Issue #85

A warm welcome to all of our readers, and especially our newest subscribers : Inês José, from Prmédia in Angola; Françoise Bibiane Yoda, from Réseau Femmes en Action in Burkina Faso; Girma Moges, from Action Aid in Ethiopia; François Blackye Ngueye-Nze, from the NGO Club de l’amitié in Gabon; Karim Ouattara, from SDSES in Mali; Chibueze Nwatu, from ESBS in Nigeria; Danielle Lavoie, from the Conseil National de Concertation et de Coopération des Ruraux in Senegal; Daniel Wamala from Arua One FM in Uganda; and Chris Kakunta, from the National Agricultural Information Services in Zambia.

We hope that this week’s news stories generate some engaging discussions at your organizations and on your radio airwaves. Our first story visits a seed fair in Mozambique where farmers gather to exchange locally-adapted seed varieties and share their knowledge on growing techniques. Our second story comes from Niger, where some city-dwellers are reversing the trend of rural-urban migration by heading back to the country to grow food. Finally, our third story of the week explains how South African potato farmers won their fight against the introduction of genetically-modified potatoes.

As always, you’ll find information about interesting opportunities for broadcasters in the Upcoming Events and Radio Resource Bank sections. Our Farm Radio Action section features an interview with Stanley Khaila, Chair of the National Advisory Committee for the African Farm Radio Research Initiative (AFRRI) in Malawi, who describes some early and exciting findings from a participatory radio campaign.

We would also like to let you know about FRW’s 2009 Subscriber Survey. In the coming days, all FRW subscribers will receive a request to complete a short survey. This survey will provide us with valuable information on what aspects of FRW you value most (and least), and what you’d like to see more of in future editions. Your feedback will help shape the future of the FRW service, so please keep an eye out for this survey and tell us what you think! We look forward to reading your feedback.

Happy reading!

-The Farm Radio Weekly Team

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African Farm News in Review

1. Mozambique: Farmers exchange locally-adapted seeds at seed fairs (LEISA)

2. Niger: ‘Part-time farmers’ travel from city to country to make ends meet (Syfia Info)

3. South Africa: GM potatoes will not be sold (Business Day, Supermarket Online)

Upcoming Events

-December 18: Celebrate International Migrants Day with Radio 1812!

Radio Resource Bank

-Pambazuka provides a forum for audio and video podcasts

Farm Radio Action

-Stanley Khaila explains lessons from AFRRI participatory radio campaign

Farm Radio Script of the Week

-Rebuilding local seed supplies after armed conflict or other emergency situations

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Shaded from the sun, farmers gather for a special kind of market. They lay out mats and brightly coloured fabrics to display their goods. But today they are not selling heaps of fresh crops. Instead, they display smaller quantities of dried seeds and cuttings. The farmers are participating in a seed fair in the province of Nampula in northeastern Mozambique. Rather than leaving with money in their pockets, they will take home locally-adapted seed varieties and knowledge of how to grow them.

Ana Leite participated in a fair for the first time this year. She took home three new seed varieties. One was a light-skinned cassava. This variety was much sought after because it is not bitter and can be eaten raw. Ms. Leite also purchased a cutting for a kind of sugarcane she had never seen before. The farmer who sold the sugarcane explained how to cultivate it.

Seed fairs expand on a traditional farmer practice. It’s common for neighbouring farmers to exchange seed varieties. At a seed fair, the exchange happens on a larger scale. Seeds and cuttings are sold at a nominal price – much less than they sell for in shops.

In 2002, the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives in Nampula organized its first seed fair in the province. The union noticed that local people were turning away from local crops such as cassava, sweet potato, sorghum, and millet. They wanted to provide farmers with an opportunity to exchange locally-adapted seeds, as well as knowledge of growing methods. For example, a farmer may find varieties that are known to mature quickly or resist common pests. They may find crops that are suitable to the soil and water conditions on their farm.

Over the years, the seed fair has become very popular and the farmers’ union has grown. Now, the union organizes five fairs at the same time in different parts of the province. Over 700 members of the farmers’ union participated in the latest fairs.

Margarita Amisse took part in her third seed fair this year. She brought groundnuts to the market and returned with sesame, cowpea, and rice. She also purchased some maize seeds for her neighbour. Ms. Amisse confirms that seeds at the fair are less expensive and available in much greater variety than those sold in shops.

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It takes nearly four hours by truck to get from Niger’s capital city of Niamey to the rural village of Bambamgata. Amadou Moussa made this journey through winding roads at the beginning of the growing season. Now he’s standing in a field. His long shirt is covered in mud. His wife works beside him, pulling weeds from a patch of okra. This work is difficult, Mr. Moussa says. More difficult than his city job as a price controller. But as the cost of living has risen, he has come to the country to grow food and earn extra money.

Over the past five years, Niamey has seen a reversal of the “rural exodus.” People who came to the city in search of a better life are now returning to the country. It’s so common that there’s a word for it in the Hausa language – Manoma birni, or urbanite farmer. They’re also known as part-time farmers.

Part-time farmers keep their jobs in the city. Some spend the growing season in the country. Others work in the city during the week then tend to a farm on the weekend. Many cultivate their grandparents’ land. Others rent land.

Mamane Moustapha dreams of becoming a full-time farmer. He left the rural life 25 years ago. But he became disillusioned with city life. He works as a plumber. But his wage is not enough to provide for his family. Mr. Moustapha now cultivates a plot in the country. He says his family can now live decently all year.

At first, regular farmers were doubtful of part-time farmers from the city. They did not expect the urbanites to stay, since there is no electricity or running water. But, over the years, the part-time farmers have proved their determination to work the land.

Hassan Tahirou is an extension officer. He says part-time farmers are changing the way that full-time farmers think about agriculture. According to Mr. Tahirou, farmers who used to be skeptical of alternative techniques are taking note of approaches used by part-time farmers. He says full-time farmers are becoming more open to new ideas and advice.

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South African potato farmers have scored a victory against biotechnology. The farmers lobbied to prevent the sale of genetically-modified – or GM – potatoes. In a recent ruling, South Africa’s GM authority agreed.

South Africa’s Agriculture Research Council had applied to release a GM potato commercially. The GM potato was engineered to kill the tuber moth. The council claimed the potato would be a boon for farmers. But farmers disagreed.

Potatoes South Africa is a group representing potato farmers. Last year, they signed a petition asking the government to prevent the commercial release of the GM potato. They also said that the tuber moth is not a major problem.

The farmers feared losing major export and food chain buyers. These buyers have refused to accept GM crops. Since there is no mandatory labeling for GM foods, it would have been impossible to keep GM potatoes separate.
Formal protests against the GM potato were led by the African Centre for Biosafety. Supermarkets and fast food restaurants joined the lobby, along with potato farmers.

The South African GM authority rejected the application to sell GM potatoes on health, environmental, and economic grounds. According to documentation of their meeting, the group was particularly concerned about the potential effect on trade.

-In September 2008, FRW reported on Potatoes South Africa’s opposition to GM potatoes:
“South Africa: Farmers reject GM potato” (FRW #38, September 2008)
-Earlier this year, FRW reported a problem South African farmers experienced with GM maize:
-“South Africa: GM crop problems called ‘failure of biotechnology’” (FRW #63, April 2009)

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As our news story points out, seed fairs expand on the common and traditional practice of farmers exchanging seeds with neighbours. Over the past several years there has been growing interest in seed fairs in many African countries. One reason for this growing interest is that seed fairs are seen as a way to preserve the diversity of locally-adapted plant materials and promote farmer control of the seed supply. This addresses concerns that large companies are taking control of genetic resources and encouraging a monoculture approach to agriculture.

Our news story from Mozambique was taken from the latest issue of LEISA magazine, a publication dedicated to promoting “Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture.” LEISA also published the following guide to organizing a seed fair, which you may wish to share with your listening community:

How to organize a seed fair

1- Organize the fairs regularly, and avoid the busy time of the growing season. The Nampula fairs are annual and take place about two months before the rainy season.

2- Start with a central fair, but later increase the number of fairs to cover different regions, thus allowing increased participation.

3- Let the regions (i.e. regional organizations) be responsible for organizing their own fair, to allow local farmer leaders to gain experience in organizing activities. In the Nampula case, representatives were selected for the different regions, as well as an organizational committee composed of leaders from each area.

4- When organizing simultaneous events as UG CAN did, keep the logistics manageable. The five seed fairs catered to members within a 180 km distance from the UG CAN headquarters in Nampula.

5- Move the location of the fairs within the regions every year.

6- State clearly in the invitations that an equal number of women and men are expected to represent each area at every fair.

7- Also explain in the invitations that diversity and a good quantity of seeds are important, as is information about the seeds (when to plant, preferred type of soil, water needs, etc.).

8- Add some local cultural interest: for the Nampula fairs, local authorities were invited, as well as a drum and dance group. UG CAN members were also asked to prepare songs or a play that highlights the importance of seed.

9- Provide money to the organizational committees, which can also be used for food for the participants and guests. At the end of the fair, a breakdown of the costs should be presented to the participants.

10- Ensure that the seed be exchanged or otherwise sold at a symbolic price (i.e. a nominal or very low price) to keep it accessible to the farmers.

11- Keep out commercial seed companies (authorities inevitably suggest inviting representatives of seed companies, which of course completely negates the idea of the fairs).

12- Award prizes at the end of the fair to the areas that managed to attract the most seeds in terms of diversity and quantity.

13- Afterwards, evaluate the fairs to evaluate possible adaptations for the following year.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics have also published guides to organizing community seed fairs, as follows:

-Community diversity seed fairs in Tanzania: Guidelines for seed fairs: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/009/ag387e/ag387e00.pdf

-Organizing seed fairs in emergency situations: http://www.icrisat.org/uploads/presentations/18062003163009Organizing%20Seed%20Fairs.pdf

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Our news story from Niger describes a new trend that reverses the rural-urban migration seen in so many African countries, and around the world. It also illustrates some interesting dynamics between city dwellers and rural farmers, as the “part-time farmers” gain new respect for agricultural work and full-time farmers begin to appreciate the new approaches that city-dwellers bring to the farm.

Here are a few ideas for pursuing stories on rural-urban dynamics in your listening community:

-Has there been a trend similar to the one described in this story in your area? What are the reasons given for returning to the country? What challenges do part-time farmers face and what benefits do they enjoy as they re-integrate into rural life?
-Is there significant rural to urban migration in your area? What reasons do people have for leaving the country in favour of the city? What is the impact on the rural communities they leave?
-In what ways are city-dwellers and rural residents in your area interdependent? (For example, do rural farmers sell food in the cities? Do they sell food that is destined for cities? Do rural residents travel to the city to access services that may not be available in rural villages?) Can you find interesting examples of interactions that promote respect between the two groups?

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December 18 is International Migrants Day. On this occasion, events aimed at addressing migration-related issues are organized around the world. To mark the day, the International Resource Centre on the Rights of Migrant Workers once again invites radio organizations to be part of the worldwide radio marathon project Radio 1812 on December 18.

Last year, 175 radio stations from 48 countries took part in Radio 1812. Participants are encouraged to explore and discuss the issues facing millions of migrant workers every day. In order to mark this special day, participating radio organizations produce, broadcast, and share programs dedicated to migrants. The programs show solidarity with migrant workers and promote public awareness of migrant issue.

In Brussels, the December 18 team will gather audio material as it is broadcast or made available by the participating radio stations, and then post it on the 1812 website: www.radio1812.net.

Throughout the day, listeners will be able to hear a special play list and download the programs for re-broadcast.

To learn more about how your radio organization can participate, visit: http://www.radio1812.net/en/resources/radios_get_involved.

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Do you have audio or video on social justice issues that you want to reach a wider audience? Would you like to make podcasts and film but don’t know where to start? Do you work in community radio or TV and want to get your work on the Internet or are looking for exciting programming from other sources? Pambazuka News can provide material, promote your work, and, in some cases, help you produce it. Your work can be linked from the Pambazuka News website and mentioned in their roundup of African multimedia. You could also create films and audio for the Pambazuka multimedia project. Pambazuka is particularly interested in hearing from people who are non-professionals and want to support media from grassroots sources whose messages and voices are not being heard.

Pambazuka is also developing a set of resources to help beginners get started and learn techniques to make film and podcasts accessible and usable by all parts of the community. For more information, contact: multimedia@pambazuka.org. To see podcasts currently linked from Pambazuka News, visit: http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/podcasts/.

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During a visit to the Farm Radio International office in Ottawa, Stanley Khaila, Chair of the National Advisory Committee for the African Farm Radio Research Initiative (AFRRI) in Malawi, talked about AFRRI‘s participatory radio campaigns. He spoke at length about a vetiver grass campaign developed by Zodiak Broadcasting Station. He explained how the campaign worked, and, in particular, how farmers and other players have benefited from the campaign. It is a very efficient technology for the area that was chosen because the land is hilly, with a lot of soil erosion.

Vetiver grass had been introduced earlier by the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with an NGO called Total Land Care. So vetiver was already being used by some farmers in the area.

Mr. Khaila described how AFRRI radio campaigns in Malawi have covered various topics, ranging from hybrid maize to soil conservation. Each AFRRI radio station chose campaign themes related to the demands of the farming communities in their broadcast area.

He says that, although the results from the campaigns are not yet available, there is anecdotal evidence of their effectiveness. One example is the vetiver grass campaign. Vetiver grass is a soil and water conservation technology. (You can learn more about vetiver Grass in the following Farm Radio International script: “Prevent erosion with vetiver grass”.)

Total Land Care’s manager told Mr. Khaila that, before the radio broadcasts, farmer demand for vetiver from his office was minimal. But the moment farmers started hearing about vetiver on Zodiak’s airwaves, lots of farmers started visiting his office, asking where they could find the grass and how to plant it. Total Land Care and its extension workers had to respond to this rise in demand.

The farmers reported that, although they had known about vetiver grass before, it was Zodiak’s radio programs that raised their interest.

Before broadcasting, Zodiak visited the communities and discussed the technology. They consulted with farmers to determine what kinds of radio programs would be exciting and entertaining. The result: a radio campaign in which farmers tell other farmers how they benefited from the grass and explain how to protect their soil.

Mr. Khaila remembers a female farmer saying she was familiar with vetiver grass before Zodiak’s broadcasts. She had even seen some farmers planting it as a hedgerow. But she didn’t know how they did it. She also didn’t know where to get seeds. When Zodiak began the broadcasts, she was able to get the appropriate information.

Mr. Khaila listed two important lessons from the radio campaigns. One is that radio can help with more than just agriculture. It can provide the means for different players such as extension workers, NGOs, ministries and farmers to work together. The other is that farmers are knowledgeable and need to be given a voice. As one female farmer from Malawi said: “As much as I appreciate what you experts say, remember, I am my own expert in my garden so hear what I say if you want to reach me with the right message.”

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In our news story from Mozambique, farmers discuss many reasons why they value local seed fairs. Seed fairs allow farmers to obtain a wide variety of locally-adapted seeds and cuttings, along with knowledge of how to cultivate them, all at a reasonable price. Seed fairs also act as a sort of “safety net.” In the event that a farmer has a poor harvest and is unable to save his or her own seeds, suitable seeds can be obtained at a fair.

This week’s script describes some other methods that farmers may use to rebuild their seed supplies, such as exchanging seeds with neighbours. It also suggests things that farmers should consider if they are offered imported seeds from a relief organization.

You may also view this script online at: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/67-1script_en.asp.

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