Paddy Roberts | March 30, 2015
In the second of our profiles of the winners of FRI’s recent e-course, we meet Malawian broadcaster Sakina Majawa Kaima.
Ms. Kaima is 35 years old and has a Diploma in Professional Journalism. She started working in radio in 2004 during a student placement at the Agricultural Communication Branch, a department of the Malawi Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Irrigation and Water Development.
After graduating in 2006, Ms. Kaima joined the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) as the producer and presenter of a farmer program.
In 2011, she attended a three-month training on impact farmer radio programming, formation of farmer radio listeners’ clubs and community mobilization. She learnt creative production skills through the training, organized by Farmer Voice Radio in partnership with Farm Radio Malawi and the Creative Center for Community Mobilization. And she developed a passion for farmer programs.
At MBC, Ms. Kaima’s role was to travel to the field to meet farmers, record their voices, and edit and mix the interviews for broadcast. She also wrote the script for the program’s presenter.
She joined Chanco Radio, based in Zomba, in October 2013. The station serves the Lake Chilwa basin, including the districts of Zomba, Phalombe and Machinga, as well as five surrounding districts and parts of Mozambique.
Chanco Radio broadcasts information on climate change and other environmental issues. Ms. Kaima is the producer of the farmer program, which she ensures is constantly changing and attractive to listeners. She airs discussions and debates and answers farmers’ questions to keep listeners’ interest alive.
Ms. Kaima is currently involved in the production of Chonde mnthaka, or “Retaining soil fertility.” The station produces the program in partnership with Farm Radio Trust, and the show aims to improve soil fertility. During the program, farmers are urged to grow legumes, practice crop rotation and use manure wisely.
Her other program is Mavuto a Kusintha kwa Nyengo, or “Effects of climate change.” This program encourages farmers to practice conservation agriculture and other ways of retaining soil moisture while preparing their land for planting.
Ms. Kaima says: “The audience listens to the programs in community listening groups. These were set up by the radio station so that the farmers can give us feedback on the programs, so that we can continually improve the content. The e-learning course will help me improve my productions, as I will concentrate on applying the VOICE standards and being gender-aware.”