Rural Communication Services

Farmer-to-farmer videos boost south-south knowledge exchange in Uganda and beyond

Digital tools are making access to information more and more possible, and participatory videos are a great way for farmers to share their experiences with other farmers in their own countries and beyond. In the RFS Uganda project sites, Farmer Field Schools partnered with Access Agriculture to get in on the exchanges. At the 2022 Resilient Food Systems (RFS) Annual Workshop, Eswatini project lead, Lynn Kota, said that, in her

Here’s how broadcasters participated in the Farm Radio International COVID-19 vaccine confidence campaign

Vaccines are critical in preventing severe illness from COVID-19 and keeping communities healthy. Yet many people still have questions or are hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccines. Between May and September 2022, approximately 250 Farm Radio broadcasting partners in 16 countries participated in the Farm Radio International COVID-19 vaccine confidence campaign. The campaign promoted COVID-19 vaccines, answered listeners’ questions, and provided good information on the effectiveness of the vaccines available in

Talking Books provide an innovative solution to reach rural communities in Uganda

Dramatic dialogue, music and poetry are not the usual ways that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) raises awareness of and sensitizes rural communities on women’s land rights, but an innovative project in Uganda is doing just that through so-called Talking Books. Talking books are audio devices that allow people with low or no literacy to receive training in a dynamic way. In partnership with Amplio, a US based

Here’s how Farm Radio International broadcasting partners are using Barza Wire Farmer stories

In July and early August, Farm Radio International asked our broadcasting partners to tell us how they use Barza Wire Farmer stories. Fifty-eight people responded and shared their stories of how Barza Wire, Farm Radio scripts, and training resources improve their programming. Respondents said they had read and used Farmer stories on a variety of topics, but mainly: climate change; crop production, handling, and processing; COVID-19, and gender. COVID-19 and gender were by far the most popular topics.

How Bamtaare FM created a website to reach more people with local information

Thierno Diop is president and director of Bamtaare Dodel FM (103.4). Located in the department of Podore in the Sene region of Senegal, the station’s frequency reaches a radius of 70 to 100km. According to listeners, this isn’t nearly enough. Mr. Diop recalls, “Many people called me … outside of Senegal, and within. [People] who wanted to listen to local information, who wanted to hear about the situation in our

Radio increases awareness and helps farmers get vaccinated against COVID-19

It’s around nine o’clock in the morning and people are going in and out of a hospital and public COVID-19 vaccination centre in Shashamene, a town in southern Ethiopia more than 250 km from the capital Addis Ababa. Ketema Wako is busy selling raw milk and other dairy products at the hospital staff cafeteria to generate income for his family. Each day, Mr. Wako sells between 35 and 47 litres

Farm Radio, other stakeholders, mark Africa Smallholders Farmers' Summit 2022

Farm Radio International, a non-profit organization focused on using radio to help African farming communities has joined other stakeholders to mark the fourth edition of the Africa Smallholders Farmers’ Summit 2022. The program which was hosted at the School of Agriculture, University of Ghana in the Greater Accra Region, brought together agriculture input dealers, organizations and smallholder farmers across Africa to stay abreast of the innovations and technologies improving best

Regional Forum: The importance of inclusive Rural Communication Services for family farming in Africa

Family farming policies and programmes, including Rural communication services (RCS), are vital in strengthening the participatory communication capacities among farmer organizations and rural institutions and giving family farmers the capacity needed for sustainability. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in collaboration with YenKasa Africa held a regional forum on Rural Communication Services for family farming in Africa on 30th June 2022.  The UN Decade for Family Farming

SAVE THE DATE! 11 July 2022 – UNDFF Forum on Inclusive Rural Communication Services for Family Farming

Within the context of the UN Decade on Family Farming, FAO and three regional Communication for Development initiatives (ComDev Asia, Onda Rural and YenKasa Africa), have joined force to promote inclusive Rural Communication Services (RCS), as part of family farming policies and programmes; and to strengthen participatory communication capacities among farmer organizations and rural institutions. The Global Forum on Rural Communication Services for Family Farming will take place online on

SAVE THE DATE! 30 June 2022 - Regional Forum on Rural Communication Services for Family Farming in Africa

Within the context of the UN Decade on Family Farming (UNDFF), FAO and the regional Communication for Development initiative YenKasa Africa have joined forces to promote inclusive Rural Communication Services (RCS) in Africa as part of family farming policies and programmes; and to strengthen participatory communication capacities among farmers’ organizations and rural institutions.   YenKasa Africa initiative and FAO invite you on 30 June 2022 to the virtual Regional Forum on