Project News

In November 2017, JICA invited two (2) Malawian officers to the "Training Programme for Market-Oriented Agriculture Promotion for Africa", which was held in Japan. This programme aims to promote the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) Approach to the countries which wish to promote market-oriented agriculture for increasing income of smallholder farmers. Malawian officers have been invited annually since 2014 when this training program was started and this is the fourth time to be invited.

Those two (2) training participants work as Agribusiness Officers in Chikwawa District and Thyolo District. They have been implementing SHEP pilot activities through or involving frontline extension staff after attending a briefing session on SHEP by DAES.

After this two-week training in Japan, MA-SHEP carried out the follow-up training for those two (2) officers and nine (9) officers from other districts to provide practical expertise in Malawi.

To carry out some lectures and exercises, ex-participants who participated in the same training course gathered at DAES and served as a lecturer. They also gave advice from their experience of SHEP pilot activity.

On 20th November, we conducted a Market Survey Exercise at Tsoka Market.

In the SHEP Approach, farmers go to the market by themselves to collect information and to work with their own ideas. They can obtain detailed and reliable information about crop varieties they are interested in. In addition, knowing the market price increases their motivation, and they can also capture new business opportunities. Market Surveys by the farmers themselves have a significant impact on the farmers. This has a greater effect on revitalizing agriculture than just by passively receiving secondary information provided by external people.

After this training, one of the participants said that "It was very practical contents. I could understand, what kind of information should be collected, how to advice and motivate farmers, and how the farmers themselves make appropriate strategy. I will resume field activities soon.".

Facilitated by Project Coordinator, Mr. Andrew Chamanza (SHEP training ex-participant in 2015)

Mr. Stater Magombo advised based on his experience in Mchinji district (SHEP training ex-participant in 2015)

Participants visited to Tsoka Market and conducted market survey on Ginger

Mr. Ntchoma, the chairman of Potato section in Tsoka Market, was interviewed

This market survey exercise was conducted with the cooperation of Mr. Palapasa, the chairman of Tsoka Market (left) and other dealers

Mr. Pearson Jasi-Soko (SHEP training ex-participant in 2014) was interviewed by Nation Newspaper and Great News Broadcasting Systems TV

Mr. Humphrey Savieri (SHEP training participant in 2017) presented the results of group exercise

Mr. Japhet Zingani (SHEP training ex-participant in 2014) lectured on "Crop Selection & Crop Ranking"

Mr. Greno Wanda (SHEP training ex-participant in 2016) lectured on "Crop Planting Calendar"

Participants making a Crop Planting Calendar

Group photo with participants, lecturers and experts