NEW DELHI: Even as India is shying away from exporting non-Basmati rice fearing inflation rise, Cambodia is all set to play a big role in rice market with a surplus crop helping the country ship at least 2 million tonne.
Media reports said Cambodia’s production of unmilled rice has increased 12 per cent this year, which would create a surplus of 2.8 million tonnes in 2008, up 300,000 tonnes over last year’s figures.

The country also hopes that the quantity of rice production will continue to increase next year.

The Cambodian government expects total production of unmilled rice to hit 6.8 million tonnes, which would represent a million-tonne gain over last year.

Cambodia is negotiating with several countries to secure additional markets for Cambodian rice. 

The country will export at least 2 million tonnes of rice in 2009 to countries in the region, in the Middle East, the European Union and in Africa.