For more than 10 years, Victor Asumani has been on air at Umunthu FM, a partner radio station to Farm Radio International in Malawi. He says he was inspired to join radio “in order to serve communities, especially in the matter of community development like agriculture and health.”
Mr. Asumani produces and hosts agricultural and environmental programs, aiming to bring practical information to farmers. His work has had a noticeable impact. He recalls how farmers in Mbewa, near the Chilingali swamp, earned significant profits after selling their rice together through clubs and cooperatives.
He says, “These farmers once listened to a radio program where an agribusiness officer explained the importance of farmers being in groups. After joining together, they were able to sell their rice as a group and made a lot of money.”
Mr. Asumani says that Umunthu FM’s programs are not sponsored, which sometimes makes it challenging to reach farmers in person. He explains: “Because we are in the digital period, I sometimes use phone calls to farmers and other sources for interviews. Sometimes I conduct live phone calls during programs where listeners and farmers call in to respond to the topic at hand.”
Still, he enjoys the times when he can meet and speak with farmers face-to-face. He says: “I get some knowledge of how best I can go ahead with the programming.”
Recently, Mr. Asumani participated in a four-week WhatsApp discussion on gender and financial loans. He says these opportunities keep him learning and improving his work.
Mr. Asumani’s advice to new and aspiring broadcasters is clear: “Try to work in community development programs and see how important it may be as you interact directly with communities and feel what they feel as well.”
His dedication has been recognized with three awards: one in water and sanitation, the George Atkins Award, and the award for Best Agriculture Program in 2022 from MISA Malawi.
To his fellow broadcasters, Mr. Asumani offers encouragement: “Enjoy your work, have passion in it—you will one day be paid for your work.”