Chhorn Norn The Phnom Penh Post Sat June 6, 2026

An aerial view of coffee plantations in Busra Commune, Mondulkiri Province, where a domestic investor purchased close to $700,000 of beans from local indigenous farmers. Kiri Coffee.

Indigenous farmers in Mondulkiri province’s Busra commune have sold nearly 700 tonnes of coffee beans to one of Cambodia’s largest domestic roasters. The purchase aims to meet growing demand, with annual consumption estimated at around 20,000 tonnes.

Chin Cheyaboddh, president of Kiri Coffee, noted that company’s purchases injected close to $700,000 into the local community economy.

Following guidance from Kao Thach, president of the Techo Farmers Network Association, Chin recently met with representatives of indigenous communities from Busra Commune in Pech Chreada District to discuss solutions and ways to strengthen the sustainability of Mondulkiri’s coffee value chain.

“Kiri Coffee stands alongside local communities and remains committed to purchasing as much coffee as possible from indigenous farmers at market prices,” Chin said.

“We want Mondulkiri coffee to continue moving forward with pride while helping improve and strengthen the livelihoods of our farmers,” he added.

During the discussions, Kiri Coffee and community representatives explored agricultural credit support for expanding coffee cultivation, including access to fertilisers, seedlings, agricultural chemicals and technical equipment. The company pledged to continue purchasing coffee beans from farmers at prevailing market prices, helping ensure income stability and greater confidence among growers.

The commitment has encouraged indigenous farmers in Mondulkiri to expand coffee cultivation as a means of increasing household income.

While Cambodia consumes an estimated 20,000 tonnes of coffee annually, domestic production supplies only around 1,000 tonnes, leaving a substantial gap between supply and demand.

The growth in demand has been driven by Cambodia’s rapidly expanding coffee culture. Coffee consumption has increased significantly in Phnom Penh and across the provinces, while the number of branded coffee shops, both local and international, as well as mobile coffee vendors, has continued to grow.

Duk Piseth, president of the Cambodia Coffee Association, recently told local media that domestic coffee production currently meets only about 10 per cent of national demand.

“The number of coffee outlets continues to grow, and more people are drinking coffee, but local production is still unable to meet demand,” he said.

Piseth described coffee as a strategic crop capable of generating strong returns for Cambodian farmers.

Khim Finan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said coffee cultivation has expanded to 705 hectares nationwide in recent years, with 563 hectares currently under harvest, producing 1,333 tonnes of beans, at an average yield of 2.36 tonnes per hectare.

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