After completing his studies, Éloge Rodrigue Kouao Kouao, a journalist and radio host, returned to Adzopé, a community in Cote d’Ivoire about 100 kilometres from Abidjan, the country’s economic capital. He now serves his community through his work at Kanien Radio.
The radio station collaborates with Farm Radio International to produce episodes on Nature-based Solutions (NBS). Mr. Kouao organizes call-in radio shows, allowing listeners to ask questions live on air. He also produces documentaries. He says, “It’s done in the local language [Akyé] so that everyone is included.”
Adzopé is located in an agricultural area centered around cocoa production. Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s largest producer of cocoa. However, droughts caused by climate change have plagued farmers for several years, leading to smaller harvests and reduced incomes.
Mr. Kouao highlights this reality in his episodes but also shares a Nature-based Solution that offers hope: agroforestry.
Agroforestry involves planting trees among crops. As the trees grow, they help mitigate drought-related issues by providing shade, encouraging rainfall, and retaining soil moisture. The trees can also provide farmers with additional income when they sell the wood. Moreover, trees remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, making them crucial in the fight against climate change.
Agroforestry was already practiced in Côte d’Ivoire before Farm Radio got involved. Mr. Kouao notes that the episodes are vital for reinforcing this solution. Agroforestry’s benefits aren’t immediate. He says, “some people might become discouraged.” He explains, “With this project, farmers are reassured that they made the right choice.”
Mr. Kouao finds the Nature-based Solutions project particularly important for young people, who will increasingly face the impacts of climate change. Without the episodes, some farmers might stop practicing agroforestry.He also explains that he enjoys learning new skills with Farm Radio. Training from Farm Radio taught him how to produce radio documentaries, a format he didn’t learn in journalism school. He is also pleased with the impact of his work with Farm Radio. He says, “Farmers rely on us to share information. When that information is broadcast through our radio, it’s truly satisfying.”
Photo caption: Journalist Éloge Rodrigue Kouao Kouao interviews Georges Yéffé, member of an Adzopé cocoa collective
This story is adapted from an article written by Farm Radio International called “Ivorian broadcaster promotes agroforestry as a climate solution” To read the full story, go to: https://farmradio.org/ivorian-broadcaster-promotes-agroforestry-as-a-climate-solution/