JICA donates ten tablets to the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security (MADFAS)

On 29 April in 2021, the JICA Botswana donated ten tablets to the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security to be used through the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment Promotion (SHEP) in the Northeast and Kgatleng Districts.

SHEP is an approach which realises "Market-Oriented Agriculture" and converts farmers mind from "grow and sell" to "grow to sell". The tablets are installed with learning materials for SHEP. They will be used by extension officers who are piloting the projects in the mentioned districts. Dr. Letlogile Modisa, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, accepted the donation from JICA on behalf of the ministry and expressed gratitude for the continued support and cooperation between his ministry and JICA. He stated that this donation came at an opportune time as their focus is horticulture and promoting it to the market. Also, he emphasised the importance of gaining knowledge and skills among both officers and farmers.

In March 2020, JICA invited four officers to the SHEP International Workshop in South Africa. Once again in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic threatened the world and the food security in Botswana. The country's national lockdown situation shed light on agriculture development to enhance local food products, encouraging small scale farmers like never before. Subsequently, JICA extended the SHEP Approach training to two officers from the ministry late last year and they presented the implementation of the pilot project as an Action Plan. The SHEP team of extension officers in Kgatleng and Northeast District is already formed, respectively. This May, two more officers will attend the same course.