Forty Years of Radio Excellence
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Spring 2019 farmradio.org FORTY YEARS OF RADIO EXCELLENCE Our story goes like this. According to the broadcasters, they experts from the University of Guelph, didn’t have access to the information his alma mater, and journalists around In 1975 George Atkins, then a relevant to the majority of their the world to learn about compelling, Canadian farm radio broadcaster with listening audience. easy-to-use farming techniques. CBC, was travelling down a rural road The team would design documents in Zambia. George proposed writing scripts which explaining the techniques, and send featured low cost agricultural tips — The group he was with included a them out to other broadcasters things like using manure for fertilizer, number of African broadcasters, or raising oxen for plowing — and Today, we continue the work that there as part of a workshop for farm sending them to the broadcasters. George began so long ago. We still broadcasters George organized. send scripts to broadcasters — along George turned to his colleagues on the George, ever curious, asked about with how to guides, backgrounders and bus: “If I were to write that stuff and their latest radio shows. a weekly news wire service — though make it available to you, would you now we do it over the internet. One of the broadcasters on the bus, a use it?” he asked. They said “Yes.” man named Abdul from Sierra Leone, While George passed away late in “That’s where the idea of the Farm said his latest show was on the correct 2009, we’d like to think that we are Radio network came into focus in my use of spark plugs for tractors. still living up to his legacy, now 40 mind,” said George. George was surprised. As he tells it, years since its humble start. On May 1, 1979, George and his wife the conversation went like this: On our 30th anniversary, George Janet put together the first package of recalled the way the organization had “How many farmers in Sierra Leone scripts at their family home in Oakville, grown over the years. have tractors?” George asked. Ontario. Thirty-four broadcasters in 26 “Well, one in 80,000,” Abdul countries received the scripts. “I just have to pinch myself a little bit now when I think of the people responded. The Developing Countries Farm Radio who are helped by this service that is Network (DCFRN), since renamed “And how big an audience do you available to them just by turning on Farm Radio International, was born. have?” their radio.” “I’ve got a big audience,” said the Broadcasters would get the scripts, broadcaster. “Around 800,000” translate them into local languages and transmit the information over the Watch George tell the story George quickly did the mental math. airwaves to their listeners. of how it all began: “You mean you’re talking to ten George compiled a team of people, farmradio.org/our-history/ farmers out of 800,000 farmers,” including scientists and agricultural he said. FARM RADIO LOOKS TO THE FUTURE Photo: IDRC/Bartay From the desk of: Kevin Perkins, our Executive Director. Our ambition is to offer all African rural citizens with Since our humble beginnings in 1979, Farm Radio access to dependable, reliable, high quality radio shows, International has grown to become a dynamic, bustling week after week, year after year. We are getting closer, Canadian charity that punches way above its weight in but there are still farmers who do not have access to the terms of impact and outreach. information they need. From our conception 40 years ago, our vision and hard So, what will Farm Radio International be like in the next work have touched the lives of so many across Africa. Just 40 years? look at what’s been accomplished: Climate change, which is happening right now, will mean that rural Africans will need new information to make their farms as productive as possible in the face of We’ve grown from 34 partner radio stations to 880 stations across the unprecedented weather patterns and changing growing continent. conditions. They will continue to need to talk to each other through on-air forums. And they will turn to radio to help them anticipate, survive, and recover from extreme Millions of farmers in 40 countries can weather events like the floods that recently devastated now benefit from our award-winning broadcasts. Mozambique. No matter how technology evolves, I know that radio will Because of advances in technology, continue to be part of the mix of getting and receiving we’ve combined radio with mobile information. phone technology to make radio more The most profound constant for me is that we humans are interactive than ever. a communicating species. We need to ask questions and share our experiences — this is how we learn and evolve and overcome the challenges that face us. George Atkins knew from his own career as a Canadian farmer and farm broadcaster that reaping a good harvest This involves a lot of people talking and listening to each was as dependent on good information on the radio as other. It necessitates accurate and unbiased information. it was on good seeds or timely weeding. A day or week without a good farm radio show was like a summer without sunshine. George Atkins’s vision remains relevant Since George’s start, we’ve come a long way. and attainable. Technology has changed the way we do business. Now broadcasters click online to get scripts within seconds. We’ve also developed broadcasting training materials, As an organization we believe in the right of rural Africans improved our measurement of how we reach and impact to accurate and unbiased information to guide their listeners. We can now use mobile phones to bring more decision making. Donations from individual Canadians interactive and engaging radio programs to the air. allow us the freedom to search out and deliver information from a variety of sources through a medium that is used Our scripts are available in more languages than ever and trusted by nearly everyone. before — English, French, Hausa, Swahili and Amharic. We will continue to protect that right and pursue our dream And we’re still innovating. of reaching all family farmers throughout Africa. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO LLOYD ROBERTSON The work we do at Farm Radio would radio, starting in 1952 at CJCS radio African broadcasters.” not be the same without the many in his hometown of Stratford. Though Lloyd’s support of Farm Radio journalists around the world who have he moved to television two years International has been invaluable, volunteered their time and expertise. later, his support for journalists and and his belief in the power of story Certainly not the least of those is broadcasters around the world has and information to change lives helps Lloyd Robertson, formerly the chief been unwavering. carry us forward. news anchor and senior editor for the More than 30 years ago, George “To be able to share what we’ve CTV National News. Atkins, our founder, brought Lloyd into learned through the power of this very “Farm Radio International has always the Farm Radio network. personal communications medium appealed to me because it combines “I’m so glad that George Atkins signed is what inspired our friend and three passions of mine: journalism, me up as a volunteer supporter when colleague George Atkins to launch this broadcasting and giving something he did,” Lloyd says. “As a journalist, innovative project 40 years ago,” he back,” he says. I appreciate the critical importance of says. Lloyd began his broadcasting career in Farm Radio International’s services for Thank you Lloyd. SHARING THE VOICES OF RURAL WOMEN On Saturday evenings at 6 p.m., if you “Personally, I am so elated,” she told Liz Hughes, a woman who tune to Voice of Kigezi on the airwaves Farm Radio after receiving the award. championed journalists around the in southwestern Uganda, you can hear world, supporting them to be the best “Recognition of my skills in reporting, a farming program called B’Omugaiga. they can could be. production, and presentation gives But it’s not just farming advice that me confidence to carry on doing a is discussed in this program. The great job serving my community and production team also touches on pursuing areas of gender equality and topics that are major issues for at rights.” least half the population in their The show discusses topics like region: women. women’s limited participation in B’Omugaiga, which means “Get agriculture, how men can support rich through farming,” was recently women in farming tasks, and how any announced the winner of the first gender can make farming a business. ever Liz Hughes Award for Her The goal, according to the producers, Farm Radio, a new Farm Radio is to provide a platform for small-scale award recognizing radio programs that farmers, “irrespective of their gender, address gender equality and create to voice out their issues and get Photo: Brenda Mugwisagye interviews a farmer opportunities to share the voices of solutions.” for her radio program, B’Omugaiga rural women. The award was named in memory Brenda Mugwisagye is one of the of Farm Radio International’s former Listen to the program: producers and presenters on the board member and journalist bit.ly/2019LizHughesAward show. 40 POTLUCKS FOR FARM RADIO Farm Radio International is celebrating its 40th anniversary this raises more than $400, we’ll supply a new solar/crank powered year — so we’re cooking up something big across Canada! radio to a listening group in Africa on behalf of your event, We’re looking for 40 Champions to help spread the news by ensuring another rural community can tune in and become better organizing a potluck! Nothing unites us and sparks conversation informed.