Greetings!
Date Posted: August 30th, 2010
We are happy to welcome the latest group of new subscribers: Steven Morris from Okapi consulting, in Kenya ; Damian Njoku, from Wacci Ghana & NRCRI Umudike Nigeria, in Nigeria ; Martin Mwape from Breeze FM, in Zambia Edouard Ake Nongbe from Precal, in Côte d’Ivoire, Lazare Tagro Gbehazaud from the NGO applomd, in Côte d’Ivoire as well as Mariam Daou and Oumou Coulibaly from Radio Fanaka, in Mali.
The second in our series of stories on soil health comes from Armel Gentien, a guest writer who works for the Food and Agricultural Organization in Madagascar. Slash and burn agriculture used to be common in the country, but practices are now changing. Farmers discuss their experiences planting shrubs across slopes to conserve soil. They are reaping the benefits of this practice.
Our second story this week was also written especially for Farm Radio Weekly. Emily Arayo works with Farm Radio International’s African Farm Radio Research Initiative in Uganda. She was in Kapchorwa District recently and was struck by how residents value their donkeys for the multiple tasks they perform.
In our final story we bring news that scientists have developed a biotechnological method to beat bacterial wilt in bananas. They have transferred genes from green peppers into bananas. The resulting plants have shown resistance to wilt in laboratory tests. However, field trials and further experimentation are needed. It will be some time before farmers can plant the wilt-resistant crops. As they are genetically modified, this has fuelled discussion about the appropriateness of such technology.
Our script of the week complements the soil health story, by looking in detail at how to make contour ridges. Entitled Do not bite the finger that feeds you: Protecting valuable upland soil, you can find the link by scrolling below.
Happy reading!
-The Farm Radio Weekly Team
