Economy

Rubber Tree

In an effort to entice foreign investment, the province is offering generous business concessions to those who wish to invest in rubber plantations inside the country. Kampong Cham and Kratie have an abundance of red soil and water resources, which create ideal conditions for the        cultivation of rubber.

Generally, the people make their living from rubber and cashew nut plantation, fishing, rice farming and producing a rich array of fruits in fertile orchards, including durian, rambutans and lychees.

 Paddy Rice

Kampong Cham Province produces a surplus of paddy rice available for for local consumption and export to international markets. Most rice mills in Kampong Cham are a member of the Cambodia National Rice Millers Association. However, there are some additional rice trading companies that export Cambodian rice to international markets as well.

• Production: Cultivated area is 219,277 ha, yields amount to approximately 704.253 tons/year.
• Rice mills: The biggest 25 mills joined the Cambodia National Rice Millers Association.
• Market: Local, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, France and Albania.
• Harvest Season: November to May.

Tobacco

Most of the farmers in Krouch Chmar, Dei Doss, Kampong Cham, Koh Pen and Koh Sotinn who cultivate tobacco sell their produce for processing to local British American Tobacco Cambodia (BAT) under a system of contract farming.

• Production size: Cultivated areas is 8,744 ha, yields are approximately 13,116 tons/year.
• Producers: A private company introduced a contract farming system which includes 800 families as members. In addition, there are many other independent families doing tobacco cultivation.
• Market: BAT Cambodia and some export to Vietnam as a tobacco leaves.
• Harvest time: Every 3 months.

Cashew Nuts

Kampong Cham is a larges producer of cashew nuts compared to others provinces in Cambodia. Most farmers have around 1-2 ha land, however, some farms exist with 100-1,000 ha, mostly in Cheung Prey, Stung Trang, Tbaung Khmom and Memot district. Cashew’s farmers use two varieties, local varieties yielding 500-700 kg/ha and improved varieties from 1.3-1.35 tons/ha.

• Production: Cultivated areas 24,482 ha. Yielding around 17,200 tons/year.
• Market: Vietnam.
• Harvest season: February-May.