Small-scale farmers account for the majority of the working population in many sub-Saharan countries. In order to increase productivity and improve their lives, these farmers need practical information about low-cost farming methods. The sector also urgently needs more young people, with many turning their backs on this type of work.
Whilst new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as the Internet, mobile phones or digital audio players are still too expensive for many, or simply out of reach, radio remains the most established, cheapest and most reliable form of mass communication in many areas.
Andrea Marshall reports on how the Canadian initiative Farm Radio International (FRI) is helping agricultural broadcasters in Africa and providing eLearning courses aimed at training young radio journalists. Listen to the podcast feature – it starts with an extract from a radio programme produced in Malawi.
Mark Leclair will present eLearning for the Airwaves: Building Skills of Rural Radio Broadcasters in Africa as part of the session Under Which
Conditions Can ICT Access Support African Farmers and Rural Communities to Learn? on Thursday, May 26, 2011, from 11:30 to 13:00.
First of all, I congratulate this initiative,which remain the better and cheapest one on rural areas communications which are necessary for communities life and growth. I’m a Chief of a village in Cameroon heavy forest area (BABIMBI):
I project to install a rural area radio in this region which is wide enough and has no media for mass communication.
I really want to meet with this initiative owners, for discussions on the steps and ways to have a radio installed in my region… Will it be possible to meetsomeone from this project at E-learning Africa 2011 in Dar Es Salam ?
With kind Regards
Chief Gaston Donnat BAPPA
Central Africa
Cameroon