Radio Progress’ Kuora Tona wins the Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio 2026
Radio Progress’ Kuora Tona (Farmers Benefit) has won the Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio 2026, recognizing its outstanding contribution to advancing women’s voices in agriculture. Radio Progress is a community radio station based in Wa, in Ghana’s Upper West Region, with a broadcast reach of approximately 200 kilometres. Its flagship program, Kuora Tona, is a one-hour show dedicated to promoting and encouraging women, especially young women, to remain resilient in agriculture
From credit dependence to self-resilience: A widow fishmonger’s journey to independence
Over many difficult seasons, Betty Simpson, a widow and fishmonger in Charlesville Township situated in lower Margibi County, survived her fish trading business almost entirely on credit. With no steady capital and the responsibility of providing for her household alone, she relied on borrowed fish and informal credit arrangements just to remain active in the market. “I used to live on credit,” Betty said. “If I didn’t get fish on credit, I couldn’t
Meet George Atkins Award winner Kpira Odette: Championing farmers through radio
Kpira Odette is a seasoned journalist and radio presenter whose passion for broadcasting is rooted in her deep connection to agriculture and rural life. Originally from northern Togo, she began her radio journey in 2008 at Radio Lomé, the national broadcaster, after earning her diploma in journalism from ISICA at the University of Lomé. Driven by a love for storytelling and a distinctive voice that listeners immediately recognize, she has
Kianda : Episode 2
Welcome to Kianda, a lively radio drama that brings the daily realities of Mozambican farmers to life! Set in the fictitious village of Kianda, the series follows Ismael and his wife Leila, together with their friends Faizal and Mariamo, as they tackle real agricultural challenges – from choosing certified seeds and conserving soils to preparing natural fertilizers, rotating crops, and managing pests sustainably. Blending laughter, practical lessons, and down-to-earth agricultural
Meet George Atkins award winner Ayero Annet: Radio for farmer empowerment
Since 2018, Ayero Annet has dedicated her career to using radio to empower small-scale farmers in Northern Uganda. A presenter at Radio WA in Lira City, she brings an intimate understanding of the challenges faced by farmers who often rely on radio as their sole source of information. Through her partnership with Farm Radio International, Mrs. Annet has strengthened her mission to make radio a tool for learning, peer-to-peer knowledge
Voices that grow food systems: How FAO ComDev invests in rural women and girls
This International Women’s Day, the theme “Give to Gain” invites reflection not only on what must be invested, but on how change is built. For FAO’s Communication for Development (ComDev), investing in rural women and girls means strengthening the communication processes that allow them to participate, influence decisions and shape the future of agrifood systems. Rural women and girls are central to food security and rural economies. They produce a
Kianda: Farming for the Future : Episode 1
Series Introduction Set in the vibrant fictional village of Kianda, this engaging radio drama follows Ismael, Leila, Faizal, and Mariamo as they navigate the everyday realities of smallholder farming in Mozambique. Through humour, relatable challenges, and practical lessons, the series explores climate-smart agriculture, soil conservation, natural fertilizers, crop rotation, pest management, and smart agribusiness planning. Each episode highlights best practices promoted by the FAO’s EU-funded PROMOVE Agribiz programme, showing how
Liberia’s next generation of farmers train at Youth International Training Institute to combat food insecurity
Under the hot sun and amid rows of vegetables, fish ponds, compost pits, and buzzing beehives, young Liberians are redefining agriculture, not as punishment or a last resort, but as innovation, entrepreneurship, and a national responsibility. At the agricultural training farm of the Youth International Training Institute (YITI), dozens of young people drawn from different institutions and surrounding communities are acquiring hands-on skills aimed at strengthening Liberia’s food security and
From poverty to prosperity: How Esther David rebuilt her life through the Women Fishmonger Grant
For years, Esther David, a fishmonger in Newcess Town, Grand Bassa County, lived from one uncertain day to the next. Each morning, she headed to the market not knowing whether she would return home with enough money to feed her family, let alone save for the future. On good days, she sold fish and earned a little income. On bad days, she returned home empty-handed. There was no financial cushion, no safety
Jean Harerimana Sesore: Giving voice to rural communities in Binza
Jean Harerimana Sesore is both a reporter and the Director General of RTCU FM-Binza, a community radio station in the Democratic Republic of Congo. For him, journalism is more than a profession—it is a vocation. He explains, “I feel truly at ease when meeting villagers to talk about their daily lives—whether difficult or joyful.” His reporting covers agriculture, health, environment, and livestock. As director, he also oversees the station’s overall