Antigua and Barbuda Participates in JICA Training Programme on Greenhouse and Related Technologies for Market-Oriented Agriculture by Brea Watkins
Antigua and Barbuda is being represented by Ms. Anika Aska/ Extension Officer (ag), in the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Knowledge Co-Creation Programme titled “Greenhouse and Related Technologies for Market-Oriented Agriculture.” The programme brings together agricultural professionals from selected developing countries to strengthen their knowledge and skills in modern, market-oriented agricultural production.The programme focuses on how greenhouse and related technologies can be used to improve horticultural production while responding to market demands. Particular attention is given to helping small-scale farmers produce crops according to consumer needs, including the right products, timing, quantities and quality. The overall goal is to support improved farmer incomes and stronger food value chains.
Through the programme, participants are expected to examine the challenges facing facility cultivation in their respective countries, learn how to collect and analyse market information, and understand how protected cultivation can be adapted to local agricultural conditions. They will also develop knowledge to improve existing farming plans and create an action plan for introducing market-oriented facility cultivation within their working areas.
The training combines online learning with practical training in Japan. The online component runs from September 14 to October 10, 2026. All participants will be connected via Zoom to see on-demand videos and Q&A sessions. The face-to-face programme takes place from October 13 (arrival) to December 12, 2026 (departure), at the JICA Tsukuba Center. Participants will take part in lectures, interactive sessions, fieldwork, discussions, presentations and study visits. The program has a capacity of 15 participants.
A major feature of the programme is its practical approach. Participants will gain exposure to greenhouse and protected cultivation, vegetable production, marketing, food value chains and government policies that support farmers. Practical activities include seed sowing, seedling production, bok choy harvesting, pest control, and mock sales. Study visits will also provide opportunities to observe farmers’ markets, smart farming facilities, seedling and processing centres, irrigation systems and agricultural distribution practices in Japan.
The programme is designed for public-sector agricultural professionals involved in vegetable production extension, particularly officers who supervise or prepare work plans for agricultural extension officers. Antigua and Barbuda is one of ten countries participating in the programme, alongside Albania, Botswana, Jamaica, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Mozambique, the Philippines and Tajikistan. Successful participants will receive a certificate from JICA.
The knowledge gained through this programme can contribute to Antigua and Barbuda’s efforts to strengthen agricultural production, encourage the adoption of appropriate protected cultivation technologies, and help farmers better align production with market opportunities. As Antigua and Barbuda’s representative, Anika Aska will have the opportunity to gain practical knowledge and international exposure that can support agricultural extension and contribute to the development of more market-oriented farming approaches locally.
The JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Programme is based on the principle of mutual learning and collaboration, allowing participants to learn from Japanese experiences while also sharing knowledge and experiences from their own country