We Are Tomodachi Summer 2018

12/32

12ocated in south-centralAfrica, Zambia boasts richmineral resources including copperand cobalt. Since the mid-2000s,the country has achieved steadyeconomic growth. However, 2014marked a severe decline in internationalcopper prices, which combined withother factors, has destabilized thecountry’s economy.To reduce economic dependenceon the mining industry, Zambia haslaunched an initiative to strengthenthe agriculture sector in hopes ofdiversifying the economy for economicgrowth and poverty reduction.While the agriculture industryaccounts for 67% of Zambia’sworkforce, it only contributes to8.7% of the GDP. [1] Improvedproductivity will not only help thecountry’s economy but also contributeto food security as well as increasehousehold incomes and improveliving standards.The pursuit of improved productivityled to the Zambian government’srequest for assistance from Japan.Japan’s response was to send YutakaInoue from the Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) asthe Senior Agricultural Advisor.It wasn’t the fi rst time that Japanprovided Zambia agricultural support.Japan International CooperationAgency (JICA) has aided withprojects for technology introduction,community-based smallholderirrigation and dissemination of ricecultivation. Inoue, however, wouldoffer a different variety of support.As an advisory member to theZambian government and the SeniorAgricultural Advisor to theAmbassador of Japan in Zambia,LInoue warmly welcomed in Zambia, From left to right: Hidenobu Sobashima: AmbassadorExtraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan; Yutaka Inoue: Senior Agricultural Advisor to theAmbassador of Japan and the Advisor to the Department of Agriculture of Zambia; MichealZ.J Katambo: Minister of Agriculture, Republic of Zambia; Peter K. Lungu: Director ofDepartment of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Zambia.Dispatched to Zambia as a response to the country’s request for infrastructural supportFEATURE Japan in AfricaCultivatingthe Zambian Economy