| Abstrakt: |
Adding value to agricultural products is expected to play an important role in increasing income and reducing poverty in rural areas of Cambodia. The promotion of agroprocessing is one of the key strategies for the value addition. A variety of processed foods produced by individual small-scale farmers have helped generate income, with the exception of rice liquor which has been faced deficits and low profitability. This study aimed to clarify the socio-economic status of rice liquor farmers in rural areas and to examine the factors leading to deficits and surpluses in rice liquor production. Data on the economic status of rice liquor farmers and non-rice liquor farmers were collected by conducting structured interviews using questionnaires at the targeted areas in Takeo Province. Comparisons of the income structures of the two groups revealed that the rice liquor farmers mainly depended for income on agricultural activities including rice liquor production and pig rearing, whereas non-rice liquor farmers depended on non-agricultural activities such as off-farm businesses, labor work, and remittances. Rice liquor production was less profitable, and around 30% of rice liquor farmers faced deficits in this activity. A comparison of the economic status between deficit and surplus operations of rice liquor production revealed the key factors that caused deficits, such as a low sales price, high cost of rice, low productivity, and high frequency of production failure. Rice liquor farmers expected improvements in the production techniques, in the quality and productivity of liquor. Thus, modifying production techniques to improve the quality and productivity of rice liquor, and to reduce the rate of production failure are the key strategies to increase the profitability of rice liquor businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
