Start a dialogue!
2023
Radio Station: Habari Njema Radio 87.5 FM
Producer Organization: MVIWAMA
Production Language: Swahili
Production Year: 2023
Programme 1: Introduction
Thomas Joseph, representing the Regional Farmers’ Groups Network in Manyara (MVIWAMA), discussed the organization's collaborative program with Radio Habari Njema, "Better Agriculture, Better Livelihood." MVIWAMA, comprising over 7,000 members across Babati, Hanang, Mbulu, Kiteto, and Simanjiro districts, prioritizes uniting smallholder farmers into groups to empower them through training in leadership, business, and ecological farming practices. Additionally, the organization facilitates market access, advocacy, and capacity-building, aiming to enhance community well-being and sustainable agricultural practices.
Moreover, MVIWAMA is actively involved in the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) program funded by FAO, which focuses on environmental conservation and the well-being of forest and farm producers. Through the FFF program, MVIWAMA aims to build capacity, increase market access, promote environmental conservation, and achieve social and cultural recognition for its members. By emphasizing entrepreneurship, tree planting, and collaborations with stakeholders, MVIWAMA strives to strengthen the value chain in agriculture, with a particular focus on garlic farming, while promoting sustainable environmental practices and community development in the Manyara Region.
Radio Station: Habari Njema Radio 87.5 FM
Producer Organization: MVIWAMA
Production Language: Swahili
Production Year: 2023
Programme 2: Best Production Practice for Garlic Farmers: How do smallholder Farmers use them?
In this episode, the focus is on exploring the best practices of garlic production and how they benefit smallholder farmers. Listeners are introduced to farmers from Dongobesh, Tumati, and Bashay wards in Mbulu district, Manyara region, alongside insights from the agriculture officer of the Mbulu district Council.
Experience of Farmers: Kastuli Paulo, Regina Paulo, and Sipriani Paulo share their experiences as garlic farmers, detailing their journey from traditional farming methods to adopting modern techniques. Kastuli emphasizes the importance of quality seeds and proper planting, while Regina highlights the benefits of modern fertilizers and strategic planting in fertile areas. Sipriani underscores the significance of organic manure and water management for successful garlic cultivation.
Expert Insights from Agricultural Officer: Agricultural officer Emmanuel Sungi provides expert guidance on garlic farming practices, covering essential steps from seed preparation to farm management. Sungi stresses the importance of seed quality, weed control, and proper spacing in achieving optimal garlic yields. His insights underscore the need for meticulous planning and adherence to best practices to ensure successful garlic cultivation.
Radio Station: Habari Njema Radio 87.5 FM
Producer Organization: MVIWAMA
Production Language: Swahili
Production Year: 2023
Programme 3: Weed Management and Pest Control: How can smallholder farmers manage?
The episode delved into the crucial topic of weeds and pest management in garlic production. Listeners were informed about the upcoming discussion on experiences shared by garlic farmers from Bashay, along with insights from an agricultural expert from the Mbulu district council. Audience participation was encouraged through SMS and phone numbers provided by the broadcasters.
Garlic Farmers' Experience with Pests: Garlic farmers Paulo Katuli, Marcela Desideri, and Romano Edward shared their practical insights into pest management. Katuli emphasized the importance of farm preparation, timely planting, and proactive pesticide application to prevent pest infestations. Desideri discussed the early signs of pest attacks and her proactive approach to pest control, while Edward highlighted the significance of regular farm inspection and prompt pesticide application upon detecting pest activity.
Insights from Agricultural Expert: Agricultural officer Emmanuel Sungi provided expert guidance on effective pest management strategies for garlic crops. Sungi emphasized the importance of timely pesticide application, particularly during weeding, to combat common pests like leaf rust and onion thrips. He advised on pesticide selection and dosage, stressing the need for a comprehensive approach to pest control. Sungi also discussed the importance of fungicide application for rust prevention and provided recommendations for fertilizer usage to ensure healthy garlic growth.
Radio Station: Habari Njema Radio 87.5 FM
Producer Organization: MVIWAMA
Production Language: Swahili
Production Year: 2023
Programme 4: Post-harvesting handling and quality preservation of garlic produce
The radio presenter set the stage for today's program, focusing on the best methods for harvesting and preserving garlic. Listeners could expect insights from farmers in the Bashay area of Mbulu district, Manyara Region, and an agriculture expert from the Mbulu district council. Ngoleligwe invited audience participation through text messages, with details on how to engage to follow shortly.
Experience of Farmers: Mrs. Mary James and Mr. Damiano, local garlic farmers, shared their practical wisdom on harvesting and preserving garlic. James elaborated on traditional harvesting techniques and emphasized the importance of timing and proper storage to prevent spoilage. Meanwhile, Damiano discussed the process of harvesting and storing garlic, highlighting the significance of a dry and clean environment for long-term preservation.
Best Practices for Garlic Harvesting by an Agricultural Expert: The agriculture expert from the Mbulu district council provided professional insights into optimal garlic harvesting practices. They detailed the signs of garlic maturity and offered step-by-step guidance on harvesting and storage procedures. Recommendations included watering the field before harvesting, distinguishing between storage methods, and ensuring proper ventilation and periodic turning of garlic to maintain quality.
Summary of the Episode: The episode synthesized the experiences of garlic farmers and expert advice on harvesting and preserving garlic. Key themes included traditional farming practices, optimal storage conditions, and strategies for maintaining garlic quality for domestic and international markets. Speakers included local farmers, an agriculture expert, and the program duration spanned 15 minutes and 10 seconds, conducted in Kiswahili.
Radio Station: Habari Njema Radio 87.5 FM
Producer Organization: MVIWAMA
Production Language: Swahili
Production Year: 2023
Programme 5: Marketing Efficiency and Value Chain of Garlic
The discussion added value to garlic production and accessing markets. The episode featured perspectives from farmers in Bashay, Tumati, and Dongobesh, as well as insights from officials from the Mbulu District Council. William invited audience engagement through messaging and sharing contact numbers for interaction.
Farmers' Experiences in Adding Value to Garlic Crop: Marcela Desideri Mao, a garlic farmer and processor, discussed the processing methods employed at their facility, emphasizing the steps involved in peeling, slicing, drying, and grinding garlic into various products. Kastuli Paulo highlighted the value addition achieved through processing and market access, stressing the importance of government support in uplifting the sector. Rejina Paulo identified challenges in market reliability and the need for modernization and expertise in garlic farming.
Insights from the Expert on Market Opportunities: Kimondee Lazier emphasized the high demand for Mbulu's garlic due to its quality and versatility in culinary and industrial applications. Lazier discussed opportunities in farming, trade, and processing, advocating for strategic market approaches to maximize profits. Cooperative Officer Sijaki Magoti elaborated on the Warehouse Receipt System, detailing its benefits in ensuring market access and competitive pricing for farmers.
Summary of the Episode: The episode delved into the Warehouse Receipt System as a collective sales approach for garlic farmers, offering insights into quality control and market timing. Additionally, farmers' experiences in value addition through processing were explored, highlighting opportunities for expanded market reach and increased profitability.
Radio Station: Sunrisee Radio
Producer Organization: MVIWAARUSHA
Production Language: Swahili
Production Year: 2023
Programme 6: Bee Keeping Good Practices for Sustainable Honey Value Chain
The beekeepers and other bee value chain actors are always looking at the income generation side of the activity as long as they can support their lives.
A change of mindset of the farmers in realizing the right ways of doing the activity would make the activity more valuable and beneficial to the community.
Introduction of the program as part of motivating them to engage in the activity as well as creating awareness, the program aimed at introducing the concept of beekeeping at large including the principles (do’s and don’ts) to impart the right understanding.
The program expounded on the value and right practices which can make the activity sustainable for the practitioner and add value to society. It also aimed at encouraging the value chain actors to continue learning for the activity value addition.
In this program two programs were held, to make the topic simple and elaborate.
- Introduction to Beekeeping.
- Good practices for a sustainable honey value chain
Radio Station: Sunrisee Radio
Producer Organization: MVIWAARUSHA
Production Language: Swahili
Production Year: 2023
Programme 7: Sustainable beekeeping for sustainable Agro-ecologic
It is obvious that no successful and sustainable beekeeping without a good and conducive environment for the activity. Bees depend entirely on the environment which is well-preserved and maintained. Thus, the first thing to do for a beekeeper practitioner is to preserve and protect the environment.
However, the best way to sustain and make the idea elaborate is to introduce the agroecology concept to the farmers for them to understand and maintain nature for their sustainable survival. The program vividly imparts the right knowledge on the best way to maintain and sustain the environment through agro-ecologic ideas.
The program also skilled the public on the mutual benefits of the environment and bees if it is handled with the same spirit. This program also abodes with the sub-topic for the small-scale beekeeper practitioner; Honey value addition for small-scale beekeepers.
Radio Station: Sunrisee Radio
Producer Organization: MVIWAARUSHA
Production Language: Swahili
Production Year: 2023
Programme 8: Honey value addition for small-scale beekeepers
Out of beekeeping, the majority of farmers understand only honey as the end product. However, the activity has a multiple benefit which farmers need to realize.
In the program, the expert elaborated on the kinds of bees, their products and by-products for the farmers to make use of how to add value and elevate the activity value. The expert also explained the behaviors of bees which may contribute to good performance of the activity or deteriorate. The program also explained the initiative taken by the organization to support the beekeepers.
Radio Station: Sunrisee Radio
Producer Organization: MVIWAARUSHA
Production Language: Swahili
Production Year: 2023
Programme 9: Beekeeping for sustainable environment conservation and rehabilitation
The land has no guarantee, especially for our environment which is surrounded by human activities and natural calamities. Apart from conserving measures which are taken by the farmers and other actors, rehabilitation measures must also be taken into consideration. The program aired was aimed at training the value chain actors and farmers on the measures to take through the rehabilitation process, for it to suit the beekeeping activities. Beekeeping is an environment-friendly activity, thus any pollution and degradation activity should not take place.
Part 1
Part 2
Radio Station: Sunrisee Radio
Producer Organization: MVIWAARUSHA
Production Language: Swahili
Production Year: 2023
Programme 10: Skills and linkages that enable beekeepers to access national and international markets
We look at the market before we produce. This is the principle spread by the organization to help farmers understand what the market needs before producing. Beekeeping requires skills which can help to know the products and by-products the market needs, this helps to ease the linkage of beekeepers and the market itself. The program created awareness of what a farmer needs to do for the easiest market access. Not that, for the bee to produce it has to start with the environment and all other associated resources.
2022
Radio Station - MVIWATA Fm 106.7 MHz
Producer Organization: MVIWATA
Programme 1: Priorities of family farmers in Tanzania
Production Year: 2022
Production Language: Swahili
The 10-minute program narrates the priorities of Family farmers in Tanzania from the different spaces converging into common issues. Family farmers in the session speak on how their priorities are far from realities through the different challenges in different forms such as availability of produce markets, the land where farmers speak of the and grabs and the effects they pose to family farmers.
Programme 2: Existing challenges and opportunities of family farming
Production Year: 2022
Production Language: Swahili
This session discusses the existing opportunities embedded with Family farming, including the production of food to feed everyone from the family to the country at large, thus food security and sovereignty, the foundation for knowledge, skills and landraces transfer from generation to generation, provision of employment to the majority in the society, Protection of biodiversity, Up-keeping Peace and Tranquility. The session also discussed challenges that limit Family farming, including land availability, extension services, availability of agricultural inputs and produce markets.
Programme 3: Scaling up agroecology practices for climate justice and food sovereignty. Experiences of the Family Farmers
Production Year: 2022
Production Language: Swahili
The session discusses the discourse ‘Agroecology Achieves Climate Justice and Food Sovereignty’. Farmers narrate their own experiences of what is and what entails Agroecology through the different practices they put in their farmers. The session narrates the existing relationship between Agroecology and Climate Justice and Food Sovereignty and how family farmers navigate through the 3. From the existing interrelationship, farmers mentioned the 3 as being inseparable friends. La Via Campesina, in this session, narrates the ongoing campaign of the LVC-SEAf region on Agroecology to achieve Climate justice through the activities that have been done so far and embedded belief of the region when addressing the climate and food crisis question. The Farmers went further to call all farmers to work towards their right to seeds, their knowledge and skills amid the ongoing campaign of corporate agriculture and its packages.
Programme 4: The decade of family farming, what are the policy issues from the family farmers?
Production Year: 2022
Production Language: Swahili
This program starts with a Playback of Stephen’s voice on the history of the UN Decade of Family Farming as a process. It results from the radio program recorded by MVIWATA FM under Yenkasa. The session discusses the family farmers’ priorities in policies, where farmers speak on examples of how the policy processes and results sideline the family farmers. They view many policies as being formulated to serve the whims of the wealthy under-investment and how the existing Investment narrative dictates what farmers get in terms of quality and quantity in the different value chains of production, perpetuating the poverty cycle among the farmers. The speakers also view family farmers as potential investors, from which narratives will change if proper efforts are put in. The involvement of farmers in formulating and monitoring the implementation of the policies is mentioned in the program as the antidote to the current state of affairs.
Programme 5: Family farming and food availability
Production Year: 2022
Production Language: Swahili
The session first narrates the meaning and basic foundations of Family Farming and family farmers. The session continues by telling the listener about the wider diversity of family farmers, from crop farmers, fisher folks, and pastoralists and the role of family farming in food production and feeding the communities and nations with varieties, ensuring the health of the consumers and biodiversity protection. The session also discusses the pertinent challenges facing Family farming, largely Climate change and its causes, including generally the fossil fuel-driven economy and specifically the change in land use and rapid urbanization reducing the vegetation cover. The session ends by extension advice on how family farmers can navigate during the changing climatic conditions and their adverse effects.
2021
Radio Station: Mviwata FM
Production Language: Swahili
Production Year: 2021
Programme Title: Family farming and its contributions to sustainable farming practices
Mvitwata Fm focused on family farming and how it contributes to sustainable farming practices and the reality of climate change. The production introduces a broader United Nations ten-year family farming resolution and the role of local communities in this global food system. Discussion on Family Farming allowed the guests to tell the listeners about their encounters in practicing Family farming and many other issues is pertaining to Family Farming. The production looked at the matter of biodiversity measures of environmental conservation and the impact of climate change mitigation. The concept of mixed farming and its contribution to reducing climate change effects. The magazine also covered the matter of sustainability of family farmers in a realistic and accountable value chain and how this system enhances soil fertility from time to time without jeopardizing its quality.
The invited guests of the programme were Shua Ndereka – Mviwata fm journalist; Stephen Ruvuga –executive director, Mviwata; Atufwage James – Mviwata Member from Ludewa; Haji Ramadhani – Mviwata Member from Morogoro Dc; and Theodora Pius – Head of Programs, Mviwata.
