Cambodia’s second Rice Festival opened in Phnom Penh on November 18 to boost rice production, processing and trade.

The three-day event features a display of Cambodia ’s key rice varieties, trade promotion seminars and a programme to evaluate rice quality.

With more than 80 percent of the population involving in the agricultural sector, rice production is considered as one of the pillars of the Cambodian economy.

In 2013, Cambodia produced 9.4 million tonnes of unhusked rice, with over 3 million tonnes for export. Especially, its jasmine rice has been twice named the best in the world in Indonesia and Hong Kong (China).

The country sets a target of exporting 1 million tonnes of rice in 2015.-VNA