1.
GV PAN... PADI FIELD.
0.11

2.
MCV RICE GRAINS.
0.15

3.
CV GRAINS (2 SHOTS).
0.23

4.
GV PADI FIELDS (2 SHOTS).
0.31

5.
LS PAN... GO DOWN IN SIHANOUKVILLE.
0.38

6.
LS UNCOLLECTED GOODS (2 SHOTS).
0.48

7.
GV MORE UNCOLLECTED GOODS.
1.00



Initials RE/N/CR/LW



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SOME THREE MILLION ACRES OF LAND IN CAMBODIA, BASICALLY AN AGRICULTURE COUNTRY, IS NOW UNDER CULTIVATION OF PADDY BY SMALL FARM HOLDERS.

YIELDS ARE LOW AND PRODUCTION, DEPENDING ON CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, AVERAGES BETWEEN ONE AND QUARTER MILLION TO ONE AND A HALF MILLION TONS - LEAVING AN EXPORT SURPLUS OF FROM 100,000 TO 300,000 TONS.

WITH THE NATIONALISATION OF IMPORT AND EXPORT HOUSES BY PRINCE NORODOM SIHANOUK, THE HEAD OF STATE, AS FROM JANUARY 1, 1964, LESS THAN ONE QUARTER OF CAMBODIA'S PADDY FIELDS WERE HARVESTED.

THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST RICE PROVINCE OF BATTAMBANG, NORTH-WEST OF PHNOM PENH, IS STILL AWAITING TO BE HARVESTED.

TRADE SOURCE SAID THAT THE NEWLY-FORMED GOVERNMENT IMPORT AND EXPORT CORPORATION WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FINANCE THE PADDY CULTIVATORS IN THE HARVESTING OF THEIR RICE.

MEANWHILE, GOODS ARE PILING UP AT THE PORT OF SIHANOUKVILLE, ON THE GULF OF THAILAND, AWAITING COLLECTION. MANY HARBOUR WORKERS HAVE LAID OFF FOLLOWING THE NATIONALISATION OF IMPORT AND EXPORT FIRMS.