Dear Sir/Madam
This is Dr. Jiro Aikawa, Senior Advisor on Agriculture and Rural Development of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).
I was very much appreciated you gave me a chance to provide my presentation on Zoominar for INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON INNOVATION FOR THE AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS TO ACHIEVE SDGs on 30th of April, 2020. And it was nominated 3rd prize by votes of participants.
JICA has introduced and implemented SHEP (Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion) Approach not only in NENA region, but also other region especially Sub-Sahara and more than 30 countries in total have been involved.
SHEP Approach considers farmers motivation and referring “Self-Determination Theory”.
SHEP Approach tries to facilitate small scale farmers who are mainly family farming practitioners to conduct market survey by themselves,
and they make cropping calendar after crop selection based on the results of the survey.
Through those process, farmers can feel autonomy and competence, at lase they become autonomous and independent farmers.
JICA received several reports (internal) which indicated voices from extension staff.
They said it was obvious that SHEP farmers could soften damages by COVID-19 compared to ordinal farmers,
because SHEP farmers actively explored and discovered information of markets both their produces and inputs such as fertilizers and seeds.
They can adjust and modify their farming style by their own, while others just were suffered directory by fragile and unstable market condition without appropriate actions.
SHEP farmers have got used to conduct market surveys before sowing the seeds.
This custom may help them.
In NENA region, SHEP Approach has been introduced in Egypt and Palestine, and women groups are “SHEP farmers”.
They also conducted market survey by their own at adjacent areas and make business plan.
They could be independent and more confident.
So, my recommendation to Regional Action Plan is to consider introducing psychological aspects whenever implementing agencies such as government, developing partners, NGO, Private Sectors, etc. make plan to support family faming and establishment effective food system.
Regards
Jiro Aikawa