bogged down by plant-protection barriers and a raft of other obstacles posed by the pandemic.
The ministry said in a letter on August 20 that Pailin longan are a restricted commodity subject to phytosanitary barriers. This, it said, requires Cambodian phytosanitary authorities to negotiate deals in advance for market access with counterparts in other countries, who must assess biosecurity risks posed by pests associated with the fruit.
The ministry called on the private sector, the agricultural community, relevant institutions and the public to join its drive to stimulate fresh longan exports, by investing in the necessary infrastructure and expand existing facilities, so that more fruit can be bought to process for export.
