Nelly Bassily | December 10, 2012
Two of our stories this week are about courageous farmers who break taboos. While their circumstances are quite different, the farmers took bold decisions in order to improve their lives and look after their families.
In the first story, we hear of a farming couple from Benin who decide to take an HIV test. They live in a rural area where villagers still hold many misconceptions about HIV and AIDS. In their village, few people discuss HIV and AIDS and there is cultural resistance to getting tested.
Brigitte Muhayimana, a farmer in Rwanda, has managed to overcome the local belief that women cause bees to flee. Read about the barriers she broke through to become a successful beekeeper.
Lastly, we visit Niger, where sesame production is becoming profitable once more. As farmers find lucrative markets in Nigeria, more and more men are returning to the cultivation of sesame.
Happy reading!
-The Farm Radio Weekly team