The Cambodian Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (CamboDHRRA) hosted a Human-Centered Design (HCD) workshop on April 28-29, 2025, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  The training was joined by 29 farmer participants from 11 agritech startups and supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), and AsiaDHRRA through its Smallholders’ Economic Empowerment through Digital Solutions (SEEDS) project.

With a strong focus on inclusivity, gender awareness, and local ownership, the workshop highlighted participatory sessions to understand farming practices, digital behaviors, and decision-making.  Challenges like limited connectivity, trust in digital tools, and digital literacy gaps were also explored, including co-designing practical prototypes that suit farming processes and contexts, which were co-designed among participants during the training.

Having farmers as the center of the innovation process ensures that new tools and service designs meet farmers’ needs, experiences, and farming realities. The HCD training fosters sustainable and inclusive innovation in Cambodia’s agriculture sector by empowering agritech startups with HCD approaches, thus co-creating relevant, impactful, and scalable solutions.