Thai police at the Poipet border crossing have been stopping Cambodians from taking their paddy to sell in Thailand for the last two weeks, Cambodian military police at the border crossing said Wednesday.
“We tried to talk to them but they refuse, claiming they follow their leaders’ orders,” said Say Sovannareth, border military officer for O’Chrou district’s North Poipet commune in Banteay Meanchey province.
Thma Puok District Governor Chhim Bunny said Thailand will only allow imports of Cambodian paddy exports once their own farmers’ paddy has been sold. “It’s no problem,” said provincial Governor Heng Chantha.
The Rural Development Bank has launched a loan program to help Cambodian rice millers buy more paddy from farmers, he said, adding that it is Cambodia’s policy to keep paddy in the country in order to meet Cambodia’s needs.
According to Chhim Bunny, Thai business people pay about $125 per ton of paddy, which he said is comparable to prices paid in Cambodia.
