THE FUSE

The Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) has welcomed an international delegation focused on strengthening smallholder farming through the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) approach. The visit, led by the Acting Capricorn District Director, brought together officials from the National Department of Agriculture and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The delegation includes Mr Ren Kamioka and Mr Matsuno Masato from JICA’s Agricultural and Rural Development Programme. Their engagement in Limpopo forms part of a broader national assessment of how the SHEP model is transforming agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. The visit reflects growing interest in practical, market-driven farming systems that improve income for small-scale producers.