Project News

In Alhajuela Project, the C/P’s (counterparts) are in charge of promoting the daily activities carried out with the farmers and the Japanese experts, for their part, support the C/P through on-the-job (OJT) training and holding seminars to improve their skills. In this and several future Project Reports we will inform readers about the process of technical transfer that we carry out for the C/P.

"The farmland use plan" is one of the central activities that contributes toward accomplishing the Project Purpose, which is watershed conservation and community development. In 2009, besides giving OJT on the group farms, we held 2 intensive training sessions on specific themes geared toward the C/P in charge of technical extension.

[First training session] (Held in April) Farm surveying using GPS and creating a farm map using GIS software.
[Second training session] (Held in October) Conservation oriented Farm Management Plan taking into account profits and various restricting factors

In the training sessions Mr. Mori served as the coordinator as well as an exhibitor. Mr. Ortega, a GIS specialist from MIDA (Ministry for Agricultural and Livestock Farming Development), was invited as an outside exhibitor. An effective module of lectures, practical trials, and practice and presentations made by CP is used to achieve an effective technical transfer.

(Photo 1, left) The team of technical extension workers learn surveying with GPS at the Madroñal group farm. (April 24 , 2009)
(Photo 2, right) Extension workers learn how to use a GIS program in the Project office. (April 25, 2009)

(Photo 3, left) After the lecture, the extension workers formed pairs to practice surveying with GPS in the communities. (April 29, 2009)
(Photo 4, right) They are also gaining expertise in making a farm map using the GIS program. (Octubre 2009)

(Photo 5, left) Author explaining “the importance of a feasible farm management plan.” (October 7, 2009)
(Photo 6, right) Restrictive factors in farm management planning were analyzed and presented by group. (October 7, 2009)

In order for the farmers to be able to adequately plan and implement a farmland use plan, it is absolutely essential that the C/P are able to give them the necessary assistance. Generally in Panama the agricultural extension workers have adequate skills in individual farming techniques, but they are often weak in the planning of farmland usage or farm management. Therefore, an important issue for the Japanese experts is to strengthen the ability of the C/P in this area.

The ideal would be that in the future, the C/P would reduce to a minimum the assistance they give the farmers so that the farmers are able to make their farmland use plans (FUP) on their own. For this reason, a manual on FUP that can be easily used by farmers is needed. We are presently working together with the C/P towards that end.

(Mr. Taku MORI, Farmland use plan / Extension)