Agriculture sector contributes 16% to Cambodia’s GDP

Agriculture continues to play a central role in Cambodia economy, contributing 16.1 percent to the country gross domestic product in 2025. The figure, shared during the first Cambodia Agricultural Forum chaired by Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, confirms that farming remains one of the backbone sectors of national growth. Although the contribution slightly declined from 16.7 percent in 2024, the sector still stands as a key pillar supporting economic stability and rural livelihoods across the country.

Steady Growth in Agricultural Value

While the percentage share has fluctuated, the overall value generated by agriculture has steadily increased over the years. As highlighted at the forum, “Although the contribution of the agricultural sector varies from year to year, the gross value added in agriculture has increased annually from 20,380 billion Riels in 2016 to 33,149 billion Riels in 2025,” underlined the forum. This upward trend reflects stronger productivity, improved farming techniques, and expanding domestic and international demand for Cambodian agricultural products. Farmers are increasingly embracing mechanisation to improve efficiency and reduce reliance on manual labour, a shift that is gradually modernising the sector.

From Food Insecurity to Global Contributor

Cambodia agricultural journey has been marked by a remarkable transformation. Once challenged by food shortages, the country now produces enough to ensure domestic food security and export millions of tonnes of products each year.

As Dith Tina noted, “The agricultural sector has made remarkable progress, transforming from a state of food insecurity to achieving domestic food security, and now the country exports millions of tonnes annually, contributing to global food security,” he said. This evolution highlights not only resilience but also the sector growing competitiveness in regional and global markets.

Strong Export Performance in 2025

Agricultural exports generated 6.46 billion US dollars in revenue in 2025, representing a 7.3 percent increase compared to 6.02 billion US dollars the previous year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Cambodia key export products include rice, rubber, cassava, mangoes, bananas, peppercorn, cashew nuts, longans, and durians. These products continue to strengthen Cambodia trade profile and support incomes for millions of rural households.

Agriculture as a Strategic Economic Pillar

Agriculture remains one of four major pillars driving Cambodia economy, alongside garment, footwear and travel goods exports, tourism, and construction and real estate. Recognising its importance, the government has introduced a new strategic policy aimed at transforming agriculture from household based farming into more commercial operations. The focus is on increasing productivity, promoting value added processing, and boosting farmers income. The annual Cambodia Agricultural Forum will continue to serve as a platform for dialogue between government institutions, private sector leaders, and agricultural experts to ensure the sector stays competitive and sustainable.

Conclusion

In 2025, agriculture contributes 16.1 percent to Cambodia GDP, confirming its ongoing importance to the national economy. Despite a slight percentage dip compared to the previous year, the sector overall value continues to grow, exports are expanding, and farmers are adopting modern practices. With clear government strategies and rising global demand, agriculture remains a vital engine for economic resilience, rural development, and long term national prosperity.