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Facing down drought in Zimbabwe with irrigation

This year, the rains were late in Zimbabwe. Because of El Niño, many maize farmers were left without the water they needed during the crucial growing season in February. The next rainy season, from October to December, is also likely to be drier than usual. With crop failures anticipated across the country, about 6 million people are expected to be food insecure. This is not the first time El Niño has brought food

African Youth Participate in Formation Sessions in South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mauritius

Between October and December 2024, African youth participated in various training (formation) sessions focused on global contextual analysis, political debates, social movement building, food sovereignty, and youth participation. These events, held in South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mauritius, fostered exchanges and connections to enhance and strengthen youth-driven actions for 2025 and beyond. Nkrumah School – Training of Trainers in Political Education, South Africa The first gathering occurred from September 20th to

Celebrating broadcasting excellence on World Radio Day 2025

What: Virtual event — World Radio Day Celebration 2025 When: Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, 8:00 a.m. Ottawa, 1:00 p.m. Accra, 2:00 p.m. Kinshasa, 4:00 p.m. Addis Ababa, Kampala, Dodoma Register now: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_W16FRHEzSJypsxoMFOnYkQ#/registration Join us on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, to celebrate World Radio Day and honour the 2025 winners of the Farm Radio Awards! This bilingual event will feature insights from the winners of the George Atkins Communication Award and

Large-scale investment in Farmer Field Schools in Kenya helps expand farmers’ knowledge and increase their incomes

For a few months now, Esther Munani Kyalo’s routine has changed. A mother of three living in the Miambani ward in Kitui county, Kenya, she has followed a new ritual every Tuesday since the Kavakaky Farmer Field School was launched. Together with around 35 other women from her area, she walks to a nearby house where the group meets and breeds chicks in the small but brand-new poultry house. Sitting

Digital hubs to bridge rural-urban digital divide in Zimbabwe

In a major push to digitize rural communities, the government of Zimbabwe, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is set to establish digital hubs in Bikita and Mhondoro-Ngezi districts under the Fostering Digital Villages Through Innovative Advisory and Profitable Market Services in Africa (FDiVi) project. “The FDiVi project aims to transform agricultural and food systems in rural areas through digital technologies,” said Dowsen Sango, the

Kodon Yiriba amplifies voices for gender equality

Radio Jamana’s program Kodon Yiriba, runner-up for the 2024 Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio, plays a crucial role in addressing gender equality and social issues in Mali’s Koutiala region. This 60-minute weekly program, co-hosted by Ibrahim Dembele and Maïmouna Ouattara, raises awareness on the consequences of sexual harassment and rape, particularly its impact on adolescents and young adults. The program empowers listeners to report incidents to local authorities, fostering

Call for papers: FAO, IAMCR announce 2025 Rural Communication Services research award

The Rural Communication (RUC) Working Group of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) invites the submission of abstracts for its 2025 conference, which will be held in Singapore from 13 to 17 July 2025, hosted by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University. As part of the conference, IAMCR, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Voice of Kono’s Woman Talk (Tok) : Winner of the 2024 Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio

Voice of Kono is dedicated to amplifying women’s voices and promoting gender equality in the Kono district, Sierra Leone. Their program, Woman Talk (Tok), was selected as the 2024 winner of the recently the 2024 Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio, which recognizes radio programs that address women’s rights and gender equality in their communities. The goal of Woman Talk (Tok) is to address the everyday challenges faced by women and children,

Radio programme: Kenyan youth involvement in agriculture

Under the Yenkasa Africa rural radio initiative, Radio Maisha, in collaboration with the Kenya National Farmers Federation (KENAFF) and Sigor Youth Vision Group from Bomet County, aired a Kiswahili-language program titled Kenyan youth involvement in agriculture. This episode aimed to shed light on the role of young people in transforming agriculture into a sustainable and profitable sector despite the challenges they face. The program emphasized opportunities available for young people,

Special feature: World Fisheries Day 2024 -The role of small-scale fisheries in building a resilient future

On 21 November 2024, World Fisheries Day is celebrated worldwide to highlight the vital role of fisheries in providing food, supporting livelihoods, and conserving biodiversity. This day emphasizes the importance of sustainable fishing and the responsible management of aquatic resources to ensure food security and socio-economic growth for future generations. Global fisheries and aquaculture production reached an all-time high of 223.2 million tonnes in 2022, with 185.4 million tonnes coming