Digital transformation key to breakthrough in cooperatives
Vietnam is now home to over 2,000 hi-tech cooperatives which are promoting smart agriculture and digital rural areas in the new-style rural development effort.
Hanoi (VNA)🧔 – Vietnam is now home to over 2,000 hi-tech cooperativeswhich arepromoting smart agriculture and digital rural areas in the new-style ruraldevelopment effort.
However, digital transformation process in cooperativesremains slow with a shortage of a clear strategy and specific actions. The majority of cooperatives pursuing digital transformation aresmall-scale with few members. In many farming areas, cooperatives have alimited role in promoting production, trade and economic development.
As many cooperative members still have vague understanding ofthe concept of digital transformation and face difficulties in technologicalapplication, they are yet to be ready for the work under the currentconditions.
𝔉 In the Mekong Delta provinceof Tra Vinh, the provincial Cooperative Alliance has partnered with Sorimachi companyto support the collective economic area and cooperatives in their digitaltransformation through the application of information technology inproduction and trade, capacity improvement, and sustainable development.
Representatives of theCooperative Alliance in several localities shared the view that mostcooperatives focus on applying technology in irrigation system, grid network,and traceability labeling. However, less attention has been paid to digitaltransformation in processing, management and marketing. Another barrier to digital transformation incooperatives is the modest availability of skilled and competent human resources,particularly in agricultural cooperatives where digitalisation and informationtechnology skills are limited. It is worth noting that many agriculturalcooperatives do not have computers or internet connectivity, and are unfamiliarwith accounting software.
Therefore,the Cooperative Alliances will focus on raising awareness of theeffort in the development of cooperatives. They will advise the provincialPeople's Committees to fine-tune and issue policies and mechanisms thatfacilitate digital transformation and digital economy.
🔯 Nguyen Ngoc Bao, President ofthe Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, vowed to develop a specific digitaltransformation scheme in support of cooperatives in a sustainable manner./.
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Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
