Siem Reap, Cambodia – Government representatives, private sector leaders, and development partners from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam (CLMV) convened for a two-day Regional Consultation Workshop on May 21–22, 2025, to strengthen the use of digital platforms in agriculture for improved practices, market access, and pricing information for smallholder farmers.
Led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Cambodia and Mekong Institute (MI), with support from the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), the workshop served as a platform to validate the findings of a regional assessment, share national experiences, and identify policy and technical recommendations for accelerating digital adoption in the agricultural sector.
In his keynote address, Mr. Dian Sukmajaya, Senior Officer of the ASEAN Secretariat, underscored digital transformation as a priority under the Strategic Plan of ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry.
Opening remarks from H.E. Seak Leng, Undersecretary of State, MAFF of Cambodia, and Mr. Yosuke Kawamoto, First Secretary of the Mission of Japan to ASEAN, further emphasized the importance of inclusive digital innovations in strengthening food security and building climate resilience.
Workshop participants examined assessment findings that revealed key barriers to smallholder adoption of digital tools, including limited digital literacy, lack of connectivity in rural areas, fragmented platforms, and insufficient institutional support. Country groups identified priority challenges and actionable solutions from expanding rural infrastructure and harmonizing platforms to fostering public-private partnerships and localized digital literacy programs.
Case studies from CLMV showcased diverse innovations, including Cambodia’s CAMAgriMarket app, Lao PDR’s localized digital initiatives, Myanmar’s advisory and traceability platforms, and Viet Nam’s GreenCoop and WeatherPlus models.
Participants also reviewed draft policy and technical recommendations, including proposals for platform integration, regional knowledge exchange, capacity-building, and alignment with ASEAN’s broader digital transformation agenda.
“Digitalization is a powerful driver of agricultural transformation and regional integration. But to truly empower smallholder farmers, we must move beyond fragmented solutions toward a holistic, inclusive, and demand-driven approach. The way forward lies in farmer-centric ecosystems, enabled by public-private collaboration and sustained capacity building,” said Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director of MI during his closing remarks.
The workshop concluded with a clear consensus: to prioritize ecosystem coordination, capacity development, and inclusive design as part of a broader, strategic push for digital transformation in Mekong’s agriculture. Building on country experiences and regional mechanisms, participants affirmed the importance of sustained collaboration and tailored support to unlock the full potential of digital tools for smallholder farmers in the Mekong region.
This event is a part of the project titled “Strengthening Digital Platforms for Agricultural Practices, Markets, and Pricing Information for Smallholder Farmers,” being implemented by MAFF and MI.
