Notes to broadcasters on trading across borders

    | October 28, 2013

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    People who live near international borders often benefit in interesting ways. When the countries involved have a good mutual understanding, their people can move easily across borders, and often buy and sell with little restriction. The improved relationship between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo has opened up many opportunities for informal cross-border trade. As our story shows, it has also provided opportunities to improve farming.

    There is a recent Notes to broadcasters on farmers, traders and markets from July 2013 (FRW #253) which can be read through this link: http://weekly.farmradio.org/2013/07/15/notes-to-broadcasters-farmers-traders-and-markets/

    Why only think locally? A Farm Radio Weekly story from June 2009 (Women live better thanks to cooperative’s fair trade certification, FRW #68) shows that farmers can source markets further afield if the quality of their produce is good enough. Read it here: http://weekly.farmradio.org/2009/06/01/1-burkina-faso-women-live-better-thanks-to-cooperative%E2%80%99s-fair-trade-certification-farm-radio-weekly/ . Getting a better deal for coffee farmers (FRW #215, September 2012) is a story in a similar vein. It is available here: http://weekly.farmradio.org/2012/09/03/ethiopia-getting-a-better-deal-for-coffee-farmers-irin/

    Another story from Rwanda on cross-border trade: http://www.rnanews.com/regional/3618-rwanda-drc-business-booms-as-guns-fall-silent-special-report

    Farm Radio International has produced many scripts on small-scale enterprise, ways to earn extra income, and marketing. You can browse the archive here: http://www.farmradio.org/archived-radio-scripts/?scriptcat=enterprise

    Recent Farm Radio Weekly news stories on enterprise and marketing from the Rwanda and DRC region include:

    Rwanda: Ban on plastic bags creates new market for banana bags (FRW 94, January 2010).
    http://weekly.farmradio.org/2010/01/11/3-rwanda-ban-on-plastic-bags-creates-new-market-for-banana-bags-syfia-grands-lacs-spore/

    Rwanda: Fodder more profitable than food crops (FRW 116, June 2010).
    http://weekly.farmradio.org/2010/06/21/2-rwanda-fodder-more-profitable-than-food-crops-syfia-grands-lacs/

    DR Congo: Marketing by motorcycle (FRW 140, January 2011).
    http://weekly.farmradio.org/2011/01/10/dr-congo-marketing-by-motorcycle-syfia-grands-lacs/