Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on August 28, 2019, during the TICAD7 session. As part of this collaboration, since October 2020, SAA has been conducting baseline surveys and trainings of trainers to promote Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment & Promotion (SHEP) approach, which has been developed by JICA.

[Project name]
JICA Project on the Promotion of Market-oriented Agricultural Extension System for Livelihood Improvement in Nigeria

[Project Outline]
Customize the SHEP Approach to specific conditions of Nigeria and normalize the approach as an agricultural extension method in Nigeria. The project is to establish an implementation system for market-oriented extension service and expand SHEP Approach to 20 states.

[SAA’s activities]
(1) Baseline survey: SAA conducted a baseline survey using a digital questionnaire in Nasarawa state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in central Nigeria. SAA created a questionnaire format and conducted interviews in collaboration with the extension agents of Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) and extension agent in the village.

(2) SHEP trainings of trainers: SHEP trainings of trainers are conducted for 3 extension agents from each ADP in 18 states throughout Nigeria (54 staff in total). SAA is in charge of arranging the training and giving some lectures collaborating with master trainers from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) who have already taken the SHEP training of trainers.

[Activity period of SAA]
October 2020 – February 2021

JICA webpage