On March 21, 2025, the Menamasoandro Hotel in Morondava hosted the National Sharing Workshop of the GP-SAEP Program. This event brought together key project stakeholders – AIM NGO, CTAS NGO, FCA Country Fora, Access Agriculture, and YPARD – with a common goal: to share knowledge, learn from field experiences, and enhance practices through Cluster Learning Groups.
A Key Moment for Evaluation and Exchange
The workshop brought together all project implementation teams from the three intervention districts (Miandrivazo, Mahabo, and Morondava). Following the official opening by Dr. Hlami Ngwenya, the Expert in Professionalization at GFRAS (Global Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services), then the participants assisted to the assessment of the project’s progress. The evaluation, based on defined indicators, highlighted not only the program’s achievements but also the challenges encountered in the field.
Master Trainers from each cluster per district then presented their achievements and working methodologies. These exchanges helped identify and promote concrete best practices that could be experimented with and replicated in other districts.
Visible Results in the Field
Despite the project’s recent nature, the first tangible impacts are already observable. Local beneficiaries have particularly noted:
- Improved agricultural yields
- Reduced costs related to inputs
- Decreased agricultural losses
- The appeal and effectiveness of agroecological techniques compared to other farming methods
Even though this is the first rice-growing cycle in which a series of agroecological techniques have been tested within Demonstration Plots (Demoplots), the test results are encouraging and already convincing for members of the Farmer Field Schools.
An Enriched Workshop with International Contributions
The event was marked by contributions from Dr. Hlami Ngwenya and Dr. Lilian Lihasi, Director of Program Extensions at AFAAS (African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services). Their expertise provided strategic insights into the project’s challenges and offered effective advice to maximize its impact. They also praised the efforts of local teams and the progress made in such a short time.
An Inspiring Experience Sharing with Uganda
The GP-SAEP Project Officer in Uganda, implemented by UFAAS, shared their experiences and proven methods applied in their country. Their presentation generated significant interest among participants, leading to numerous questions and opening the door to strengthened exchanges between the two countries. This increased collaboration could contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and creating an even greater impact for smallholder farmers.
Closing the Sharing Workshop with a Field Visit to Mahabo and Morondava Districts
To conclude this national sharing workshop, a field visit was organized to observe firsthand the progress of Farmer Field Schools and their experiments in the neighboring districts of Mahabo and Morondava. A small FCA team, accompanied by representatives from GFRAS, AFAAS, UFAAS, and the larger Access Agriculture team, participated in this visit. This allowed them to understand the steps taken by the Farmer Field Schools to develop experiments that address common issues faced by farmers in Menabe. Smallholders highlighted the importance of grouping within the Farmer Field Schools for better co-learning and co-creation. Some members have even begun replicating agroecological techniques they found suitable on their own farms. The visiting team commended and encouraged the Master Trainer team, extension officers, and especially the small farmers.