At Bushenyi FM in western Uganda, Tusingwire Moreen—known fondly to listeners as Aunt Momie—is using radio to transform agricultural practices and strengthen community participation. Although the station has aired farm radio programs for many years, Mrs. Moreen joined the team in 2022 as a broadcaster and producer. Since then, she has become a vital voice for farmers across Bushenyi district.
Every week, she plans, produces, and hosts the Green Leaf Program (GLP), a one-hour show that airs every Friday evening. Her work begins days earlier—collecting farmers’ voices in the field, editing interviews, preparing agricultural news, and organizing expert participation. She also uses social media platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to promote the program and reach younger audiences.
A key part of Mrs. Moreen’s work is ensuring women and youth are included. In her community, many women and young people do not own land, which limits their involvement in household farming decisions. Through field interviews, call-ins, and gender-inclusive expert selection, she makes sure their experiences and questions are heard. She says, “I tactically include them through interviews,” encouraging them to speak on air and engage with agricultural topics.
Listeners have responded enthusiastically to the GLP. Many record the programs for future reference and have adopted climate-smart practices such as mulching, agroforestry, water management, and integrated pest management. One listener, Anna from Kyamuhunga, learned how to make organic manure through the program. She now uses it on her farm, trains other women, and earns income by selling what they produce. A farmers’ group in Kantunda-Bumbaire was also inspired to produce organic manure at scale, selling to both companies and local farmers.
The program has also influenced local crop choices. As tea prices fluctuate, farmers in Kyamuhunga and Buhweju have shifted towards coffee after hearing experts discuss its potential as a sustainable enterprise.
For Mrs. Moreen, the GLP has been a source of personal and professional growth. She says it has strengthened her interviewing skills, expanded her social networks, and changed the way she approaches agricultural, environmental, and gender-focused programming.
Her message to fellow broadcasters is simple: “Have the Green Leaf Model at heart. It guides us and helps ensure no one—especially women—is left behind.”