Nelly Bassily | May 11, 2009
We welcome all of our readers, and especially our new subscribers: Léonce Ntakirutimana, from Star FM in Burundi; Boko Felly, from Land Resource in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Fredrick Mariwa, from Radio Maendeleo in Kenya; and Choice Nawe, from Moutse Community Radio in South Africa. We love seeing FRW grow. So, if you have a friend or colleague who would be interested in our service, please invite them to apply for a free subscription by filling out this form: http://farmradio.org/english/partners/fr_weekly_subscribe.asp.
This week, we explore the subject of farmer crop choice. Why do farmers choose one crop over another at planting time? We learn that farmers in Cameroon face a dilemma because, although cassava is popular, it is sometimes difficult to sell. At the same time, more Zambian farmers are choosing cassava because it is more reliable than maize and less expensive to grow.
We also bring you a story from Kenya, where farmers are now cultivating a particular medicinal plant instead of harvesting it from the forest. This story illustrates how farmers can use forest products without damaging the forest – a subject elaborated on in our Script of the Week.
Look in the Radio Resource Bank for a link to a comprehensive guide to African radio broadcasting, and check out Farm Radio Action for a review of the recent Pan African AMARC conference.
Happy reading!
-The Farm Radio Weekly Team