Project News

On 23rd and 24th of January 2018, MA-SHEP held two-day Organizers' Training on Basic SHEP Approach for officers from Agriculture Development Divisions (ADDs) and District Agriculture Offices (DAOs) of the 1st Batch target areas (Kasungu ADD, Salima ADD, Kasungu DAO, Ntchisi DAO, Mchinji DAO, Dowa East DAO, Dowa West DAO, Salima DAO and Nkhotakota DAO). The purpose of the training is to train the participants on how to organize the important events of the "MA-SHEP Package" as well as how to select target Farmer Groups based on "Group Selection Criteria".

In this training, we introduced the SHEP Game "Fun Fun Farming" as a tool to learn the essence of SHEP Approach. During the exercise session, the participants were divided into small groups and played the game. The participants enjoyed the game very much while talking each other within the group.

Mr. Nkhoma, the Assistant Project Manager, said that "This game is a good tool to learn the essence of the SHEP Approach, even children can plat and understand. My son often plays this game, and now he is more familiar with this game than me. When I played this game at home, a question "Who should conduct the market survey?" and choices of answer "Farmer, District Agriculture Officer, Extension Worker, Middle Man" was shown on the screen. I was going to choose "District Agriculture Officer", but my son told me that "No, Dad. The market survey should be conducted by farmers themselves.""

For more information about the SHEP Game "Fun Fun Farming", please check the following link:
https://www.jica.go.jp/english/our_work/thematic_issues/agricultural/shep/materials.html#game

Mr. Nkhoma lecturing on "SHEP Game"

Participants playing the game in small groups

Participants enjoying the game (1)

Participants enjoying the game (2)