The Philippines has agreed to assist Cambodia, a major rice exporter, in cultivating and planting new rice-seed varieties, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said over the weekend.

The DA said Cambodia is tapping the expertise of the Philippines, particularly Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (Irri), in growing new rice-seed varieties.

“Cambodian Agriculture Secretary Ty Sokhun informed Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol that his country seeks Philippine cooperation in learning new rice-growing technologies,” the DA said in a statement.

The DA added that Cambodia is particularly interested in the development of new seed varieties and knowledge exchange on rice farming.

According to Piñol, 70 percent of Cambodia’s rice lands are rain-fed, while only 30 percent of their farmers use hybrid rice.

While most Cambodian rice farmers could only plant once a year, Cambodia remains as one of the major rice exporters in Asia, with the Philippines a major destination for its rice exports, the DA said.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Frederico Laciste Jr. said the Philippines aims to increase the annual yield per hectare of local rice farms by investing in hybrid rice propagation.

“The program envisions a competitive and climate-resilient rice industry that can provide the requirement of the country at any given time,” said Laciste, who is also director of the DA’s rice and corn program.

Piñol said he informed the Cambodian agriculture officials that he intends to visit their country in September to explore agricultural joint ventures and to learn more about Cambodian rice-farming technologies.

The officials of Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries met with DA officials on February 20.

Sokhun was accompanied by a representative from the Irri during his visit to Piñol. Also joining him were Cambodian General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA) Director General Hean Vanhan, GDA Director of Department of Rice Crops Ngiren Chhay, and Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute Director Ouk Makara.

The DA said the Cambodian delegates will visit the facilities of Bureau of Plant Industry-National Seed Quality Control Services and the Philippine Rice Research Institute. They will also visit the Irri headquarters in Laguna to know more about pest management and crop management.