We Are Tomodachi Summer 2018

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13Inoue held a position that helpedboth governments exchange detailedinformation including regionaldiffi culties and cooperation measures.His new role enabled him to takethe initiative to discover and planmore effective Offi cial DevelopmentAssistance (ODA) projects in amore effi cient way.“My mission is to find furtherchallenges based on the past JICAprojects. Being in this position, Ican always talk to the leaders ofZambia’s Agricultural Ministry,including the Minister, the PermanentSecretary, and the Director ofDepartment. In this regard, it willbe easier for us to grasp the country’sreal needs and respond appropriatelyto those,” says Inoue.Inoue developed agriculturalinfrastructure in regions aroundJapan as a MAFF official, and heworked with JICA in Africa as anagricultural water managementspecialist. In Tanzania, he wasinvolved with developing the riceindustry, and he helped with theProject for Strengthening WaterManagement Transfer for the Nilein Egypt. “From now on, I will becommitted to enriching the soil inZambia by moving forward with theirrigation and rice cultivationdissemination projects,” says Inoue.Water-rich Zambia producesalmost 100% of its power fromhydroelectric stations so one wouldthink that with such abundant waterresources, the country could putthem to use for agriculture.Unfortunately, irrigation infrastructureis almost non-existent, and muchof the land has yet to be developed.While the country’s area is classifi edas medium to high potential foragricultural production, only 15%is utilized, and very little of that isadequately irrigated. [2]Over the past four years, JICAhas supported a low-cost irrigationapproach, community-basedsmallholder irrigation, in threeprovinces. The project is acclaimedfor its practicality, effectiveness,and efficiency by the Zambiangovernment as well as donor agencies.Inoue is monitoring these activities,and now with his new role, he willbe engaged directly with agriculturedevelopment within the Zambiangovernment.The Zambian government hashigh expectations for the newadvisor. Agriculture PermanentSecretary Julius Shawa states,“Having Mr. Inoue in the Ministrywill facilitate our internal informationsharing and speed decision-making.He can directly communicate withboth governments, and we areconfi dent that he is an invaluableaddition to our offi ce.”Inoue added excitedly, “I want tobecome the agricultural bridgebetween Japan and Zambia.”Meeting with Julius Shawa, Agriculture Permanent Secretary. After joining the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry andFisheries (MAFF) of Japan, Yutaka Inoue worked on agricultural infrastructure development projects in various regionsin Japan. He was sent to Zambia earlier this year after his activities supporting Tanzania and Egypt. Inoue is now theSenior Agricultural Advisor to the Ambassador of Japan and the Advisor to the Department of Agriculture of Zambia,Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture.Japan’s irrigation development supportproject in Zambia to reap the harvest.[1] Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. 2016 Second National Agriculture Policy; Ministry of Department Planning; 2017 Seventh National Development.[2] Embassy of Japan in Zambia Homepage; Aregheore, Eroarome Martin. Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profi les. FAO.REPUBLIC OFZAMBIAJAPAN