Issue #167

This week’s issue focuses on young people. To mark International Youth Day and the end of the International Year of Youth, we are presenting three stories about how young people are engaging in, and being successful at, agriculture.

From Malawi, we hear about how one young man decided to make compost. This was the turning point for Harry Keliyala in becoming a successful farmer, and since then his farm has gone from strength to strength. He is now viewed as a model farmer by his community.

One young man in Uganda has found his fortune in mushrooms. Determined to make his own living, Ismail Mulindwa took a course in microbiology before securing a loan to expand his business.

And in Senegal, many young people have joined a co-operative to participate in fishing at a rehabilitated dam. Now they have little urge to move to the city.

In our Farm Radio Action section, read how one of our broadcasting partners in Uganda is developing a school feeding program with a radio component.

We’d love to hear how you celebrated International Youth Day. If you produced a program or attended events where you interviewed young participants, please let us know: farmradioweekly@farmradio.org.

-The Farm Radio Weekly team

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Ten years ago, Harry Keliyala viewed farming as a tradition and a practice from his ancestors.  He says, “I was brainwashed that farming was for the poor and for those who did not go to school.” Mr. Keliyala could not produce enough food for his wife and children. For him, farming was a burden.

But that all changed in November 2001. Mr. Keliyala says, “My attitude towards farming changed … when the extension worker visited this village and advised us to start making [compost] manure.” Mr. Keliyala, now aged 29, hails from Kamphampha village, in the northwest of Dowa District.

The extension worker guided Mr. Keliyala and other farmers to analyze the challenges they faced in farming. They determined that one of the problems was a decline in soil fertility.  They knew that to produce surplus food, they needed to fertilize the soil.

Following the extension worker’s recommendation, Mr. Keliyala made a lot of compost manure. This compost would complement the little chemical fertilizer he had. He explains, “I applied the manure in the maize garden and to my surprise I harvested more than what my family required for that year and I sold a few bags of maize.”

After experiencing a bumper harvest in 2002, Mr. Keliyala began to regard farming as a business. He shares the experience, “I witnessed myself that farming can sustain one’s life and can keep a family going.”

The following year, Mr. Keliyala increased the amount of compost manure he made.  He also started growing tobacco and diversified into livestock. He started with five goats, three chickens, and two cattle.

Mr. Keliyala explains that he learnt about diversification from the extension worker. He describes the benefits of diversifying: “Crops and animals complement each other. I use droppings of my animals for making manure and I use some crop residues as feed for animals.”

Raising livestock has improved Mr. Keliyala’s income and nutrition security.  He says, “I sell eggs and milk from the animals I rear and these give me more money to take care for my family. Milk, meat, and eggs also provide nutritious foods to my family.”

As the years passed, Mr. Keliyala’s life started changing for the better. He sold his tobacco for a good price, and noticed that other young farmers began to admire his success.

Advice from the extension worker was the turning point in Mr. Keliyala’s life. Today he boasts of assets which his community associates with rich people. He says, “I am now a model to many young farmers in my village. Currently I have 10 cattle, 73 goats, four pigs, a corrugated iron sheet house, two bicycles, a motor vehicle, and an ox-cart.”

Mr. Keliyala attributes his success not only to himself but also to extension workers, lead farmers, and fellow farmers. “I have benefited a lot from the advice of various stakeholders. I have learnt several agricultural technologies which have changed my farming beliefs, attitudes, and practices.”

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When Ismail Mulindwa finished high school in Uganda’s Mukono district, he knew just what he wanted to do. During school holidays, he had tried growing mushrooms using cotton seed husks. He was convinced it could be a profitable venture. He said, “We are farmers by nature. My parents are farmers, they saw potential in me and encouraged me.”

His instincts paid off. He now heads a thriving enterprise. He earns a good income and provides work for a team of outgrowers.

When Mr. Mulindwa started his enterprise, he bought mushroom spawn from Makerere University and the Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute. But he soon realized he would be better off on his own.

Mushroom spawn are like seeds for mushrooms. Determined to produce his own spawn, Mr. Mulindwa enrolled in a microbiology course at Makerere University. To perfect the technique, he signed up for another course at Baraka Agricultural College in Kenya.

Now 25, Mr. Mulindwa has built a spawn laboratory at his farm. He took out a loan from a private company to set up the facility. The cost was 15 million Ugandan shillings (about 5,000 American dollars). He paid back the sum on time, without great difficulty.

Mr. Mulindwa sells fresh and dried mushrooms to individual customers, supermarkets, and hotels. He also supplies spawn to farmers in Kenya and Uganda and the government’s National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS). He makes an average monthly profit of 1.5 million Ugandan shillings (about 550 American dollars). If he lands a big contract he can earn much more. He said, “I have the capacity to deliver 2,000 bottles of spawn a month.”

Mr. Mulindwa set up a network of outgrowers to help meet demand. He is even seeking to expand to meet the booming international market. Many of his suppliers are women. They borrow start-up money from microfinance institutions. Part of the attraction is the quick turnaround. Mushrooms can be harvested 20-30 days after planting the first spawn. And the crop is not restricted to seasons.

Namirembe Joanita is one of the outgrowers. She said, “I was scared of getting a loan but whenever I visited Mulindwa’s farm, I got encouraged. With mushrooms you start earning after just three weeks.” She invested one million Ugandan shillings (nearly 400 American dollars) but made the sum back within three months.

Mr. Mulindwa also teaches mushroom cultivation. His goal is to set up a teaching facility. This will allow him to share the knowledge and skills behind his business. He says there is still much untapped potential in the sector. He claims farmers could make even better profits if they used quality packaging and branding. The young mushroom producer says that owning a farm has taught him the value of hard work. But the results are well worth the investment. He said, “I sweat for my profit, but I benefit from it. I enjoy being my own boss.”

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Singing fills the air at the small dam in Sébi Ponty, about 40 kilometres from Dakar in Senegal. Young co-operative members sing while they pull in their fishing nets. As they draw the nets tight, gleaming fish leap to escape the tightening mesh. The spectacle is a delight for children watching on the banks.

Twenty-year-old Pape Ndaw is one of the men pulling in the nets. He says that many families have come to depend on the fishery since the dam’s rehabilitation in 2006. He says, “I earn more than 120,000 CFA francs (around 270 American dollars) per month when there’s a good catch. I’m supporting my elderly parents as well as my own young family.”

Aquaculture is a vital economic activity for youth in the area. All fishing activities are handled by a co-operative. Around 300 co-operative members are local youth.

The dam is half a kilometer long and about the same wide. In 2006, the dam was stocked with tilapia hatchlings. According to Senegal’s National Aquaculture Agency, it yields 50 kilogrammes of fish per day during each fishing season. The first fishing season begins in July. This signals three months of intense activity for residents of the villages around Sébi Ponty. In October, fishing in the dam will be forbidden for two or three months. This allows stocks to reproduce before another fishing season begins in December.

Anita Diagne Diouf sells fish products. She says the fishery offers real opportunities for young people in the area. And young women like her benefit as much as men in the co-operative. She says, “We share the income and get the same amount as the men.”

However, the dam has several obstacles to overcome, according to Senegal’s National Aquaculture Agency. The main challenge is the co-existence of various dam users. 

Amadou Camara is president of the dam’s management committee.. He says, “The market gardeners use water from the dam. The herders bring their animals here to drink, especially during the dry season.” He explains that this often creates tension between the managers of the dam and the farmers.

One worrying sign of poor co-ordination is that the dam is filling with sand. This is caused by overexploitation of the water. Babacar Ndao is the national minister with responsibility for small-scale water reservoirs. He says the government will soon begin dredging sand from the dam.

He is aware of other challenges faced by the co-operative, such as lack of fishing gear and access to finances. He promises, “The government will launch a program to improve the equipment and reinforce training of the various classes of users.”

Pape Ndaw looks forward to this support. The work at the dam is his only employment. But he does not sit and wait. He says, “During the off-season … when the fish are allowed to reproduce, I keep myself busy with poultry at the house.”

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The United Nation’s International Year of Youth comes to an end on August 12, 2011, which also marks International Youth Day. This special issue of Farm Radio Weekly is dedicated to young farmers. 

For more information on the International Year of Youth, visit: http://social.un.org/youthyear/.

Dr. Namanga Ngongi is president of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. He recently wrote a piece entitled “Africa’s agriculture depends on youths.” Read it here: http://allafrica.com/stories/201108012504.html.

At the following link you can read a backgrounder on youth and agriculture in Africa. It has links to many other resources: http://www.future-agricultures.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=1545&Itemid=522.

This blog post from Nourishing the Planet provides a round-up of some agricultural initiatives which focus on the younger generation: http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/what-works-educating-the-farmers-of-tomorrow-disc-slow-food-farmers-of-the-future-initiative-care-icrisat-pencils-for-kids-eliminate-poverty-now/.

The current drought and hunger in east Africa is affecting children and young people in particular. Lack of food in Kenya is forcing some schools to close, as you can read here:

“Kenya: Schools close as famine bites”: http://allafrica.com/stories/201108020907.html.  

The World Food Programme’s “Home grown school feeding” program aims to link school feeding with local agricultural production. Read more here: http://www.wfp.org/countries/Zambia/News/Remodeled-School-Meals—–Good-For-Kids–Good-For-Smallholders.

There are two scripts with a focus on youth in Farm Radio International’s most recent script package:

-Talking to teens about unsafe sex

http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/93-4script_en.asp

-Empowerment saves youth from drug abuse

http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/93-5script_en.asp

Maybe this commemorative day will inspire you to produce a radio program on youth and agriculture. You could cover any local events dedicated to the day, or you could seek out successful young farmers like the ones in our stories this week. There may also be locally-based NGOs who have projects specifically for young people. You could base a program around a successful young farmer, or young farmers’ group, or look at young people’s perceptions of farming – is it an attractive option for making a living?

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To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), you are invited to participate in these two competitions:

1) An essay competition on the theme: “Looking at ICTs and entrepreneurship in agriculture and rural development through the eyes of women and the youth.” The competition is open to young Africans, 18- 35 years of age. Each winner will receive 1,000 Euros. For more information, visit: http://ardyis.cta.int/en/news/project-news/item/109-essay-cta-nepad/109-essay-cta-nepad.

2) A photo competition on the theme: “Looking at ICTs, agriculture and climate change in Africa through the eyes of women and the youth.” This competition is open to amateur and professional African photographers. The winners will receive 800 Euros. For more information, visit:  http://ardyis.cta.int/en/news/project-news/item/110-photo-competition-nepad-cta/110-photo-competition-nepad-cta.

Deadline for both competitions is August 15, 2011.

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Print and radio journalists from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia can apply to attend a “Better Science Reporting” workshop in Nairobi from 10-14th October 2011. The workshop is organised by WRENMedia. An application form can be downloaded here as a word document or a pdf:  http://www.agfax.net/assets/pdf/Oct_2011_training_application.pdf. Further details can be also seen at http://www.agfax.net/training.php

The deadline for applications is August 14th 2011.

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This rural radio pack, produced by CTA, the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, contains short radio clips that broadcasters can download and use. Clips come from all over Africa and cover various topics related to youth and farming. At the following link, you can also access a Word document with further information, full scripts, and links to resources: http://ruralradio.cta.int/YoungPeople.htm.

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Grace Amito’s visit to Canada earlier this year inspired her to further action within her district. While in Ottawa, she visited a local primary school to tell the children about her work as a radio broadcaster with Mega FM in Gulu, northern Uganda. One of the children, 10-year-old Ella Jackson-Cappuccino, said, “It was interesting to hear about how radio in Africa helps farmers grow more food.  I liked hearing about her [Grace’s] radio station that she works at. It was interesting to hear how some small towns have one radio and get into groups and listen together, unlike here where we have thousands of radios.”

As a result, children and parents from the school Grace visited decided to raise money to provide radios where they were most needed. With the money raised, Grace was able to buy four radios. She gave one radio each to four of the largest schools in Gulu. The radios are large and powerful so that a group of up to 500 can sit and listen comfortably.

But Grace wanted to do even more for these schools. In Gulu, some schools have gardens, but students often view farming as a punishment. With this in mind, and inspired to promote farming amongst young people, Grace wants to produce farm radio programs for the students to listen to on their new radios. She hopes that, in the long term, students will see farming as a viable way to earn a living.

In the short term, students will benefit from a school farming and feeding project that Grace has begun working on. The project aims to improve the quality of school meals and enhance the effectiveness of nutrition and agricultural education.

In an email, Grace explained why the school farming and feeding program is so important: “With rising costs of food, many parents cannot afford school lunches for their children. Yet when primary schools offer lunches, attendance by boys and girls from poor households surges. If a school can produce part of the meal, the costs are lower. Pupils can learn to grow crops, and then have the satisfaction of eating what they grow.”

She also mentions the difficulties involved in organizing a school feeding program: “However, a major obstacle to a well-functioning school feeding program, particularly in an urban setting, is a lack of funding. Food usually has to be purchased at the market which is expensive.”

As a first step, Grace obtained Quality Protein Maize from the National Agricultural Research Organization. The maize was distributed among five senior secondary schools. She plans to distribute maize to six primary schools in time for the next planting season, which starts in August.

Grace is now starting to work on the farm radio component of the school program. She thinks a sponsor would help get things started. She hopes that – as well as taking part in growing maize and eating it at school – the children will be able to listen to programs on their school radios and learn the value of farming.

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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.

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