We Are Tomodachi Spring 2018

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30For many African countries, national development relates directly to agricultural development. The present insufficiency of institutions and personnel offering technical expertise in agriculture, however, hinders improvements in agricultural productivity, forcing countries to depend on imports of foreign foodstuffs.Japan has long dispatched expert personnel to provide support for African agriculture. When the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) was held in August 2016, many African heads of state asked for an expansion of this support. Japan has responded by creating a new platform to connect Japan and African nations. While continuing to dispatch specialists to share their agricultural expertise and educate locals, Japan will also boost efforts to create effective Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects related to agricultural cooperation.The Government of Japan, after considering the requests from national leaders at summit meetings and determining specific needs, recently dispatched Japanese agricultural expert Hiroshi Kodama to Senegal and Guinea. Kodama, who has a wide range of experience in his field, explains the approach as follows. “In agriculture, just as in providing any kind of support, things won’t go well if you force your technology upon people. Before introducing new technology, it’s so important to match Hiroshi KodamaWorked with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Japan on rural development and promotion of agriculture, food-related technology development support, and the analysis and improvement of the value chain of flowers. He worked on a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization project in countries in south-east and south Asia and served with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the Philippines and Nigeria. Currently, he is working with JICA in Senegal and Guinea.Series: Japanese Individuals Contributing WorldwideAn Expert’s Touch Improves African Farmers’ Lives