Cambodia had exported 288,300 tons of fresh and dry cassava in the first eight months of the year, down 56 percent compared with same period last year, the figures of the Commerce Ministry said Sunday.

The country generated total revenue of 15.2 million US dollars from the exports during the January-August period this year, down 56 percent from the 34.5 million US dollars it earned over the same period last year, the figures said.

Cassava has been sold mainly to Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea and China.

Som Yen, director of Malai Trading Company in northwestern Banteay Meanchey province, which brokers cassava for Thai markets, said in the past year, some farmers had abandoned planting cassava for corn due to uncertainties of cassava markets in the country.

"Currently, our cassava is dependent on markets in neighboring countries, namely Thailand and Vietnam," he told Xinhua on Sunday. "The price is irregularly fluctuated--it is up to the mouths of buyers, so it discourages farmers from growing this type of crop."

Last year, the country exported 722,250 tons of fresh and dry cassava, earning 38 million US dollars, the Commerce Ministry said.