Farm Radio Weekly » Notes to Broadcasters

Notes to broadcasters on solar fish drying

nbassily — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:56:42 +0000

This story presents a situation with triple benefits: for the women fish processors involved, for people who eat fish, and for the environment. The women receive a better price and preferential treatment from fish buyers; fish consumers eat fish which is cleaner and more hygienic; and the environment benefits because trees are not cut to smoke the fish.

Here is a recent story on solar dryers:

Solar Tent Fish Dryer Will Reduce Loss (August 18, 2009) http://allafrica.com/stories/200908180027.html

Here is a blog entry which talks about the situation in Lake Chilwa: http://mosephiri.blog.co.uk/2011/09/20/solar-drying-tech-saves-fish-wastage-money-11880430/

You might want to look at the results of this scientific study. The study shows that fish processed with a solar drier retained less moisture than sun-dried fish. Dried fish with lower moisture are less prone to infestation by mould, and have a longer shelf life. Solar-dried fish were also more hygienic in the experiment in terms of lower bacterial infection. Finally, the study showed that full drying took only three days with solar dryers, as opposed to seven days with sun-drying.

You can see the study here:

http://www.wiloludjournal.com/pdf/fishaq/2010/8-16.pdf

The NGO Practical Action has many resources on solar dryers. See: http://practicalaction.org/drying-answers

One Practical Action document is entitled, “Construction and Maintenance of the Solar Fish Dryer.” You can see it here: http://practicalaction.org/construction-and-maintenance-of-the-solar-fish-drier

Here is a more general resource, from CTA, on drying agricultural produce: http://www.anancy.net/documents/file_en/RRRP_01-8-en.pdf

Farm Radio International published a script on solar dryers in 2006.

Three Fishing Ladies with a Message about Solar Dryers (Package 79, Script 6, November 2006)

http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/79-6script_en.asp

If fishing or aquaculture is an activity in your listening area, talk to fishers, processors and traders. Ask them:

In what ways are fish processed? For example, they may be dried, smoked, ground into fish meal, used for fertilizer, used as animal feed, etc.

How are fish dried?

Do fishers, processors, traders, or consumers report any problems with dried fish?

Are solar dryers used to dry fish?

If so, how were they introduced to the area?

Do those who use solar dryers report benefits?

Do they report any problems?

Notes to broadcasters on Zanzibari vegetable farmers

nbassily — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:43:40 +0000

This story shows a group of determined farmers who are changing their fortunes, with the help of agricultural experts. The story mentions a variety of practices that the farmers are now using, from water management, to pest management, to marketing practices.

Farm Radio International has produced many scripts on these topics. For example, you can find scripts on crop production at: http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/crop.asp

Scripts on pest management are available at: http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/pest.asp

And scripts on water management can be found here: http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/water.asp

Here’s a script that talks about drip irrigation, one of the practices mentioned in the script.

Supply Water Directly to Plant Roots with Pitcher and Drip Irrigation (Package 71, Script 10, June 2004).

http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/71-10script_en.asp

The story talks about “peri-urban” farmers, farmers who grow crops outside of, but near to, a city. Here are two scripts that talk about urban dwellers using “sack farming” to grow vegetables. .

Sack farming: Unlimited vegetable harvest! (Package 90, Script 9, April 2010).

http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/90-9script_en.asp

Women use ‘hanging gardens’ to grow vegetables and solve land crisis (Package 90, Script 8, April 2010).

http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/90-8script_en.asp

The story also refers to marketing strategies – understanding supply and demand, and choosing to grow crops which are in high demand. Farm Radio International published four scripts on marketing issues in Package 66, in March 2003. You can access these scripts here: http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/numerical.asp Scroll down to package 66.

There are good opportunities for small-scale farmers to sell into nearby tourist markets in Africa. One study found that a very high percentage of hotels in tourist areas on the Kenyan coast purchased their fruits and vegetables, dairy products, eggs, chicken and fish from small-scale producers. See: http://www.ajol.info/index.php/kjbm/article/viewFile/52163/40789

Notes to broadcasters on fertilizer trees

nbassily — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:05:47 +0000

This story mentions several ways in which farmers can use trees to help their crops. Mixing trees and crops in this way is called agroforestry. Trees help crops in many ways. Some trees, especially leguminous trees such as Gliricidia sepium, add nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil through their roots and leaves. Many trees help keep moisture in the soil, and shade crops from the withering effects of direct sun. Others act as windbreaks. And of course, trees can directly provide farmers with products such as fruit, nuts, firewood, and timber for construction.

For general resources on agroforestry, see:

Agroforester’s Library: http://www.agroforestry.net/aflibr.html

The Overstory: This non-academic, plain language agroforestry journal is no longer published, but 100 issues are freely available on-line at: http://www.agroforestry.net/overstory/osprev.html

FACTnet Fact Sheets on agroforestry species: http://www.winrock.org/fnrm/factnet/factnet.htm

This recent news article talks about Kenyan farmers using fertilizer trees:

Farmers turn to ‘fertiliser tree’ to boost crop production (Business Daily, May 30, 2011) http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/-/539444/1171952/-/122lfrcz/-/index.htm

Here is an overview of the World Agroforestry Centre’s Evergreen agriculture program, which includes fertilizer trees among other projects:

http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/evergreen_agriculture

Farm Radio International has published many scripts on forestry and agroforestry. You can browse these scripts here: http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/forestry.asp

Here’s a script which shows how reforestation can bring rains back.

Community Reforestation Brings Back the Rains in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana (Package 78, Script, July 2006). http://weekly.farmradio.org/2009/04/06/community-reforestation-brings-back-the-rains-in-the-brong-ahafo-region-of-ghana/

Here is a recent script which talks about the various benefits that trees offer farmers.

Paying farmers for environmental services (Package 87, Script 5, April 2009).

http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/87-5script_en.asp

Two issues of Voices from 2005 talk about the benefits of agroforestry:

Trees Hold Down the Soil and Keep Back the Desert (Voices No. 76, October 2005)

http://www.farmradio.org/english/partners/voices/v2005oct.asp

Agroforestry in Africa (Voices No. 74, March 2005) http://www.farmradio.org/english/partners/voices/v2005mar.asp

Farm Radio Weekly has published a number of agroforestry stories. Here are a few:

Ethiopia: Farmers group proves that planting trees can reduce temperatures (FRW 61, April 2009) http://weekly.farmradio.org/2009/04/06/ethiopia-farmers-group-proves-that-planting-trees-can-reduce-temperatures-daily-monitor-2/

Niger: Farmers plant trees to slow deserts’ advance (FRW 25, June 2008)

http://weekly.farmradio.org/2008/06/16/1-niger-farmers-plant-trees-to-slow-desert%E2%80%99s-advance-various-sources/

Southern Africa: Tree is a ‘fertilizer factory’ in the field (FRW 82, September 2009) http://weekly.farmradio.org/2009/09/28/2-southern-africa-tree-is-a-%E2%80%98fertilizer-factory-in-the-field%E2%80%99-mongabay-unep/

This FRW story talks about intercropping to improve fertility

Malawi: Intercropping helps farmer Phiri buy ox-cart (FRW 143, January 2011)

http://weekly.farmradio.org/2011/01/31/malawi-intercropping-helps-farmer-phiri-buy-ox-cart-by-norman-fulatira-for-farm-radio-weekly-in-malawi/

Do farmers in your area grow or keep trees in their fields, or on the perimeter of their fields? Ask farmers how having trees benefits their crops. Do particular species offer specific benefits?

Ask farmers about ‘fertilizer trees.’ Do any farmers keep trees in the fields to boost soil fertility? Do they use particular tree species to shade their crops, to protect them from strong winds, or to retain soil on sloping fields?

If farmers are skeptical about using trees in their fields, find out whether they have reasons for not choosing to grow trees. Have they had negative experience in the past, or are their opinions based on other farmers’ experiences? Or on hearsay?

You could invite an agroforester, a representative from an NGO involved with agroforestry, or an extension agent to speak about how trees and crops can help each other. Invite farmers to phone in with their questions, complaints, comments, and problems. You could also feature a progressive farmer who uses trees in specific ways to help his or her crops.

Notes to broadcasters on water management

nbassily — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:22:45 +0000

Water resource management is an increasing concern for farmers in rural areas. Last year saw extremes of drought and floods in Africa. Farmers can get better access to water for household or agricultural use by harvesting rainwater, either by collecting water in tanks, or by using soil management techniques.

In 2009, Farm Radio International produced an issue pack on water harvesting, which is full of information, examples and links on different methods of water harvesting: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/89-3script_en.asp

Practical Action is a UK-based NGO. They have produced what they call a “Practical Answer” online technical guide on rainwater harvesting: http://practicalaction.org/docs/technical_information_service/rainwater_harvesting.pdf

And http://practicalaction.org/rainwater-harvesting-drought

CTA produced a Rural Radio Resource Pack – 07/1, Rainwater Harvesting:

http://www.anancy.net/uploads/file_en/RRRP%20Rainwater%20harvesting%2007-1.pdf

Ag Fax recently produced a report from Uganda on rooftop rainwater harvesting for domestic use. You can find an audio file and transcript here: http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=469

Farm Radio Weekly published a story last year on collecting rainfall:

-Zimbabwe: Collecting rainfall in the city (FRW 141, January 2011) http://weekly.farmradio.org/2011/01/17/zimbabwe-collecting-rainfall-in-the-city-ips/

Here are some scripts from Farm Radio International on collecting and using water:

-Drip Irrigation (Package 84, August 2008)

http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/84-12script_en.asp

-Catch rain from your roof (Package 89, Script 6, December 2009) http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/89-6script_en.asp

-Irrigated farming improves the income of rural farmers (Package 86, Script 6, December 2008) http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/86-6script_en.asp

Or visit the water management script archive at http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/water.asp

You could also invite farmers to call or text your station with their rainwater harvesting experiences and innovations. Or, you could record in-the-field discussions amongst farmers about best practices for catching the rain, then broadcast that discussion.

Notes to broadcasters on banana processing

nbassily — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:02:45 +0000

The hundreds of varieties of banana provide food for millions of people in Africa. Bananas are relatively easy to grow, and a common sight along roadsides and in gardens. But on top of their value as a household food, bananas are versatile and nutritious and can be processed into chips, cakes, flour, purees for baby food, and even vinegar and beer. Processed banana products can be a small-scale business opportunity, as we see in this story. Post-harvest processing, especially of common crops such as banana or cassava, is an important way for farmers to add value to their crops and boost their incomes.

For background information on processing bananas, visit: http://bananas.bioversityinternational.org/en/what-we-do-mainmenu-27/processing-aamp-marketing-mainmenu-100.html

Read about some banana products and descriptions of processing techniques at: http://www.techno-preneur.net/information-desk/sciencetech-magazine/2010/july10/Value%20Added%20Products%20from%20Banana/Banana.html

Here you can read all about how to make banana chips: http://practicalaction.org/practicalanswers/product_info.php?products_id=69

Banana leaves and other by-products are also increasingly used in handicrafts: http://www.africanaturally.com/paper.htm

Here are some recent stories from FRW on bananas:

-East Africa: Handmade banana briquettes could replace firewood (FRW 66, May 2009) http://weekly.farmradio.org/2009/05/18/2-east-africa-handmade-banana-briquettes-could-replace-firewood-bbc-news/
-Rwanda: Processing bananas changes lives in Rwanda (FRW 41, October 2008) http://weekly.farmradio.org/2008/10/27/1-rwanda-processing-bananas-changes-lives-in-rwanda-by-sawa-pius-for-farm-radio-weekly-in-mombasa-kenya/

-Rwanda: Ban on plastic bags creates new market for banana bags (FRW 94, January 2010)

http://weekly.farmradio.org/2010/01/11/3-rwanda-ban-on-plastic-bags-creates-new-market-for-banana-bags-syfia-grands-lacs-spore/

Browse our bank of scripts on food processing here: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/food.asp

You may wish to produce a program on local opportunities for small-scale processing. Which crops are commonly processed as street food, for example? Is this only a women’s domain – how common is it to see men engaged in food processing? Is there a surplus of any particular crop in one season, which may provide an opportunity for processing? You could seek out local enterprises which make juice or chips, and ask them how they started, what the difficulties are, and how they have benefited.

Notes to broadcasters on Ethiopia and apples

nbassily — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:55:23 +0000

Ethiopia has an extremely varied geography and climate. Its highland areas are very fertile, and provide a good climate for growing both tropical and temperate fruits. Some kinds of temperate fruit were introduced centuries ago by Europeans; others, like the apple, are relatively new introductions.

Here’s a general introduction to agriculture in Ethiopia from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Ethiopia

Here are 13 photos which accompanied the original story, as published in the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/gallery/2011/dec/21/farming-eastern-ethiopia-in-pictures

Here are two stories on growing temperate fruits in Ethiopia:

Temperate fruits transforming lives in a tropical country: http://www.norway.org.et/News_and_events/etiopia/fruits/

Apple trees transform the life of a farmer in Ethiopia http://67.129.98.107/news.nsf/news/ethiopia-agriculture-200903-enews?OpenDocument&ref=eNewsArchive&lpos=ctr_txt_eNews_Archive-ethiopia-agriculture-200903-enews

And here is a report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization on fruit nurseries in two Ethiopian states:

FAO’s Fruit Nurseries in Amhara and Tigray Regions: Vibrant Projects Full of Promise http://www.fao.org/uploads/media/FocusMagazine8.pdf

Farm Radio International has published a number of scripts on the benefits of growing fruits. See the following two, for example:

Fruit Changes Farmers’ Lives (Package 81, Script 10, August 2007). http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/81-10script_en.asp

Growing fruit trees: A Participatory Radio Campaign in Uganda helps farmers earn income, improve the environment and enhance household nutrition (Package 94, Script 2, December 2011). http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/94-2script_en.asp

If you live in a highland area, farmers may already be growing apples, pears, cherries, grapes, or other temperate fruit. If not, temperate fruit production might be a good investment, especially if there is easy access to large towns and cities, or to export markets. Of course, growing fruit also brings health benefits – if, unlike the farmer in the story, your family decides to actually eat the fruit!

Talk to farmers and extension workers in your listening area. Find out if the climatic conditions are right for growing temperate fruit. If so, is there a ready market? Does your national government have any plans to diversify into producing temperate fruit? Interview an official from the Ministry of an extension supervisor. Perhaps some farmers have tried growing temperate fruit in the past, and failed. But perhaps conditions have changed. Maybe the road infrastructure has improved, or nearby towns have grown and offer a larger and more diversified market.

Notes to broadcasters on dung and biogas

nbassily — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:52:07 +0000

This story is a good example of a project which has benefits for both farmers and the global environment. Farmers benefit by getting access to cheap energy, which leaves them more money for education and other goods and services. They also make good quality fertilizer as a by-product. The environment benefits because methane is not released into the atmosphere from decomposing manure.

For more general and technical information on biogas, see these reports and websites:

“Biogas, a Technical Brief by Practical Action. Downloadable at http://practicalaction.org/biogas

Supergas website: http://www.supergas.info/

African Biogas Partnership Programme: http://africabiogas.org/knowledge-center/

Here are two recent new reports on cow dung and biogas in Senegal and in Uganda:

-“Cow Dung Generates Energy for Households in Senegal”: http://www.africagoodnews.com/infrastructure/energy/2735-cow-dung-generates-energy-for-households-in-senegal.html

-“Bio Gas Brought a New Dawn in Mugisha’s Life”: http://allafrica.com/stories/201108040446.html

You may also wish to revisit some stories from the Farm Radio Weekly series on energy in June 2011. Here is one story on biogas from that series:

-Rwanda: Powering homes with cow dung (FRW 160, June 2011) http://weekly.farmradio.org/2011/06/20/rwanda-powering-homes-with-cow-dung-alertnet/

Farm Radio International has produced many scripts on climate change, and on livestock farming. You can browse these scripts at http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/climate.asp and http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/livestock.asp

The following script talks about a method for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in livestock farming:

Breeding cows in a zero-grazing system can be a dual environmental solution (Package 89, Script 5, December 2009) http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/89-5script_en.asp

This story touches on several issues: the livelihood of livestock farmers, ways to decrease or mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and sources of renewable energy.

Biogas is one form of renewable energy. Others include solar energy, energy from moving water (electricity from small or large dams, for example), and biofuels made from plants like jatropha.

You could ask farmers in their area where they get their energy for cooking, lighting, and other uses, including charging mobile phones.

Do they use any renewable resources such as the ones mentioned above? Many farmers use only wood or charcoal for household energy. Unless carefully stewarded, this results in deforestation.

Are there individuals, businesses, schools, or other institutions in nearby villages or towns that use solar energy? Talk to farmers, merchants, local business leaders, and local NGOs.

What do farmers in your listening area do with their animal manure? Is it used for fertilizer? Do they compost the manure, or is it simply left in place or carried to the fields? Are there biodigesters in your listening area? If so, interview the people who own and/or use the biodigester and get their story. How did the biodigester project start? What benefits do they expect and have their received from the biodigester? How is it working? How was the initial investment covered?

Notes to broadcasters on women and farming

nbassily — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:49:35 +0000

Our story from Madagascar highlights the benefits of women becoming involved in agriculture. In most of Africa – and indeed around the world – women are already responsible for the bulk of the family’s food production. But there are often traditions and customs which dictate, or at least strongly influence, which crops women can and do grow.

For facts and figures, stories from around the world, and links to further resources on gender and agriculture, see: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/idrw/

The 2012 World Development Report on Gender Equality and Development is available at: http://go.worldbank.org/CQCTMSFI40

For your reference, here are two recent news reports on gender, agriculture and development:

-“Give women the seeds and they can feed the world: http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=105234

-“Gender equality: Why involving men is crucial: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=93870

Women make up the majority of small-scale, subsistence farmers in the developing world. Gender inequality in agriculture is a problem not just for women but for the agricultural sector, for food security, and for society as a whole. The Food and Agriculture Organization stated that, if women in developing countries worldwide had the same access to productive resources as men, they could increase yields on their farms by 20-30 per cent and lift 100-150 million people out of hunger.

Here are some quick facts on women in sub-Saharan Africa:

-Women are responsible for 70 to 80 per cent of household food production
-Women are responsible for obtaining 90 per cent of water, wood, and fuel
-55 per cent of primary students not enrolled in school are girls
-Nearly twice as many women over age 15 are illiterate compared to men
-Women are 1.6 times more likely than men to be infected by HIV
-77 per cent of all HIV-positive women live in sub-Saharan Africa

(Sources: The Hunger Project, IFPRI, UNAIDS, UNFPA)

Here are three recent reports on these issues:

“African women farmers, an untapped goldmine”: http://www.afrik-news.com/article18377.html

“Female Farmers Overcome Barriers to Feed Africa”: http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6431

“100 Years of International Women’s Days: African Women Farmers Struggle for Fairness”: http://www.trust.org/trustlaw/blogs/100-years-of-international-womens-day/african-women-farmers-struggle-for-fairness/

IPS News hosts The Gender Wire, which is full of resources and stories on women in the news. You can subscribe to their newsletter here: http://ipsnews.net/genderwire/

Farm Radio International has produced many scripts on women, gender and agriculture. Take a look at these two scripts;

- Gender mainstreaming in farmers’ co-operative: Groups in Ghana achieve food security for small-scale farmers (Package 94, Script 10, December 2011). http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/94-10script_en.asp

- Women produce most of our food (Package 70, Script 1, March 2004). http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/70-1script_en.asp

You can browse the complete list here: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/gender.asp

Read again the stories and links in the special issue of Farm Radio Weekly for International Women’s Day, March 2011: http://weekly.farmradio.org/topic/issue-147/

Gender and the roles of women and men in professional and domestic life is always a rich topic for discussion and debate. Broadcasters could produce programs on this topic to provoke debate and raise awareness. Don’t forget to talk to men in their families or communities to get their perspective.

You might want to find out whether there are limitations on the ways in which women are or can be involved in farming. Talk to farmers, extension workers, and, especially, women!

You might start by asking what kinds of work women usually do in the community. Depending on the response, you could follow up with questions about what crops women grow, and what crops women do not grow and why.

You could ask if there are traditions that specify which crops and which kinds of farming work women can be involved with. For example, women might be allowed to grow vegetables and beans, but not cash crops. They may also be allowed to raise small but not large livestock. Sometimes the rules are rigid; at other times, they are not. You could talk to elders in the community and ask them about the origins of these traditions. You could also ask whether people – including young farmers – think these traditions are still relevant, or whether it is time for things to change.

Finally, you might ask whether people think there are some benefits to women contributing to the family income by farming.

This story also mentions SRI, the System for Rice Intensification. For more information on SRI, see the following reports:

“Systems of Rice Intensification: Achieving more with less – A new way of rice cultivation”: http://info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/245848/index.html

“SRI-Rice Online”: http://sri.ciifad.cornell.edu/

“How to help rice plants grow better and produce more: Teach yourself and others”:

http://www.tefysaina.org/manuelSRI-us.pdf

Notes to broadcasters on new varieties

nbassily — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:46:44 +0000

This story tells how farmers in Guinea have benefitted from growing a new variety of tomato. The new variety was developed according to farmer’s needs, and suits local conditions well. In fact, it has been such a success that markets are becoming saturated. This can be a danger with any successful crop. Prices may drop, so farmers should ensure that they can rely on other crops or incomes. On-farm diversity benefits farmers and the environment in many ways. In this situation, growing a variety of crops can act as a cushion against one crop failing, or remaining unsold.

For technical details of the Moungal variety (in French only) see: http://technisem.com/index.php?m=0&lang=fr&rub=3&opt=3&cat_prod=95

In French only, here is the website of the research centre which developed the tomato variety: http://www.irag-guinee.org/index.php?query=irag&id=institut&target=centre&rub=region®ion=foulaya

Here are some recent stories from Farm Radio Weekly on tomatoes, and also on biodiversity:

Madagascar: Women blend agriculture with forest restoration (FRW 112, May 2010) http://weekly.farmradio.org/2010/05/24/2-madagascar-women-blend-agriculture-with-forest-restoration-ips-gender-links/

Rwanda: Don’t waste your waste! Farmers use human urine as fertilizer (FRW 124, August 2010)

http://weekly.farmradio.org/2010/08/23/3-rwanda-don%E2%80%99t-waste-your-waste-farmers-use-human-urine-as-fertilizer-syfia-grands-lacs/

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Farmers learn rainy season techniques from across the border (FRW 106, April 2010)

http://weekly.farmradio.org/2010/04/12/1-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-farmers-learn-rainy-season-techniques-from-across-the-border-syfia-grands-lacs/

Browse Farm Radio International’s archive of scripts on biodiversity here: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/biodiversity.asp

This story may inspire you to produce a program on the advantages and disadvantages of growing new varieties. Here are some general questions to get your research started. You could interview farmers, seed merchants, researchers or NGO staff.

-Under what circumstances are new varieties beneficial?

-What benefits have farmers seen with new varieties?

-Why do farmers choose newly bred varieties?

-What are the main drawbacks – for example, do farmers need to buy seed each year?

-Are any farmers returning to traditional varieties instead of seeking seeds of new varieties?

Notes to broadcasters on the push-pull technique

nbassily — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:41:44 +0000

The push-pull approach was designed to protect maize from stem borers. This type of pest management − using plants which are locally available as part of a system that is easy to set up and manage − often produces benefits beyond controlling pests. In this case, Napier grass and desmodium can provide good fodder for livestock. Farmers, as in this story, are now taking advantage of this and increasing their milk production and sales. Other benefits − of desmodium in particular − as reported by farmers and researchers, are soil improvement, including better water retention and increased nitrogen, and management of striga.

For full details on the push-pull technique and the plants involved, visit: http://www.push-pull.net

This webpage from infonet-biovision outlines 12 steps to planting a push-pull field: http://www.infonet-biovision.org/default/ct/253/soilFertilityManagement.

To browse Farm Radio International scripts on pest management, go to: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/pest.asp.

Read this previous Farm Radio Weekly story on push-pull:

Kenya: ‘Push-pull’ method protects maize from major pests (FRW 108, April 2010)

http://weekly.farmradio.org/2010/04/26/2-kenya-%E2%80%98push-pull%E2%80%99-method-protects-maize-from-major-pests-ips-infonet-biovision/

If stem borers and striga (sometimes called witchweed) are major problems in your area, you may wish to produce a program on the topic, sharing this week’s news story and highlighting this technique. You could also include a live discussion featuring one or more farmers or extension workers familiar with the push-pull method, or other natural pest control techniques.

You might also wish to produce a show that invites farmers to call-in or text-in their experiences with alternative pest control methods:

-Have farmers in your area heard of or tried intercropping as a way to control weeds or unwanted insects?
-Have farmers in your area discovered other alternatives to commercial pesticides?
-Do they find the alternatives more or less effective in reducing pest damage and increasing yields?