Agriculture accounted for 90 percent of GDP in 1985 and employed
approximately 80 percent of the work force. Rice is the principal
product.
Rice production, a vital economic indicator in Cambodia's agrarian
society, frequently fell far short of targets, causing severe food
shortages in 1979, 1981, 1984, and 1987.
The plan's 1987 target for the total area to be devoted to rice
cultivation was 1.77 million hectares, but the actual area under
cultivation in 1987 amounted to only 1.15 million hectares. After 1979
and through the late 1980s, the agricultural sector performed poorly.
Adverse weather conditions, insufficient numbers of farm implements and
of draft animals, inexperienced and incompetent
personnel, security problems, and government collectivization policies
all contributed to low productivity.
Cambodian agriculture is in the midst of a rapid transformation.
Agricultural growth averaged 5.3% during 2004-2012, which was among the
highest in the world.
Growth was driven by a combination of increased yields, more productive
use of labor due to mechanization, and the expansion of farmland.
Yet, agricultural growth has slowed down to around 1-2% in 2013-2014. A
World Bank report, Cambodian Agriculture in Transition: Opportunities
and Risks , co-financed by the World Bank and Australian Government,
raises concerns and suggests ways to ensure agriculture continues to be a
driver of growth and poverty reduction.
No comments:
Post a Comment