In Battambang Province, Cambodia, chili farmers are feeling the pinch as prices have taken a nosedive this year. Last year, they could sell a kilo for 2,500 to 7,000 riel, but now it's down to just 1,600 riel, barely covering labor costs.
A farmer named Sok Chan, who grows chili on three hectares, relies on this crop for her livelihood. Despite the low prices, she says she can still make a small profit, so it's not a total loss.
With prices so low, she's not rushing to harvest. She's waiting for the chilies to fully ripen, hoping for better prices later. Harvesting now isn't worth it because of high labor costs and low returns. Selling when the chilies are red might fetch a better price.
