Farmer and the Water

The BRAVE project, in collaboration with Lorna Young Foundation (LYF), CARE, Christian Aid Sahel, and Reseau Marp has been holding radio training workshops in Ghana and Burkina Faso to train and empower participants to develop and implement a radio farmer program that aims to improve resilience of farming communities.

During the training the participants learnt the methodology and techniques for extension radio programming, the methodology for the farmer field listening groups. They also practiced recording programs and put together a script and a three month program.

The program with be broadcast in Ghana project districts: Garu-Tempane in Upper East region, and East Mamprusi District in Northern region and in Burkina Faso project districts: Reo in Sanguié Province.

In Ghana, the program will be broadcast Ura, a local station and has been titled Farmer and the Water. Those who participated in the training included regional extension officers, WATSAN who represented farming communities, Ghana Broadcasting Corporations, and project officers from CARE and IRC.

In Burkina Faso, the program will be broadcast over Radio Sangue and the training was attended by CARE, Reseau Marp and representatives from Union des Groupements Feminin, a grassroots organisation operating across the key farmer communities in Burkina.

The training was led by Cristina Talens from the Lorna Young Foundation. The participants were separated into four groups based around the four key programming themes:

• Improve sustainable land management
• Improve water harvesting and conservation of resources
• Improve health and nutrition
• Improve yield and crop production

As farmers are an important part of this program there is a Farmer Listening Group planned for October to develop content, best practices and hear their thoughts and opinions.

Take a look at Cristina’s blog on the training to find out more.