Program Info

DVI

A collaborative partnership project was signed between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UNFAO) and AsiaDHRRA in late 2021, which identified the importance of enabling the environment for establishing Digital Villages in the ASEAN region, particularly in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The scoping study on “Rural Transformation and Digital Village Development in Selected ASEAN Countries” was conducted and involved gathering and analyzing relevant documents and data from government databases, the internet, academic knowledge, key informant interviews (KII), and published reports. Additionally, the research stands crucial in developing strategies and interventions to introduce digital technologies in the targeted villages of the said countries.

The study showed that digital adaptation is limited solely to urban areas due to higher population and market demands to private and public sectors in developing digital infrastructure. This result contradicts rural areas, which require digital infrastructure, including awareness of technologies and digital skills to promote economic growth, more jobs, better services, and efficiency among the governments, private sector, and smallholder producers to interact and process businesses innovatively. More importantly, several studies have proven the role of digital technologies in improving rural livelihoods, particularly the income of people in the agricultural sector.

SEEDS

The Smallholder Economic Empowerment through Digital Solutions (SEEDS) Project is AsiaDHRRA’s recent initiative, which aims to accelerate and scale up social and economic development for 12,000 smallholder households and 12 farmer organizations in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Vietnam through digital and ICT solutions and interventions. Specifically, it focuses on developing digital technologies for smallholder agriculture by building the capacities of smallholder farmers’ organizations. In addition, it strengthens the enabling policy and regulatory environment for smallholder digital technologies while providing a space and structure for smallholder-centric digital solutions to share knowledge on policy engagement, reporting, and learning.

The implementation runs for two years from 2024-2025 and funded by the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) through the International Fund for Agricultural Rural Development (IFAD) and co-implemented by GrowAsia.

Areas Implemented

DVI
Scoping studies were conducted in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

SEEDS

a) Cambodia:

1. Chey Chumneas and Teuk Hot Meanchey Kdey Sangkheum (Kampong Chhnang)
2. Samaki Omlaing and Samaki Sangke Satop (Kampong Speu)
3. Sambour Chamroeun Phal, Champa Prey Pdao and Tuol Preah Vihear (Takeo)

b) Philippines:

1. Batu Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BAFAMCO) and Coalition of Municipal Fisherfolk Associations (COMFAS) – Zamboanga, Sibugay
2. Kabangasan-Mapua-Dahilig Arc Cooperative (KAMADA Arc Coop) – Balingoan, Misamis Oriental
3. Matulatula Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative (MARCCO) – Mindoro Oriental

c) Vietnam:

1. Son Dong Honeybee Cooperative (Son Dong, Bac Giang)
2. Nghia Ho Exporting Honey Bee Cooperative, Tan Moc Agricultural Product Consumption Service Cooperative and Thanh Hai Commune Tourism and Trade Cooperative (Luc Ngan, Bac Giang)
3. Dong Tam 3 Agricultural Cooperative and Thai Son Bac Giang Agricultural Cooperative (Hiep Hoa, Bac Giang)

Implementors:

DVI
CamboDHRRA, InDHRRA, PhilDHRRA, and VietDHRRA.

SEEDS
CamboDHRRA, PhilDHRRA, and VietDHRRA

Funding:

DVI scoping studies were funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

SEEDS is a project funded by the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) in coordination with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)