My experience in Japan - Market-oriented agriculture promotion (planning and management)

As a Horticulture Officer, the skills I acquired from the training will further improve my ability to influence my farmers to operate their horticulture enterprises as businesses (Growing to sell rather than Grow and then sell), and have them feel motivated to work tirelessly towards ensuring the sustainability of their enterprises. The training on the SHEP approach explicitly exposed me to various scenarios of the horticulture industry in Japan, and the role of each market player ranging from farmers, extension services, JAAs (Associations), Wholesale market, and various retailers.

Overall, the training proved that for improved income at household level, and overall growth of small horticulture farmers, transformation of the approach towards the horticulture enterprise was key (farming as a business), as well as ensuring sustainability (Motivation to encourage ownership). The skills I gained will assist me in further developing small horticulture farmers in the Selebi Phikwe region.