Uloma Mezie-Osuocha

Harvesting Hope: Empowering Women Farmers for Higher Healthy Food Production in Northern Ghana

In Ghana, access to key agricultural productive assets, such as seeds, fertilizers, water and land, is critical to agricultural productivity and food security, especially for women and youth. This disparity is particularly pronounced in some parts of Ghana, where traditional norms and cultural practices often restrict women’s access to agricultural inputs and tools, relegating them to secondary roles in agriculture despite their significant contributions to food production and household nutrition.

Listening to change: FAO-supported rural radio initiatives boost climate action

WATCH: Rural radio: Listening to change (WRD 2025) LISTEN: 80 ans de la FAO / Les radios rurales: des ondes qui rapprochent les communauté (in French) As the world marks World Radio Day 2025 on 13 February under the theme Radio and Climate Change, it is worth reflecting on the fundamental role of radio in rural communication. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, disrupting food systems, natural resources, livelihoods

The Digital Agri Hub-Cultivating Tomorrow’s Agriculture : The Ultimate Digital Solutions Reference Hub

The Digital Agri Hub is a good public initiative developed and maintained by Wageningen University and Research (WUR). The Hub tracks the evolution of the digital agriculture (D4Ag) ecosystem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In collaboration with sectoral stakeholders, the Hub regularly publishes new insights and updates on important developments in the domain of digital agriculture. At the core of the Hub rests a database with a queryable dashboard currently featuring more than 1250 digital solutions deployed across LMICs. The site is available in English, French and Spanish. The

Facing down drought in Zimbabwe with irrigation

This year, the rains were late in Zimbabwe. Because of El Niño, many maize farmers were left without the water they needed during the crucial growing season in February. The next rainy season, from October to December, is also likely to be drier than usual. With crop failures anticipated across the country, about 6 million people are expected to be food insecure. This is not the first time El Niño has brought food

African Youth Participate in Formation Sessions in South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mauritius

Between October and December 2024, African youth participated in various training (formation) sessions focused on global contextual analysis, political debates, social movement building, food sovereignty, and youth participation. These events, held in South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mauritius, fostered exchanges and connections to enhance and strengthen youth-driven actions for 2025 and beyond. Nkrumah School – Training of Trainers in Political Education, South Africa The first gathering occurred from September 20th to

Large-scale investment in Farmer Field Schools in Kenya helps expand farmers’ knowledge and increase their incomes

For a few months now, Esther Munani Kyalo’s routine has changed. A mother of three living in the Miambani ward in Kitui county, Kenya, she has followed a new ritual every Tuesday since the Kavakaky Farmer Field School was launched. Together with around 35 other women from her area, she walks to a nearby house where the group meets and breeds chicks in the small but brand-new poultry house. Sitting

Call for papers: FAO, IAMCR announce 2025 Rural Communication Services research award

The Rural Communication (RUC) Working Group of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) invites the submission of abstracts for its 2025 conference, which will be held in Singapore from 13 to 17 July 2025, hosted by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University. As part of the conference, IAMCR, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Radio programme: Kenyan youth involvement in agriculture

Under the Yenkasa Africa rural radio initiative, Radio Maisha, in collaboration with the Kenya National Farmers Federation (KENAFF) and Sigor Youth Vision Group from Bomet County, aired a Kiswahili-language program titled Kenyan youth involvement in agriculture. This episode aimed to shed light on the role of young people in transforming agriculture into a sustainable and profitable sector despite the challenges they face. The program emphasized opportunities available for young people,

Radio Programme: Marketing Efficiency and Value Chain of Garlic: A Spotlight on Mbulu District’s Collective and Value-Added Garlic Production in Tanzania

In collaboration with YenKasa Africa and MVIWAMA, Habari Njema Radio 87.5 FM produced a radio episode in Swahili titled “Marketing Efficiency and Value Chain of Garlic.” This was produced under the radio programme “Kilimo Bora, Maisha Bora” (Good Farming, Better Lives), which is dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture and improving farmer livelihoods. The program explores the garlic value chain in the Mbulu District of Tanzania, focusing on the efforts of

Solar-powered solutions transform lives in Northern Ghana

The long dry season—from November to April every year—used to be a hardship for the village of Kunkua in the Bolgatanga-East District of Ghana. But now, a solar-powered water system has transformed their fortunes in a remarkable way. Catastrophic climate change The northern region of Ghana is believed to be one of the most vulnerable to climate change. Longer and more frequent periods of drought have spelt disaster for the