Farm Radio Weekly

Welcome to this special 200th edition of Farm Radio Weekly! As we are celebrating this week, we wanted to try something different and introduce the normally shy team to you! We are based in three time zones, so we often find ourselves meeting online at strange hours of the day and night to bring FRW to you every week. But as you can tell from our profiles below, we find this job very satisfying. We have each chosen our favorite story from the last 200 editions – or four and a half years − together with an explanation of why the story made an impression on us.

Over the last two years, FRW has benefitted from the talents of journalists across Africa who work through our two news bureaus. Our Bureau for francophone Africa is managed by Nourou-Dhine Salouka, at JADE Productions in Burkina Faso. Salouka, as we know him, manages a pool of 11 writers from countries including Congo-Brazzaville, Mali, Guinea, Burundi, Madagascar and Burkina Faso. He is a keen young journalist himself, and has also written stories for FRW. Mark Ndipita is our bureau chief for Southern Africa. He is an agricultural communication specialist, having studied both agriculture and journalism. He works with writers from Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

In this special edition, we profile three of these writers, and hear more about the media in their countries and their experience of writing for FRW. We gratefully acknowledge support from the Canadian Auto Workers-Social Justice Fund which has allowed us to open and operate these bureaus and bring you original stories full of farmers’ voices and experiences.

Farm Radio Weekly’s target audience is African farm radio broadcasters. We now have a little over 2200 African subscribers! But we want to continue to grow, and we welcome subscribers from any background who are interested in reading and sharing our stories about farmers.

Please encourage your colleagues and networks to subscribe to FRW! Use this link http://farmradio.org/english/partners/fr_weekly_subscribe.asp

We hope you enjoy this special edition and we look forward to bringing you many more exciting issues of FRW!

-Karen, Nelly, Vijay and Heather, the Farm Radio Weekly team

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In January this year, I left a snow-covered Ottawa and relocated to Farm Radio International’s regional office in Arusha, from where I work as Editor of Farm Radio Weekly. My background is in agronomy, and I have worked for many years with farmers in Africa, SE Asia and Brazil, as a volunteer, extension worker or researcher. Some years ago, I made a shift to writing and editing about sustainable agriculture, in the belief that farmers’ experiences and voices need a wider audience.

Farm Radio Weekly sources its stories through our two news bureaus, and from news and development websites online. I was lucky enough to take up the position of Editor just as our African news bureaus for Southern Africa and francophone Africa were opening. Part of the job that I enjoy most is working with the Bureau Chief, Mark Ndipita, who manages a pool of journalists across Southern Africa. Together, we suggest stories, identify topics, comment on story pitches sent in by the journalists, ask more questions, and do the final edit for radio. My main aims when selecting and editing any story for use in the Weekly is to ensure that they feature farmers’ voices, and that they will be interesting and relevant to listeners in different regions.

Using those criteria, the story I have chosen to republish was written by Zenzele Ndebele from Zimbabwe, who is profiled in this special issue. It is a straightforward story which reinforces the value of preserving local seeds. I chose this story because I believe that local (and some underutilized) seed varieties will become increasingly important in our changing climate, and that they are often undervalued and overlooked. In addition, in some regions, farmers’ varieties are under threat as seed companies try to gain a greater market. Yet saving, selecting and sharing seed is something all farmers across Africa can do to develop and vary their farming system.

-Zimbabwe: Farmers preserve local seeds but buy improved maize (by Zenzele Ndebele for Farm Radio Weekly in Zimbabwe) FRW 148, March 2011.

http://weekly.farmradio.org/2011/03/14/zimbabwe-farmers-preserve-local-seeds-but-buy-improved-maize-by-zenzele-ndebele-for-farm-radio-weekly-in-zimbabwe/

Outside of work, I enjoy reading autobiographies and practicing yoga, as well as getting to know Arusha better with my husband and young son. You are welcome to contact me at khampson@farmradio.org

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When I started at Farm Radio International a little over four and a half years ago, I had a few years of media-related international development work in Africa (specifically in Benin and Egypt) under my belt, but not much in the way of agricultural experience. At that time, Farm Radio Weekly was a pilot project that was about to take off. Two hundred issues later, it’s so exciting to see the Weekly grow into a thriving round-up of features, news, events and opportunities for and by African agricultural broadcasters. Add to that two African news bureaus based in Burkina Faso (for francophone Africa) and Malawi (covering Southern Africa), and it’s easy to understand the richness and diversity of African farmer voices that Farm Radio Weekly strives to bring to your inbox every week.

That diversity shines through in a story written by Inoussa Maïga, a bright young journalist from Burkina Faso (whom I had the pleasure to meet at the JADE offices in Ouagadougou, along with the wonderful and dedicated francophone bureau chief, Nourou-Dhine Salouka). Maïga travelled to the village of Namposséla, Mali to bring you the inspiring story of a group of farmers who, after noticing that their yields were dropping every year, decided to work together to change this. By collaborating to produce compost, they have succeeded in improving their soils and yields. I admire the solidarity of these farmers. Also, as the story concludes, when it comes to farmers, “unity is strength” is not an empty phrase.

Mali: Composting in groups (by Inoussa Maϊga, for Farm Radio Weekly in Mali) http://weekly.farmradio.org/2011/01/24/2-mali-composting-in-groups-by-innoussa-ma%CF%8Aga-for-farm-radio-weekly-in-mali-2/

On top of Farm Radio Weekly, I have been working on Barza, the online community for African radio broadcasters (www.barzaradio.com). In the months to come, it’s my hope that more and more African broadcasters will be able to interact and share more farmer stories through Barza.

When I’m not working, I keep active by practicing an Afro-Brazilian martial art called capoeira. If you don’t know what capoeira is, I encourage you to check out this video, which gives you an overview of what capoeira is and looks like.

I’m extremely lucky to work with such a devoted and talented team. Here’s to 200 more Farm Radio Weekly issues!!!!

-Nelly (You can reach me at: nbassily@farmradio.org)

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The first radio script I wrote for Farm Radio International (then called Developing Countries Farm Radio Network or DCFRN), was published in January 1997. For the next decade, I wrote occasional pieces for Farm Radio, while doing research and writing for other organizations, mostly on the environmental impacts of farming. Then, in the fall of 2005, I became the managing editor of Farm Radio International. As managing editor, I coordinate the production of script packages.

I have been involved as an editor and some-time writer for Farm Radio Weekly since its inception. As the main copy editor, you can blame me if you find any typos! I have been fortunate enough to visit many parts of Africa and many different radio stations on six working trips for Farm Radio International over the last six years. Outside of work, my main pastime is distance running. I run three or four times a week with a running club. I run for fun and for my health, but I confess to being ambitious and wanting to run as fast as I can! I just completed my first Boston Marathon a few weeks ago, an accomplishment I’m very proud of!

One of my favourite FRW stories was published in January 2011. It’s from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is called “Marketing by Motorcycle.” I especially enjoy hearing how motorcycle taxi drivers and food traders have responded creatively to a new situation: the increased affordability of motorcycles. This new situation benefits both traders and consumers – who can now buy and sell fresher fish and produce. It also benefits the women who don’t have to carry heavy loads for many kilometres, and the motorcycle taxi driver whose income has doubled. While the new system isn’t perfect, it’s a great example of villagers responding creatively to a new reality.

DR Congo: Marketing by Motorcycle (Syfia Grand Lacs), FRW 140, January 2011.  http://weekly.farmradio.org/2011/01/10/dr-congo-marketing-by-motorcycle-syfia-grands-lacs/

You can reach me at vcuddeford@farmradio.org

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I joined Farm Radio International as Farm Radio Weekly Editor in October 2007. At that time, I was fresh from the completion of a Master’s Degree in International Affairs, a course of study I took after deciding to make a career shift away from daily journalism. Farm Radio Weekly was a dream, piggybacking on the spread of internet access in Africa and providing resources to FRI’s broadcasting partners on a more regular basis.

For two and a half years, I was honoured to play a large role in the first 100+ editions of FRW. Our readership grew by leaps and bounds, our format strengthened to include farmer-focused stories written by African freelancers, and my personal knowledge and understanding of small-scale farming issues grew immensely.

Land grabbing was an issue that exploded in scope and importance during my stint as FRW Editor. We wanted to use FRW to inform people about this tremendous threat to food security and we also wanted to find stories of farmers fighting back against the powerful forces of government and industry looking to take over agricultural land. The story that follows was first published in June 2009 and remains rooted in my mind because it’s about an organized – and successful – effort by farmers to resist land grabbing.

-Uganda: Urban farmers fight eviction (by Sawa Pius for Farm Radio Weekly in Uganda, FRW 72, June 2009)

http://weekly.farmradio.org/2009/06/29/1-uganda-urban-farmers-fight-eviction-by-sawa-pius-for-farm-radio-weekly-in-kampala-uganda/

As rewarding as I found my work as FRW Editor, my priorities shifted in May 2010 when my son was born. I took maternity leave and fully embraced “mommyhood.”  I returned to FRI as a part-time Communications Office in 2011, focusing on different types of writing, such as letters to donors. I am excited to rejoin the FRW team in the coming weeks and look forward to supporting FRW’s thousands of subscribers in their efforts to strengthen small-scale farming in Africa.

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Brian Moonga is a freelance journalist based in Lusaka, Zambia. Brian has worked with Inter Press Service and Radio Netherlands. He is also a correspondent for Reuters and does TV reports. He started writing for FRW just before we opened our Southern Africa bureau, and has been a regular contributor over the last two years. We caught up with him recently to hear more about the media in Zambia, and his work with Farm Radio Weekly.

Brian talked about the media climate in Zambia, and the great potential for community radio:

“With over forty radio stations countrywide … a great leap since the early 1990s when only the State ran the media, it is evident that this sector is surely growing at an impressive pace. Freeing of [the] airwaves and Zambia’s hunger for a liberalised economy has significantly helped enhance a suitable environment for flourishing of not only press freedom, but freedom of expression and promotion of human rights … However … Zambian journalists have suffered gagging at the hands of all five regimes that have been in power.… This said, by regional standards, Zambia’s media development is impressive, with minimal legislative hurdles for establishing community radio, but more challenges accessing finances to set up one …”

Brian also spoke about ICTs in community radio:

“In the case of radio stations, many now do not only have state-of-the-art equipment; they also have great access to internet and mobile phones. ICTs have generally made broadcasting easier for many radio stations, who now have the ability to receive instant feedback from their audiences through electronic mail, social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook, and news sites, as well as get instant short text messages via cell phone and [the] ability to sustain a two-way communication or conversation …”

We asked Brian about his experience writing for FRW and his experience with agriculture:

“When I started writing for Farm Radio about two years ago, my knowledge of agriculture was very scanty … It was very challenging to gather stories, but my close touch with agriculture-based organisations [helped], and I usually looked out for any farming-related stories whenever I was out in the rural [areas] … Although Zambian farmers, especially small-scale ones, do not take prominence in the news media … I was shocked to learn that 90 per cent of all food production in my country was done by small-scale farmers, peasants and mostly women who had very little access to financing and inputs that would help turn around these 90 per cent peasant farmers into bigger food producers that Zambia needs for domestic consumption and export to get the much needed foreign exchange.”

Brian told us what he likes most about Farm Radio Weekly:

“FRW is really a great effort towards a group of important farmers that in many countries like mine have not had a great voice. I know that many community radio stations, most of them in the rural [areas] and in close touch with farmers, have benefitted from FRW and so have the farmers; information has flowed and lives have been changed.”

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Zenzele Ndebele is a Zimbabwean journalist based in Bulawayo, in the west of the country. He has written a number of stories for Farm Radio Weekly since our Southern African Bureau opened nearly two years ago. We asked him about the operating conditions for radio broadcasters in Zimbabwe, and how he views working with Farm Radio Weekly. He began by telling us about himself:

“I am a journalist by training, having gained a B.A in Media studies and an MSc in Journalism and media studies. I now lecture part-time in Radio and television studies at the University of Science and Technology. I grew up in rural areas and farming was always part of me. I am a farmer myself; my interest is in livestock farming.

“Zimbabwe is one of the few countries in Africa which does not have independent radio stations. Although the country has been independent for 32 years, it is yet to liberalise the airwaves. Currently, there are only four state-owned radio stations and their signal is very poor, covering only half of the country. The country has one television station. Many rural areas in Zimbabwe do not have access to radio and television and listeners depend on radio stations from other countries or ‘pirate radio stations.’ These are radio stations that are owned by Zimbabweans but are run outside Zimbabwe and broadcast into the country on short wave. Currently there are four ‘pirate’ radio stations, namely Zimbabwe community radio (Zicora), Shortwave radio Africa (SW radio), Voice of the People (VOP), and Voice of America Zimbabwean channel (Studio 7).These broadcast for an hour or two on short wave every day in the evening.

“The technological wave which led to the rise of new media has helped Zimbabweans to bridge the information gap. A number of community radio stations exist in Zimbabwe, but they are not registered. One of them is Radio Dialogue in Bulawayo, where I work as a Production Manager. Radio Dialogue is currently using alternative ways of sharing information with the community, mostly using social media platforms. Currently Radio Dialogue runs a citizen media project where people in rural areas send news to the station. We also send information to rural farmers using SMS. This information can be about cattle sales or markets that will be held in their area.

“Although I cover a number of issues as a journalist, I enjoy writing farming stories for Farm Radio Weekly … because in every story that I write there is something I learn from the farmers. There are a lot of things that we take for granted which matter a lot to the farmers − issues like the market to sell their produce, and the publicity so the authorities know that there are issues that affect them.

“Every time I approach a farmer for an interview, they are always cautious because they think I will ask them political issues. They become excited the moment I tell them [I] am writing a story for farm radio and it’s about their farming activities. The response I always get is that most journalists only come to interview them when they want to talk politics. They are not interested in what farmers do.

“Writing for Farm Radio Weekly has made me appreciate the value of a farmer and it has also helped me to put effort in my farming activities. There are a lot of people who want to do farming but they don’t have the information. I am privileged to have all the information I need and I have realized that farming is a very good way to empower local people so that they can support themselves financially and fight poverty.”

Zenzele Ndebele
Production Manager, Radio Dialogue
For more information: www.zicora.com

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After only four years in journalism, 38-year-old Désiré Nshimirimana has become a well-known journalist in Burundi and the Great Lakes region. Désiré started out as an agronomist. He says: “I became a journalist by chance; it was not something I planned.”

Jacques Bukuru, a star reporter on the National Radio and Désiré’s friend, first noticed Désiré’s journalistic potential. He told Désiré, “You have lots of ideas, and a good intellect. You would make a great journalist!”

After some persuasion, Désiré agreed. In 2008 he participated in a training for aspiring journalists provided by Syfia International, an association of six African press agencies. He did not regret his choice. The instructor confirmed Désiré’s natural ability for journalism as identified by his friend Jacques. One week later, Désiré published his first article. Other journalists on the course took an average of one month. Soon, professionals were recognizing and rewarding his talent. He says, “After a few months, my bosses decided to appoint me as bureau chief for Burundi, coordinator for Syfia in the Great Lakes region.” This marked the beginning of his commitment to journalism, even though he continues to work in agriculture.

In 2010, Désiré was contacted by Farm Radio Weekly and asked if he would like to become a correspondent. He gladly accepted. Désiré explains that, “Farm Radio Weekly is original, and useful for farmers. The news is well-written and easy to understand. ”

Désiré says that his experience as a journalist has made him a better agronomist. He explains, “Journalism has strengthened my understanding of agriculture, and how it relates to other sectors of community life. It allows me to dig deeper, as I have to take a step back and carefully analyze the agronomic facts.” His training as an agronomist enables him to discuss and write about agricultural topics with ease and depth.

Désiré does not avoid his social responsibilities. Together with colleagues, he created an association called Promomédias to raise awareness about social causes which are important to them. The association regularly publishes a journal titled “Dignity of Women.” This is a forum for the expression and defense of women’s rights. In his fight for a more equal society, Désiré is thinking of his wife and four children. He dreams of seeing his children grow up in a peaceful country where they can fulfil their potential.

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Karen Hampson from Farm Radio Weekly spoke to Martin Mwape recently. He told her that he finds Farm Radio Weekly useful because it inspires him when he is planning his farm radio program called “Weekend Special.” He often searches around for a similar story locally, and tends to use (or adapt) stories which have some relevance to his broadcast region. Breeze FM is a regional station in the Eastern Province of Zambia which has a range of 300 kilometres. Martin uses six to eight farmers’ stories per week, so he would be happy if Farm Radio Weekly produced more! He also told us:

“I must confirm that I am a regular reader of Farm Radio Weekly. I find the stories good because I produce farm [radio] programs and … they assist me to pick up issues that I should address in my programs. I use some of the stories directly, though with some edits because of translation issues. The stories I remember using were from edition #191, ‘Celebrating Successful African rural Women,’ and ‘Fertilizer trees boost yields in Malawi’ [in] edition #186.”

Read more about Breeze FM on their website http://breezefmchipata.com/. You are welcome to connect with Martin Mwape on Barza!

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Meli Tchetta Evariste responded to our recent request to readers to tell us something about how they use FRW, to mark its 200th edition. Here is what he wrote to us:

“Hello! I am a Cameroonian journalist and I graduated from the School of Journalism at the University of Buea in 1999. On leaving school, I specialized in communication for development and I started with Radio Batcham (a local radio station in the west of Cameroon) in July 2000. Since then I’ve been using the power of radio to communicate on good practices and to get farmers’ voices heard by decision-makers.

“I have been reading FRW for about two years. It is a very useful resource which documents small-scale farmers’ efforts to reduce poverty in Africa. I created a news section in my weekly farm radio program, and with items taken from FRW, I inform my listeners on the techniques applied elsewhere to overcome some of the difficulties in agriculture. Thanks to this, many of my countrymen who also have access to internet are now subscribers to FRW.”

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Both of this week’s stories focus on the relationship between farmers and water. Our first story is from Tanzania, where a very successful farmer-run irrigation scheme is benefiting farmers in the northern part of the country. Normally, farmers have to wait until the rains begin to plant, then hope that their crops ripen before the onset of the cold season. But, with irrigation water available, farmers participating in this scheme can plant quick-maturing varieties early and be confident of a good yield.

Our second story comes from Congo, and paints a very different picture of the relationship between farmers and water. In Point-Noire, Congo-Brazzaville, farmers living on floodplains are leaving their land because of annual flooding. But one family is determined to stay, and is making a very good living growing and selling vegetables.

Take a look at our Action section this week. The World Association of Community Broadcasters (AMARC) released a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day on May 3. AMARC is advocating for the right of community radio stations across the globe to develop and work in a secure economic and judicial environment.

Happy reading!

-The Farm Radio Weekly team

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On a late April morning, Vincent Hugo looks at a dark sky, heavy with wet clouds. The rains have arrived particularly late this year. Normally, farmers in northern Tanzania expect the rains by the end of February. But over the last 5-10 years, they have appeared later and later. Because most farmers plant only after the rains begin, they hope there will be enough time for their crops to ripen before the cold season arrives.

This year, Mr. Hugo and the other 168 members of the UWAMALE Irrigators and Marketing Co-operative Society Limited planted rice early. Mr. Hugo points to the young plants, saying, “…this field was planted on the 29^th of January, and that one on the 15^th_.” He has good access to water, and chose to plant a variety called wahiwahi, which means “hurryhurry.” As a result, his rice grains are already milky in their husks. This early-maturing variety is suitable for the short rainy season. Mr. Hugo smiles. He knows he is well on his way to producing a bumper crop.

UWAMALE started in Lekitatu, near Arusha in northern Tanzania. When it began in 1997, there were 15 members. It was registered as a co-operative a year later. UWAMALE’s farmer-members work together to maintain, rehabilitate and expand the local irrigation system. Five irrigation canals carry water from the Usa River to 600 hectares of land planted with paddy rice, maize, and beans, plus fruit and vegetables. Funded through grants from local and central government, this farmer-driven irrigation project is widely respected as the most successful in Tanzania. It allows farmers to plant ahead of the rains, and stay ahead of the game. Farmers harvest up to six tonnes of rice per hectare twice a year. Before the irrigation system, yields of one or two tonnes per hectare were common.

Since joining the co-operative, Mr. Hugo has increased his rice planting from half a hectare to over three and a half. He has moved his family from a one-room, stick-and-mud shack to a new brick house, from which he runs a small store that sells soap, oil and basic household goods. He can afford to pay for hired labour when planting and harvesting, and rents out his new power-tiller to other members of the co-operative.

Though the co-operative has been successful, it faces some challenges. Production costs are rising, and the farmers know they need good pest management to keep white fly pests down and yields up. They get little support from the government and find it hard to make their voices heard. Mr. Humphrey Msoya is chairperson of UWAMALE. He notes, “There are several irrigation schemes in the country. It would be beneficial if an association could be organized to present a unified message to the politicians.”

The co-operative is waiting for the Tanzanian government to release Japanese aid funds for construction of a grain store. This would allow members to sell throughout the year, rather than marketing all their produce at harvest time. In addition, they want access to credit against future sales. Because no financial institution is currently willing to give them loans, members want to establish a local Savings and Credit Co-operative.

Farmers such as Mr. Hugo and Mr. Msoya have increased their yields through choosing varieties carefully and maintaining the irrigation system. Their lives have been improved through their hard work and their investment in distributing the most precious of resources: water.

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César Ibala is a young market gardener who lives in a wooden house in Pointe Noire. Most nearby houses are made of concrete. However, his furnishings are the same quality as those in the homes of government officials. He has a television, refrigerator, and fine wooden furniture. And he has achieved this standard of living by growing vegetables.

Mr. Ibala farms on land owned by his brother. The plot is located on the Tchinouka River that runs through the city of Pointe-Noire. Each year, the plot is plagued by flooding. Every time it rains, Mr. Ibala and his family are up to their ankles in water. Most people prefer to sell land on mudflats or floodplains. For example, Mr. Boulingui is a Congolese farmer whose land is only five metres from the River Songolo. He explains, “In January 2007, following heavy rain, the waters invaded our house. The family has decided to sell the plot.”

Mr. Ibala’s brother wanted to sell the land because of the continued flooding. But Mr. Ibala refused. He is convinced that wealth comes from the earth. He says, “The most profitable way to use the land is through farming.” He chose to continue growing vegetables. Now, he grows chicory, tomatoes, cabbage and other vegetables on his brother’s land. And the family welcomes the income.

Unlike Mr. Ibala, many young people in Pointe-Noire dream of working for oil companies. They believe that social success comes from being associated with wealthy organizations. They think of agriculture as a dirty job reserved for the less literate. Even those who studied agronomy are considering a career switch.

That’s the case for Alain Malonga. Mr. Malonga is a student at the public agricultural secondary school in Brazzaville. He dreams of moving to France to study economics. He explains, “After my diploma in agricultural technology, I will sell our land and go to France to learn a decent job … because farming doesn’t earn you a living here.”

Mr. Ibala is confident and proud to work among people who are employed in so-called luxury trades. He earns a good living and his children attend the best schools. He explains: “By selling at least 500 kilograms of vegetables per month during the dry season, I end the month with nearly 300,000 CFA francs (about US $600). It is difficult to earn this amount as a government worker.” The minimum wage in Congo is 50,000 CFA francs per month (about $90 US).

But Mr. Ibala faces some challenges. Because it is impractical to farm his plot during the October to June rainy season, he needs land elsewhere. Landowners in the city charge high rents. So he leases land more than five kilometres outside the city. He dreams of someday becoming a successful farmer and working large areas of land. However, that dream would only be possible, he says, “provided that the state and donors actively promote agriculture.”

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Irrigation has been promoted as a method to raise African small-scale farmers’ yields and income. Yet only a small percentage of potential farmland in Africa is currently irrigated. The reasons are complex, with one being cost. In this week’s script, a farmers’ co-operative maintains an irrigation scheme. Collective irrigation projects like this lower the cost per farmer.

Many types of irrigation are suitable for small-scale farmers, including drip irrigation, spate irrigation, furrow irrigation, and many other methods.

There are interesting perspectives on irrigation and African farming in this blog from Shanta Devarajan, the World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa: http://blogs.worldbank.org/africacan/irrigation-and-climate-change

KickStart is a non-profit organization which promotes pumps that are claimed to increase small-scale farmers’ ability to irrigate their crops and raise yields and income. See http://africanfarming.net/technology/water-a-irrigation/213-kickstart-pump-to-boost-africas-irrigation-capacity.html & http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/0,,contentMDK:22551667~pagePK:146736~piPK:146830~theSitePK:258644,00.html

The NGO, Practical Action, has a section on its website devoted to irrigation, specifically drip irrigation and treadle pump irrigation: http://practicalaction.org/irrigation-techniques-1

Here’s a news story on a successful solar-powered drip irrigation system in West Africa: http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/a-23-2010-01-10-voa2-84659447.html

And here’s a story from Senegal on how using a pump can help irrigate farmland: http://africastories.usaid.gov/search_details.cfm?storyID=359&countryID=21&sectorID=0&yearID=5

Farm Radio International has published a number of scripts on water topics, including irrigation. You can browse them at: http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/water.asp

Farm Radio Weekly has done several stories on irrigated farming. See:

Zimbabwe: Irrigation schemes bring hope for women in Insiza district (FRW 193, March 2012). http://weekly.farmradio.org/2012/03/19/zimbabwe-irrigation-schemes-bring-hope-for-women-in-insiza-district-by-zenzele-ndebele-for-farm-radio-weekly-in-zimbabwe/

Senegal: Drip irrigation boosts dry season production (FRW 30, July 2008) http://weekly.farmradio.org/2008/07/28/senegal-drip-irrigation-boosts-dry-season-production-christian-science-monitor/

Zimbabwe: Livestock farmers adapt to new climate (FRW 27, June 2008). http://weekly.farmradio.org/2008/06/30/zimbabwe-livestock-farmers-adapt-to-new-climate-zimbabwe-standard/

Do farmers in your area use irrigation? Ask NGOs and government agencies whether they sponsor or advise any farmer-run irrigation projects in your broadcast area. One of the challenges of irrigation projects is the cost. Perhaps farmers or others in your listening audience have found creative ways to design affordable and effective irrigation schemes. Find out about them. Farm Radio International would be happy to hear about them. Send us an email at farmradioweekly@farmradio.org, or go to Barza at http://www.barzaradio.com/ and share it with our online community.

Here are some ideas to inspire you and help you plan your program on irrigation:

Are there large government-owned or government-sponsored irrigation schemes in your listening area? If so, talk to farmers and ask whether these work for them. What are the benefits, and what are the drawbacks.

If there are smaller farmer-run irrigation schemes, ask about the benefits and challenges to these.

What kind of irrigation is being practiced? Perhaps some small farmers have drip irrigation systems for high-value crops such as tomatoes? Perhaps some fruit trees are grown with irrigation? Ask farmers to share their experiences, good and bad.

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Growing crops in floodplains is possible as a seasonal activity. Small-scale farmers in many parts of Africa rely on cultivating floodplains – the Nile basin is probably the largest and best known. Floodplains can be very fertile places, as the annual flooding leaves the soil rich in nutrients. However, the possibility of flooding or waterlogging means that farmers need good local knowledge in order to plan which crops to plant and when, to give them the best chance of success.

Here are some links to further information on irrigation and floodplain systems in Africa, and recent news stories:

http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/y0969e/y0969e03.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floodplain

-Kenya: Budalangi Farmers Told to Keep Off Dykes: http://allafrica.com/stories/201204250031.html

-Zambia: No longer waiting for the mangoes to ripen: http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=106909

Farm Radio International has produced a number of scripts related to irrigation and water use, which you can browse here: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/water.asp

And here is one story from Farm Radio Weekly about how farmers make good use of wetland resources:

-Mali: Groups restore forest and improve fisheries (FRW 122, May 2010) http://weekly.farmradio.org/2010/05/24/1-mali-women%E2%80%99s-groups-restore-forests-and-improve-fisheries-in-the-inner-niger-delta-wetlands-international-mali-ips/

If you broadcast to a region where farmers farm on floodplains, you might want to produce a show that looks at the complexities of floodplain farming. What experiences can farmers share about controlling water, choosing the right crops to plant, or knowing exactly when to plant to make the most of available water?

As well as talking to farmers, meet with irrigation specialists or agricultural extension workers who can share good practices for your region. You could also look at how practices have changed over time – is there more or less floodwater now? Have floodplains been developed for industry or other uses? Is there as much floodplain farming as there used to be? Have planting times changed? How have farmers learned to adapt?

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The Kurt Schork Memorial Fund is now seeking entries for its 2012 annual awards in international journalism. Awards will be presented in two categories: local reporters covering events within their home country or region, and freelance journalists covering international news.

Entrants can submit up to three articles each. Articles must have been published between June 1, 2011 and May 31, 2012. The stories can focus on conflict, human rights, cross-border issues, corruption, or any other controversial matter in a particular country or region. Each submission must demonstrate professionalism, meet international journalistic standards, and provide evidence that courage and determination were required to cover the story.

Each winner will be presented with a US $5000 cash prize at a ceremony in London, UK, in November 2012.

The deadline is May 31, 2012.

For more information and full details, visit: http://www.ksmfund.org/awards/submitting-entries

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Every year, journalists are attacked, imprisoned, threatened or placed under surveillance. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has recently released a Journalist Security Guide aimed at helping journalists evaluate and prevent risks.

This guide helps local and international journalists at all levels of experience learn how to take concrete steps to ensure their physical and online security. While some sections of the guide may be written with a Western audience in mind, many sections of the guide are relevant to African journalists.

Chapters such as Basic Preparedness, Information Security, Armed Conflict and Sustained Risks are pertinent for all journalists.

For example, in the Basic Preparedness section, the Guide explains that a “number of countries have effective professional organizations that can provide guidance about laws concerning the press, along with practical advice on certain assignments. If you encounter trouble, some national organizations are also able to intervene on your behalf or publicize your case. You should also be aware that international groups such as CPJ and Reporters Without Borders can generate global attention and advocacy in case of harassment or threats.”

The guide is available in French, English, Arabic and Spanish. You can download it here: http://cpj.org/reports/2012/04/journalist-security-guide.php

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In dozens of countries around the world, radio stations are censored, fined, or simply don’t have a licence to broadcast legally, while journalists and radio directors are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.

World Press Freedom Day is celebrated every year on May 3. This year’s theme is “New Voices: Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies”. The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) is pushing for community radios across the globe to be able to develop and to work in a secure economic and judicial environment.

To ensure these rights, AMARC was officially granted recognition as a UNESCO associate member in April 2012. This means that community radio producers and broadcasters are acknowledged and recognized as journalists and added to the list of journalists to be protected by the United Nations.

To read AMARC’s World Press Freedom Day statement, click here: http://www2.amarc.org/?q=node/442

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Our script of the week is from our latest script package, and is written by senior writer, Jean-Paul Ntezimana, with Radio Salus in Rwanda.

For over two decades, Rwandan people have been experiencing difficulties related to the war and the genocide. But the country has established a favourable environment for considering and addressing women’s problems. Several not-for-profit women’s associations have been established, including the Amizero Association, a women’s co-operative whose goal is to provide assistance to women in distress. The Association’s activities include agriculture, small business ventures, management of household waste in the city of Kigali, and strengthening women’s self-confidence, self-reliance and capacity for leadership. This script may inspire women in Rwanda and elsewhere to recognize their potential to find solutions to their problems within themselves.

http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/94-16script_en.asp

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In this week’s first story, Michael Gitau talks about his life as an organic farmer. One of 5,000 members of the Central Organic Farmers and Consumer Organization, Mr. Gitau has been growing organically for six years. He is happy that he now makes double the income he used to as a conventional farmer.

Our second story comes from South Africa. Selinah Mncwango is a farmer who treasures the seeds that have been handed down to her from generation to generation. But she worries that the South African government is taking steps which may deprive her and other South African farmers of their seed heritage.

Our final story shows how an innovative farmer is managing to thrive in a part of Cameroon where current rainfall is only a fraction of the usual amount. Olivier Forgha Koumbou conceived the bright idea of harvesting water at night, when the volume of water in a local stream is much higher. As a result, his vegetables are thriving. Yet, all around him, other farmers’ crops are withering and dying.

This week’s Action section profiles Michelle Zilio, a Canadian university student who is currently pursuing a six-week internship at Ghana’s Rite FM. This week’s piece details her activities with the station, and provides a link to her blog.

Finally, we will soon be publishing our 200^th edition of Farm Radio Weekly. We are planning a special, celebratory issue, and would like to feature our readers! If you would like to introduce yourself and give us your thoughts on Farm Radio Weekly as we reach this milestone, please send a couple of paragraphs to: farmradioweekly@farmradio.org

Happy reading!

-The Farm Radio Weekly team

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