Ms. Thào Thị Khua (standing in the middle), from Lao Khô 1 village, Phiêng Khoài commune, livestreams to promote agricultural products on digital platforms.

A few years ago, the sale of agricultural products by Ms. Thào Thị Khua's family in Lao Khô 1 village, Phiêng Khoài commune, depended mainly on traders. Recognizing the potential of digital platforms, she proactively learned how to create videos, livestream, and sell online. Currently, she maintains two TikTok channels, "Thào Khua 209" and "Khua núi rừng," regularly showcasing local agricultural products, sharing the process of caring for and harvesting crops, as well as the lives of people in the highlands.

Ms. Khua shared: "To gain the stable customer base I have today, it took me four years to learn and gradually familiarize myself with content creation and product promotion on digital platforms. During the plum and pear harvest season, I handle 80 to 100 orders per day. In addition, I also sell many other local specialties such as persimmons, macadamia nuts, mắc khén (a type of spice), dried bamboo shoots, and sticky rice cakes. Since the beginning of the year, I have successfully sold over 1,000 orders through online platforms."

Meanwhile, the Northwest Green Agriculture Cooperative in Thanh Yen 1 village, Phieng Khoai commune, is one of the units effectively utilizing digital platforms to enhance the value of local agricultural products. Established in 2020, the cooperative currently has 20 members, linking production on over 200 hectares of fruit trees, primarily longan and plum. In recent years, along with purchasing and selling products for member households and orchards in the area, the cooperative has promoted the application of digital technology in its production and business activities.

Members of the Northwest Green Agriculture Cooperative in Phiêng Khoài commune confirmed the order placed on the TikTok platform.

Ms. Le Thi Huong Mo, Deputy Director of Tay Bac Green Agriculture Cooperative, said: "Given the increasingly high demands of the market, the cooperative has proactively applied digital technology in production management, brand promotion, and customer connection. Currently, in addition to livestreaming product introductions on TikTok, the cooperative also brings agricultural products to e-commerce platforms to expand its distribution channels. At the same time, we apply electronic production logs and attach QR codes for product traceability. As a result, the cooperative's products reach more customers outside the province, ensuring a more stable market and enhancing consumer confidence."

Recognizing digital transformation as one of the key solutions to promote women's economic development, the Provincial Women's Union has implemented numerous activities to support women in starting businesses and developing their economies in conjunction with digital transformation. Through programs and projects supporting women, especially ethnic minority women, many members have gained access to knowledge about e-commerce, digital skills, brand building, and market connections. In particular, the sub-project "Promoting Business and Leadership for Women Entrepreneurs in Son La," funded by the GREAT Project with a total budget of over 8 billion VND, is contributing to supporting women in improving their business capabilities, developing startup ideas, and enhancing their market access.

In addition, women's associations at all levels have actively implemented projects to support women's entrepreneurship, gender equality, and economic development in ethnic minority areas; launched "Digital Branch" and "Digital Women's Family" models associated with the "Digital Popular Education" movement; coordinated the organization of many training courses on digital skills, cashless payments, using online public services, and promoting products on the internet, gradually creating conditions for women to access and master technology.

Supporting women from ethnic minority communities in Pa Kha 1 village, Long Phieng commune, in integrating social security into VNeID.

Ms. Cam Thi Hong Duyen, President of the Provincial Women's Union, stated: Digital transformation has helped women access information, expand product markets, create opportunities to increase income, and affirm their position in the family and society. The Union will continue to direct its branches at all levels to further promote activities supporting members, especially ethnic minority women in remote, mountainous, and border areas, to access digital technology, gradually narrowing the digital divide and creating momentum for sustainable economic development.

Facilitating equal access for women to information, markets, and development opportunities is a key solution today. With the close support of all levels of government, relevant agencies, and women's organizations, more and more women in border areas are confidently entering the digital space. From there, women can transform local advantages into practical economic development opportunities, contributing to building increasingly prosperous lives and happy families.

Text and photos: Thu Thảo