yenkasa

Using ICTs to get innovations into the hands of farmers

Millions of smallholder farmers in remote areas do not have access to information that will help them with their farming needs.  They are thus denied opportunity to learn and apply improved and efficient agronomic practices that improve productivity and household food security. The Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF), funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Global Affairs Canada, designed a program to increase collaboration between farmers,

The Listening Post: Consulting with farmers

“What change would most help you, your family, and your neighbours earn enough money and have enough good food for the whole year?” a recorded voice on a mobile phone asks Sara Masanja, a woman from Shinyanga Vijijini, a rural area in northern Tanzania. “Dial 1 for more support in farming, fishing and livestock keeping; 2 for training and education; 3 for improved healthcare; or 4 for better roads, electricity,

ICA Programme: Leveraging ICTs to promote decent youth employment

The FAO Integrated Country Approach (ICA) for promoting decent rural employment promotes the active engagement of youth into policy dialogue on topics of relevance for the agri-food sector. The programme has been adopting participatory communication principles as well as applying ICTs in Guatemala and Senegal. In Senegal, a web-based National Observatory of Rural Employment (ONER) has been designed and implemented with the National Agency for the Promotion of Youth Employment (ANPEJ). A local youth-led organization, called Yeesal Agri-Hub, developed

Pambazuko: a radio series to discuss health & human rights

A radio series entitled “Pambazuko” has taken the airwaves in the eastern region of Democratic Republic of Congo. Produced by Population Media Center (PMC), with support from the network of the Hirondelle Foundation, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Global Affairs Canada, UNICEF, DKT International, UNAIDS, the US Embassy, the Segal Family Foundation and the Jane Goodall Institute, this series aims to change behaviors towards human rights and health issues. The approach is educational, but also entertaining as everyday life events are

Climate Services for Smallholder Farmers in Senegal

Climate change and variability is overwhelming local knowledge and traditions for farm management across Africa. Kaffrine, Senegal’s main agricultural region, has not been spared the scourge­. In the past, Kaffrine farmers recognized the approach of new seasons by the changes in wind direction. The unusual appearance of snakes and frogs or heavy rains preceded by strong wind and dark clouds from a particular direction was an indication of a coming

Yenkasa Africa now part of BarzaWire!

We are proud to announce that Yenkasa Africa is now part of Barza Wire – a service of Farm Radio International. Barza Wire is a unique weekly news service shares stories relevant to small-scale farmers and rural communities. This content is available for use by radio broadcasters, and can be accessed online or through our weekly email. Check it out at this link!

MP3 recordings bring farm tips in languages farmers in rural areas understand

Rural farmers in Gwanda, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe are generally cut off from vital government agriculture services by virtue of distance. The solution is: cheaply-recorded MP3 podcasts that are bringing awareness of weather, crop prices, or pest control. The problem is that Matabeleland South is one of Zimbabwe´s driest and underdeveloped region. The soil is rocky, agriculture colleges are rare, agriculture technicians shun the vast district, sporadic flooding can ruin crops,

The socially engaged investors guide to communication for development

The strongest information campaigns and campaign materials result from a communication for development approach, supporting active engagement with the target audience from the outset. Additional investment can deliver appropriate and timely targeted materials and messages that are rooted in the lived experience of the audience. This guide aims to improve socially progressive investment in communication for development in sub-Saharan Africa. Sections are designed to work together to support the development

Extending the Learning Community. Rural radio, social learning and farm productivity in Ghana

This paper examines the potential role of indigenous knowledge sharing through rural FM radio stations in Ghanaian agriculture. To identify social learning effects, we examine crop productivity trends and their association with participation in radio programs, and compare the strength of these associations before and after the emergence of rural radio. Our analysis shows stronger conditional correlations between participation intensity and noncash crop yields, which are consistent with the expectation