Minister of Commerce Pan Sorasak has announced that the government will be spearheading a new National Cassava Policy aiming to address challenges in the industry and work towards ensuring a sustainable and resilient crop, strong value chains and greater regional market presence. The minister urged the private and public sectors to work together to find ways to boost the cash crop and expand market access—primarily to China. He said the government is committed to addressing the challenges cassava faces in accessing the Chinese market. According to David Van, executive director Deewee Management, the issues facing the cassava sector are varied and include low profitability, high levels of risk and current low levels of investment. (Source: Phnom Penh Post)