Farmer Voice Radio (FVR)

The project was developed based on the idea that radio and related technologies offer a powerful, cost-effective alternative for delivering agricultural information. FVR gives small farmers access to current information, useful resources, and new farming techniques to help them improve their productivity, livelihoods, and well-being over the long-term. The format is centred on the AgTips (short and "catchy" radio spots focused on a particular topic that are broadcast a number of times during appropriate seasons). Varied programme formats, in which messages are expanded and reinforced, provide another means of increasing exposure to agricultural information. A research desk is established at each participating station to collect feedback, and an integrated gender focus promotes gender equality and gender mainstreaming in FVR programming, training, and support activities. Farmers are also involved at all stages of the process by capturing their voices in topic selection, broadcasts (via interviews), and feedback.

According to FVR, programming formats are based on tested principles of radio instruction and effective learning, and deliver specific, actionable, knowledge, skills, and information to farmers that, when implemented, achieve high levels of agricultural impact. By incorporating principles of effective learning into conventional radio production, FVR programming includes all significant steps necessary for someone to adopt clearly focused, high-priority practices that are seasonally appropriate and easily implementable at small scales. FVR Extension programming has four core principles: (1) a systematic agenda, (2) focused, action-oriented programming, (3) sufficient repetition for mastery of concepts and action, and (4) message revision based on listener feedback.

FVR establishes a consortium of country partners who benefit from, and/or contribute sustainable support to, radio-based extension. Some consortium partners are responsible for establishing/implementing FVR and getting it working in each country. Other partners constitute the sustainable core of FVR, for example Ministries of Agriculture, radio stations who provide broadcast personnel and airtime for FVR programming to increase listenership among farmers, and mobile network operators to create an alternative channel for delivery and feedback.

At each FVR radio station, Radio Extension Officers (REOs), farmers, and other stakeholders (such as research centres) produce Local Agricultural Radio Agendas (LARAs) every three months. Some countries create Local Radio Agricultural Advisory Committees (LRAACs) for this purpose. In others, Radio Extension Officers solicit input directly from farmers and experts before developing LARAs themselves. Since farmer extension needs are numerous and varied, but the airtime available for programming is limited, LARAs are critical to selecting the most important topics for broadcast, in line with the season of the cropping systems and livestock production.

Radio Extension Officers (REOs) and broadcasters meet regularly as production teams to coordinate the development of content for FVR programming and to monitor the impact of FVR on the ground. The members map LARA topics to a three-month broadcast schedule, and then develop a work plan to support timely delivery of FVR recordings. According to the project, this innovation links extension and radio expertise sustainably. Agricultural producers no longer select topics or choose content without the necessary technical training, yet can obtain farmer recordings from REOs without extra cost. Extension officers no longer are limited to interacting with farmers in person.

Agriculture

According to FVR, in Africa, 200 million people, 33% of the population, are undernourished and hunger is expected to increase exponentially over the next 20 years unless sustainable steps are taken to meet domestic food needs. Smallholder farmers account for 60% of all farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, so they are crucial to economic growth and the achievement of food security in sub-Saharan Africa. In spite of their evident need, agricultural extension systems are capacity constrained and insufficient.