JICA introduces market driven farming to ENB

A concept, known as the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion [SHEP], is being introduced into East New Britain by the Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA)].

The SHEP concept is being facilitated through the National Agriculture Research Institute [NARI] and focuses on market-oriented agriculture.

The program was initiated by JICA in Kenya in 2006 and has gained success in increasing farmers’ income in the country.

Speaking at a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, JICA Senior Advisor Dr Jiro Aikawa said that this approach incorporates 3 main fundamental desires of a human being: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

“You have some good knowledge about sustainable integrated farming system, so we expect NARI to understand this approach and also to implement some research,” he said.

He explained that after the documents are signed, his team will return to Japan, and they will start the process for the procurement of Japanese expertise.

“We hope that the Japanese experts will be dispatched to NARI by May next year. They will come and work with staff at NARI and the ENB Provincial Administration,” he said.

NARI Director General Dr Nelson Simbaken said that the SHEP approach will strengthen agriculture extension programs in the province and the country, as a whole.

“The change in the government system has affected the agriculture extension services in the country, as everything is centralised in Waigani. This is unlike before when extension was with the people,” he said.

He said even the National Agriculture Development Plan in the country, was more focused on the commodities sector.

“So, we have had a difficult time connecting with our provinces, to deliver extension work. Hence, we’ve seen a decline in resource support for extension work, and farmers struggling on their own,” he said.

He further highlighted that farmers need to be trained to conduct market survey, in order to understand the market demand, so that they can farm for business or not the current subsistence practices.

This is apart from issues with land tenure and a booming population, hence Dr Simbaken said that farmers must learn to maximise production and gain from whatever land they have, to make their farming more efficient and cost effective, and to meet market demands.

ENB Provincial Administrator Levi Mano assured the JICA and NARI teams of the provincial administration’s support in ensuring a conducive environment for research work to be done in the province.

“So that we can get information needed to design a farming system that suits the changing environment in the province and the country as a whole. Through the Division of Agriculture and Livestock Industry and the Rural Development Officers, we will make sure farmers in the communities and information is available,” he said.

He further acknowledged the NARI and JICA for this project, saying it’s good that farmers will be heavily involved.

“Because after all, it will be them [farmers], with the help of the provincial government here, that will sustain this project in the long run. Though the project will end, the results of this project will be the responsibility of our farming communities and the local government,” he iterated.