Category: Information

From September 28th to October 22nd, Lameck Fiwa from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources was accepted as a short-term foreign researcher at the Tokyo University of Agriculture.
Through discussions and collaborative research with Japanese researchers, he analyzed the results of collaborative research on hydrological models, which are at the cutting edge of environmental conservation agriculture research, and prepared to submit a paper to an international academic journal. During his stay, he visited Nagoya University with Prof. Okazawa to discuss methods for summarizing the research results.

From August 4th to 19th, 2025, Hiromu Okazawa visited Malawi.
Have a meeting with Rector of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Dr. Lameck Fiwa, and conducted crop growth surveys, soil analysis, maintenance of installed equipment such as solar pumps, and gathered information on resource management methods through dialogue with farmers.
Held detailed discussions with Dr. Lameck Fiwa, who will be visiting Japan in September, regarding his research plans in Japan.

From July 13th to October 9th, 2025, Yasuko Kusakari visited Malawi as a short-term overseas researcher for this term.
She energetically collected multifaceted information related to the community and promoted the emergence of new actions. She continues to fulfill her role as a two-way knowledge translator that encourages knowledge sharing between Japanese and Malawian research members and local innovators.
She engaged in dialogue and follow-up with stakeholders in Chembe village, and held discussions and exchanged opinions with various committees.

From July 26th to August 8th, 2025, Tetsu Sato visited Malawi.
Had a meeting and surveyed the current status of the farm and Chirondu management and operation, and also participated in the tour guide association’s pamphlet launch ceremony. Discussed with many members the research strategy and compilation of papers for the final year of the project, and held meetings to discuss the creation of final results. Discussions also progressed regarding further research plans, allowing for concrete prospects to be established.

From July 6th to August 23rd, Happy Mussa, Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho:MEXT) Scholarship Student from Kagoshima University, conducted research in Malawi.
Following up on his research from last September, he conducted a comparative study that combined participatory research on advanced cases in Japan with fieldwork on Lake Malawi. He was able to collect primary data on the structure, implementation, and performance of fisheries products marketing in Malawi, with a focus on mapping value chains, analyzing stakeholder behavior, profitability, and efficiency, and identifying challenges and opportunities for sustainable market systems. As planned, He was able to collect data from key fishing grounds and urban markets, gaining important insights.

From July 25th to August 1st, 2025, Talandila Kasapila, a long-term researcher at Ehime University, conducted research in Yakushima.
This is the third on-site research in Yakushima for his master’s thesis. He was able to share, evaluate, and validate the findings with previous research participants,
get feedback on the preliminary findings, and conduct interviews with new stakeholders (local fishermen and farmers).

From June 14th to 25th June, 2025, Kiyotaka Tokuraku and Shinya Yamanaka visited Malawi
From June 10th to 26th June, 2025, Tetsu Sato visited Malawi

Held a project progress reports and future discussions at the Embassy of Japan in Malawi, the JICA Malawi Office, and the National Parks and Wildlife.
In Chembe village, discuss the progress and challenges of the SCM farm and community-based fisheries resource management, observed and collected native edible plants in the forest, and visited a potential experimental field with John and Mantis
Paid a courtesy visit to Vice Chancellor Samson Sajidu, Dickson Mazibuko, and others of the University of Malawi. Visited the university’s experimental farm and discussed the use of native plants for food, resulting in significant results for the joint research.

Ms. Kusakari, who was stationed in Malawi as a long-term expert from June 5th, 2021, to June 5th, 2025, has returned to Japan.
The international collaborative research project by JICA, which had been delayed due to the spread of COVID-19, has officially begun, and she finally arrived in Chembe Village, the research site, on June 6, 2021.
For the next four years, as a resident researcher, she acted as a “two-way knowledge translator” promoting knowledge sharing between Japanese and Malawian research members and local innovators.
She collaborated with all research groups and built trusting relationships with diverse stakeholders both within and outside the community. Without her, this project would not have been possible.
Thank you so much for your hard work over the years!

From April 29th to May 13th, 2025, Shinichiro Kakuma visited Malawi.
The electromagnetic current meter installed to observe the flow near Chirundu was retrieved and reinstalled after data was retrieved. In addition, observations of water temperature, fluorescence intensity, and turbidity were conducted, as well as a survey of the lake bottom topography.
Based on these results, we dialogued with members of the resource management organization, Madothi BVC of Chembe Village. In consultation with Sustainable Cape Maclear, the resource management organization of Chembe Village, we designed a tool to evaluate the integrated management of fishery, forest, agricultural, and tourism resources.