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Technical Training on Electric and Gas Welding Supports Modern Agricultural Mechanisation

From 6–8 July 2026, the SmartAgriCambodia Project successfully conducted a three-day training programme on Electric and Gas Welding for Modern Mechanisation, Maintenance, and Repair at the Center for Smart Agriculture, Battambang Institute of Technology (BIT). The training was designed to strengthen the technical knowledge and practical skills of local instructors and agricultural machinery officers in welding, machinery maintenance, and repair, supporting the wider adoption and effective use of modern agricultural machinery in Cambodia. The training was delivered by Assoc. Prof. Petr Hrabě from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU) and coordinated by the Building Action for Integration and Development Engagement (BAIDE) in cooperation with the National University of Battambang (NUBB). A total of nine participants attended the training, comprising: 5 teachers from the Battambang Institute of Technology (BIT); and 4 officers from the Agricultural Machinery Office of the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (AM-PDAFF) of Battambang. The programme covered both theoretical knowledge and practical exercises, with key topics including: Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements for welding activities; Safe operation and use of welding equipment, machinery, and power tools; Principles and techniques of electric and gas welding; Practical welding exercises and assessment of weld quality; and Operation and maintenance of the unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) equipped with seeder and harrow attachments. The training was structured around one day of theoretical instruction followed by two days of intensive practical sessions. This approach allowed participants to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom directly to practical technical tasks and machinery-related applications. Particular attention was given to safe working practices, equipment handling, welding quality, and basic maintenance and repair. These skills are important for reducing machinery downtime, supporting local repair capacity, and ensuring the safe and effective use of agricultural machinery. The training also provided participants with practical experience related to modern mechanisation technologies, including the UGV and its agricultural attachments. The knowledge gained can subsequently be applied in technical education, farmer training, machinery servicing, and future field activities under the SmartAgriCambodia Project. The activity contributes to the project's broader objective of strengthening technical education, developing local machinery expertise, and promoting modern agricultural mechanisation in Battambang Province and Cambodia.