PHNOM PENH, Nov. 24 -- The Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) issued a statement Tuesday urging Cambodian farmers to follow ways on to increase their rice crops.

   
CEDAC is an independent organization specializing in agricultural sector was established in 1997 for the purpose of helping Cambodian farmers to knowledge themselves on how to make better agricultural crops.

  
CEDAC made the statement just in a time that Cambodian farmers are starting their rice harvest, but at the same time finds that farmers still not yet understand well the importance of rice seed selection.

   
As it is the right time for farmers to select rice seeds for the next season, CEDAC is calling for some urgent technical measures for farmers and other stakeholders so that the rice yield can be increased, it said.

   
"With knowledge on how to have good rice seed selection, farmers can increase their yield up to 20 percent," said Dr. Yang Saing Koma, president of CEDAC.

   
Some 80 percent of Cambodia's 14 million populations are living in rural areas and are farmers.