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Building Digital Skills for Agricultural Cooperatives in Battambang

As agriculture increasingly becomes connected to digital technologies, strengthening the digital skills of farmers and agricultural cooperatives is becoming an important part of modern agricultural development. Under the SmartAgriCambodia Project, a series of Digital Literacy Trainings was conducted in Battambang Province to help agricultural cooperative members use digital tools safely and effectively for communication, product promotion, market access, and business development. Basic Digital Literacy Training at Teuk Chit Kasekor Kear Meanchey Agricultural Cooperative From 15–17 July 2026, the Building Action for Integration and Development Engagement (BAIDE), in cooperation with the Lutheran Hope Cambodia Organization (LHCO), conducted a three-day Digital Literacy Training (Basic Level) at Teuk Chit Kasekor Kear Meanchey Agricultural Cooperative, Ta Nak Village, Kear Commune, Moung Russei District, Battambang Province. The training was delivered by Project Officers from BAIDE and LHCO and focused on developing practical digital skills relevant to the daily activities and business needs of agricultural cooperative members. Participants were introduced to digital privacy and security, online communication, e-commerce, social media management, online design, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Practical sessions covered the safe use of mobile phones and online services, creating and managing Facebook accounts and Pages, promoting agricultural products through social media, understanding basic intellectual property concepts, and using AI to support communication, content creation, information searching, and business activities. A total of 24 participants, including 16 women and 8 men, successfully completed the training. By the end of the programme, participants had strengthened their ability to: Use mobile phones and online services safely and securely; Connect to and share internet access using mobile devices; Communicate through online platforms; Create and manage Facebook accounts and Pages for product promotion; Promote agricultural products through social media and other online platforms; and Apply AI tools to support learning, communication, content creation, and business development. Digital Literacy Training at Roka Mean Rith Agricultural Cooperative Building on this activity, from 12–14 August 2026, BAIDE, together with LHCO, conducted another Digital Literacy Training for members of Roka Mean Rith Agricultural Cooperative in Battambang Province. The training provided participants with hands-on experience in practical digital skills, including digital safety, social media use, online product promotion, digital communication, and AI applications. The training aimed to help farmers and agricultural cooperatives respond to the growing role of digital technologies in the agricultural sector. By improving their digital capabilities, participants can use online platforms to promote their products, access agricultural information, communicate with customers and partners, and explore new market opportunities. Supporting Farmers in the Digital Transformation of Agriculture Together, these activities demonstrate the importance of combining agricultural knowledge with digital skills. For agricultural cooperatives, digital tools can provide new ways to communicate, promote products, reach potential customers, access information, and manage aspects of their business. Through the SmartAgriCambodia Project, BAIDE and its partners are supporting agricultural communities in building the practical skills needed to participate more confidently in Cambodia's digital transformation. Following the successful completion of the basic-level training activities, an advanced-level Digital Literacy Training is planned for 2027. The next stage will build on the skills developed during the initial training and introduce participants to more advanced digital applications and practical tools for agricultural and cooperative development.