Nelly Bassily | February 10, 2014
New Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are becoming more and more popular, but radio remains one of the most important communication tools in rural communities.
The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, or CTA, began supporting rural radio stations by launching their Rural Radio Resource Packs in 1991. The Centre currently has over 50 packs in stock. The packs are designed to expand the distribution of scientific and technical information to farmers via radio programs.
Each pack deals with a specific topic, ranging from crop storage to cassava, small ruminants to soil fertility. Packs contain the materials necessary to produce radio programs: interviews in MP3 format, a transcript of the text, suggestions for introducing each interview, technical information on the topic, and advice on how to use the pack.
The interviews are conducted by experienced African journalists from across Africa. Typical interviewees include agricultural experts, extension workers, technical advisers working for NGOs, veterinarians, personnel from Ministries of agriculture, and researchers.
Those who might benefit from the packs include farmer radio program producers, extension workers and farmers.
CTA’s archive of Rural Radio Resource Packs can be accessed through this link: http://ruralradio.cta.int/archive.htm.
CTA radio material can be broadcast, shared and adapted without permission if it is used for a non-commercial purpose and CTA is acknowledged.