On February 26, 2026, a launch event for the SATREPS‑VaryAla project, “Development of the Sustainable and Diversified Rice Farming System by Reflecting the Importance of Forest Functions,” and the JICA implementation-type FyVary2 project, “Project for Disseminating Innovative Technologies for Promoting Rice Production in Nutrient-Deficient Paddy Fields,” was held in Antananarivo, Madagascar, in a hybrid format with online participation.

The event opened with remarks from Dr. Koyama, President of JIRCAS, the Chief Representative of the JICA Madagascar Office, the Director General of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Madagascar. This was followed by presentations of the project overviews by Dr. Tsujimoto, Project Leader of the SATREPS‑VaryAla project at JIRCAS, and the Director of Extension of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, who serves as the Madagascar-side representative of the FyVary2 project.

After the group photo and media interviews, representatives from the University of Antananarivo, the National Office of Nutrition, the World Bank PHRD Project (rice sector), the GEF‑AFOLU Project (forest conservation and rural development), the CARD Regional Advisor, and the fertilizer company IRM shared comments expressing their expectations for the projects and future collaboration. Notably, the CARD Regional Advisor mentioned future dissemination to CARD member countries through the CARD General Meeting scheduled for mid‑March, while IRM reported its additional procurement of 500 tons of TSP fertilizer to support the expansion of P-dipping technology, indicating strong momentum for wider adoption.

The event concluded with closing remarks by the Senior Program Director of JST and the Director of Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Local participants continued discussions and networking during a luncheon following the program. Coverage of the event appeared on the official social media accounts of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Madagascar, as well as on television broadcasts, radio programs, national newspapers, and online media outlets.