Farm Radio Weekly is a news and information service for rural radio broadcasters in sub-Saharan Africa. It is published by Farm Radio International.
Farm Radio International script of the week
Date Posted: November 7th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #179, Past Issues
Hunger is not only about not having enough to eat; it is also about what you eat, as we learned in one of this week’s stories. Good nutrition involves consuming adequate vitamins and minerals. This includes micronutrients such as Vitamin A and iron, both of which are important for healthy growth and development. A lack of micronutrients in the diet is often termed “hidden hunger.’’ Many staple foods such as maize, cassava and sweet potato do not provide enough of these micronutrients. But there are many indigenous African leafy vegetables with high levels of vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients. In this script, we hear how communities can make good use of these local vegetables.
This script is based on actual interviews. It was a winner in our recent scriptwriting competition on healthy communities, and was written by Gabriel Adukpo, from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Koforidua, Ghana.
This script is available in an audio version on this page: http://farmradio.org/english/partners/multi-media/
Read the text of the script here: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/93-3script_en.asp
Date Posted: October 31st, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #178, Past Issues
This script touches on two topics from this week’s stories: livestock and climate change. Climate change can affect the productivity and health of livestock. As livestock are of great importance to many farmers’ livelihoods, farmers are looking for ways to manage the effects of climate change. The message of this script is that, in certain circumstances, it’s better for a farmer to keep fewer livestock so that he or she can manage them better. This message may be relevant or adaptable in many regions. Find out more by reading the whole script:
http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/84-7script_en.asp
Date Posted: October 24th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #177, Past Issues
One of this week’s news stories is about moringa. To complement that story, this week’s script is about the many benefits and uses of the moringa tree, also known as the drumstick, horseradish, or benzolive tree. For example, did you know that the moringa tree provides nutritious food for people, fodder for livestock, and that the seeds can even be used to clean dirty water? You can use this script to discuss the benefits of moringa on your radio program.
To read the full script, go to: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/71-3script_en.asp
Date Posted: October 17th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #176, Past Issues
We link with our story from Benin by choosing a script of the week from Nigeria on raising rabbits. With careful attention, rabbits are not difficult to raise. They provide a source of both meat and income. This script features a dialogue between a famous rabbit farmer and a retired agricultural extension worker. The two men touch on the most important things to remember in order to effectively raise, feed and house rabbits. There are two parts to this script, both of which can be found in Script Package 80. Here is the link to Part Two:
http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/80-2script_en.asp
Date Posted: October 10th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #175, Past Issues
On the occasion of International Rural Women’s Day, the script of the week highlights a topic which is a concern for young women, especially in rural areas. Young women looking for good paying jobs can easily be taken in by enticing adverts offering what appear to be wonderful opportunities. Often these jobs are not what they seem, and can present a danger. The script describes how one young woman narrowly avoided a difficult situation. This script is a drama based on actual interviews and true stories. It is a prize-winning script from our recent competition on healthy communities, and was written by Ugonma Cokey, from Voice of Nigeria, one of Farm Radio International’s broadcasting partners.
Read the script in full here: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/93-8script_en.asp
Date Posted: October 3rd, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #174, Past Issues
One of this week’s stories describes an innovative low-cost chicken brooder, designed to keep chicks warm with the heat produced when part of the unit is used for cooking. In November 2010, we published a script in Farm Radio Weekly that presented an egg incubator invented by a poultry farmer. The incubator can hatch 600 eggs in 21 days. Both are interesting innovations, designed by farmers, which other farmers could adapt and use to improve their poultry business.
Read the incubator script here: http://weekly.farmradio.org/2010/11/15/2921/
Date Posted: September 26th, 2011
Posted in: African Farm News in Review, Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Past Issues
One of our stories this week concerns agricultural lime. When farmers use chemical inputs to give soils a boost, they need to know how to use and store them safely. The script of the week presents suggestions for five radio spots on these topics. The spots cover safe use, storage, and how to prevent chemicals from entering the environment.
http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/83-4script_en.asp
Date Posted: September 19th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #172, Past Issues
Two of our stories this week focus on animal production. We chose a script of the week which looks at another animal that is popular in some regions – rabbits. With careful attention, rabbits are not difficult to raise and provide a source of meat and income. This script is from Nigeria. There are two parts, both of which can be found in Script Package 80. Here is the link to Part One:
http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/80-1script_en.asp
Date Posted: September 12th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #171, Past Issues
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing farmers and rural communities. This script provides a number of story suggestions to inspire you to create programs on crop storage. Storage is an important but sometimes overlooked aspect of farming and ensuring food security. This script contains seven story ideas and plenty of information sources to get you started.
http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/89-4script_en.asp
Date Posted: August 29th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #170, Past Issues
As part of our selection of favourite items from the last year, we have chosen a script which attracted emails and comments from readers. This script with a practical topic was popular so we have chosen to highlight it again. It was written especially for Farm Radio Weekly by Winnie Onyimbo in Kenya. George Mbatha, a farmer in Kenya, describes the egg incubator he invented, and how he used it in his business.
Read the script here: http://weekly.farmradio.org/2010/11/15/2921/
Date Posted: August 22nd, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #169, Past Issues
Lesotho, a mountainous country bordered on all sides by South Africa, has the world’s highest HIV prevalence at 27.7%, with about half a million people infected with HIV. Treatment and drugs are free and HIV-positive people are now able to live longer and healthier lives. However, widows and children often suffer the dual pain of HIV infection and poverty. In order to help each other, people living with HIV and AIDS, usually form support groups to tackle common problems.
This prize-winning script describes one such support group, The Heso Organic and Integrated Therapeutic Centre. It offers a wide range of alternative and complementary therapies to vulnerable groups (HIV-positive or not), including massage, meditation, fitness exercises, and open-air garden walks.
This script is a mini-drama based on an actual interview with the founder and participants of the Heso Organic and Integrated Therapeutic Centre in October 2010. It was written by Lawrence Wakdet of the Institute of Human Virology in Nigeria.
Read the full script here: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/93-6script_en.asp.
Date Posted: August 15th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #168, Past Issues
One of our stories this week concerns using crop by-products as fuel. The story was about rice husks – but as this script shows, other crop by-products can also be used as fuel. This script describes how to make charcoal briquettes from banana peels. A women’s group in Uganda developed this alternative fuel, as they grow an abundance of plantain and bananas. This idea could save many trees.
Read the full script: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/76-5script_en.asp
Date Posted: August 8th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #167
In keeping with this week’s theme, the script of the week focuses on youth. This script looks at a creative approach to the problem of drug abuse and poverty among the youth in Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya. It is based on real interviews. A local community-based organization initiated an empowerment program that has trained youth in entrepreneurship and fostering peace.
The script was written by Charles Kemboi, and was a prizewinner in our recent script-writing competition on Healthy communities. Charles is a producer at Shine 103.1 FM, Daystar University’s student radio station.
Read the full script here: http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/93-5script_en.asp.
Date Posted: July 18th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #164, Past Issues
The fight against hunger doesn’t mean having access to and eating just any food – it means having access and eating the right foods. That includes foods that are rich in micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals, which are crucial to overall health and energy levels.
Typically, rural communities rely on staple foods such as maize or potatoes. And while these may provide needed calories and fill you up, eating these foods alone is not the healthiest option because they are typically low in vital micronutrients.
This week’s script tells the story of how one Ghanaian community used local leafy greens to fight malnutrition. It was written by Gabriel Adukpo, who works for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Ghana, and was a winner in our most recent scriptwriting competition on healthy communities.
Find the script here: http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/93-3script_en.asp
Date Posted: July 11th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #163, Past Issues
Participatory community enumeration is an efficient way to gather information about urban communities and involve residents in the data-gathering process. This information can help to plan improvements and neighbourhood developments. This script shows the efforts of an NGO to empower several communities in Abuja. The NGO uses community enumeration to help citizens direct funds to the most desperate sections of their communities.
This is a prize-winning script from our recent scriptwriting competition on the topic of healthy communities, and was written by Oluwakemi Aduroja from Network News 24 TV in Abuja, Nigeria. It is based on interviews with community residents in Abuja.
Read the script here: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/93-7script_en.asp
Date Posted: July 4th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #162, Past Issues
Waste plastic and plastic bags are a problem on the streets of many African towns and cities. Plastic bags are often used only once and then discarded. They blow around the streets and are eaten by livestock. They clog sewage systems, one of the main causes of flooding in Lomé, the capital city of Togo.
This week’s script describes how a local NGO decided to tackle waste plastic bags. Their initiative makes the city cleaner, while providing employment.
The script was written by Bonaventure N’Coué Mawuvi, a radio journalist and reporter from Togo. It is a prize-winning script from our recent scriptwriting competition on healthy communities. Bonaventure based the script on interviews conducted with NGO officials and with the plastic waste collectors they employ.
Read the full script here: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/93-9script_en.asp
Date Posted: June 27th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #161, Past Issues
This week’s script of the week was one of the ten prize-winning scripts in our recent script package on healthy communities. It was written by Simon Mukali from Kenya, who based the script on his interviews with teenagers in Nairobi. In many countries, people find it difficult to discuss sex, and may even regard it as a taboo subject. Talking about sex with your teenage children can be especially difficult. This script tells the story of how parents in Nairobi learned to talk to their daughter about sex.
http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/93-4script_en.asp
Date Posted: June 20th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #160, Past Issues
Households in Rwanda that own cattle, such as the one in this week’s story on biogas, are required by law to practice zero grazing. Zero grazing is the practice of keeping animals in stalls and feeding them cut fodder. The Rwandan government fines owners if any animal is found wandering freely.
The script of the week, from Farm Radio International senior writer Jean-Paul Ntezimana in Rwanda, addresses the environmental impacts of the methane which cows produce. This script will help farmers understand that cattle do contribute to global warming and climate change. It will also help Rwandan farmers understand that intensive farming with improved breeds is one way to address climate change as well as fight against overgrazing.
http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/89-5script_en.asp
Date Posted: June 13th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #159, Past Issues
The script of the week was chosen to complement the two stories on cookstoves in this week’s FRW. As firewood becomes scarce, people search for alternative fuels. This script tells the story of a women’s group in Uganda who make charcoal briquettes from banana skins. This innovation uses easily available resources, and could save many trees. To find out how to make banana briquettes, read the script here.
Date Posted: June 6th, 2011
Posted in: Farm Radio International script of the week, Farm Radio Script of the Week, Issue #158, Past Issues
This script comes from our latest script package, and is written by Ugonma Cokey in Nigeria. It is one of ten prize-winning scripts in Farm Radio’s scriptwriting competition on healthy communities. It tackles the issue of human trafficking, in which people are recruited on false pretences and often forced into labour or prostitution. In this story, a father finds an advert for what looks like a job in Europe for his daughter. He tries to persuade her to apply as the family needs the money.
Read what happens next: http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/93-8script_en.asp
