The SHEP Forum, organized under the JICA SHEP & SSC Project implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DoA) in collaboration the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was successfully held on December 18, 2024. It brought together officials from the Department of Agriculture, the JICA Sri Lanka office, JICA SHEP and SSC project staff, SAFE project staff, and representatives from farmer groups.
During the forum, participants exchanged good practices and discussed the benefits of the SHEP approach in each district. The overall progress of the project activities was also evaluated. In addition, discussions were held on how to institutionalize the SHEP approach. Participants shared their experiences with one another and established a SHEP network among field-level officers across districts.
The forum was an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between JICA and DoA, and affirmed that the SHEP approach can lead Sri Lanka’s agriculture towards sustainable development.
