Dr. Ryosuke Ozaki, Researcher at JIRCAS and a member of SATREPS VaryAla Project (Output 3), traveled to Madagascar from June to July to gather information for an intervention experimment.

During this trip, Vakinankaratra Region, the target area for the intervention experiment, was visited to confirm fertilizer retailers' willingness to continue their cooperation. Issues identified during the previous year's data collection were reviewed, and measures to address these issues were discussed in preparation for this year's research activities. In addition, field surveys were conducted to validate market survey data, and improvements to data collection methods were explored. Furthermore, discussions and information sharing were carried out with counterpart research institutions and stakeholders involved in international cooperation projects to strengthen collaboration for the smooth implementation of future research activities.