admin | March 12, 2026
Kpira Odette is a seasoned journalist and radio presenter whose passion for broadcasting is rooted in her deep connection to agriculture and rural life. Originally from northern Togo, she began her radio journey in 2008 at Radio Lomé, the national broadcaster, after earning her diploma in journalism from ISICA at the University of Lomé. Driven by a love for storytelling and a distinctive voice that listeners immediately recognize, she has since grown from intern to reporter, news presenter, and now producer of major agricultural programming at the station. Today, she holds a Master’s degree in journalism and digital technologies and serves as the presenter, agricultural magazine lead, and investigations lead at Radio Lomé.
With nearly two decades of experience, Ms. Kpira brings together her passion for agriculture, her rigorous training, and her talent for clear, compelling communication. Her strengths lie in research, storytelling, and her ability to build strong relationships with farmers. She uses these skills to produce agricultural programming that informs, educates, and supports producers across Togo. Her voice—which once impressed an academic jury during her thesis defense—is one of the reasons she is cherished by listeners. Broadcasting on a national channel that translates content into 15 local languages, she reaches farmers in every corner of the country.
Mrs. Odette currently produces and hosts the Magazine agricole, a weekly program that provides farmers with seasonal guidance on planting, soil preparation, input use, harvesting, storage, and marketing. The show covers agriculture, livestock, and fisheries, and is supported by agricultural advisors across the country. She is also preparing to launch Terre nourricière, a 55-minute interactive program that will allow farmers to call in, ask questions, and exchange directly with agronomists—giving rural communities a stronger voice on the air.
One of the greatest challenges facing rural populations in Togo is the increasing unpredictability of rainfall and the growing impact of droughts. When severe drought devastated crops in the ZAAP Pya zone, Mrs. Odette used her platform to raise awareness, interview affected farmers, and engage banks and microfinance institutions to prevent legal action against producers who could not repay loans. Her close collaboration with meteorological services also enabled farmers to receive timely updates on weather conditions to better navigate the agricultural season.
Her programs receive enthusiastic feedback from listeners, many of whom send voice messages of gratitude or recordings of her broadcasts. Farmers appreciate her dedication, her accurate information, and her ability to advocate for their concerns. By maintaining direct contacts with regional directors, producer groups, and rural leaders, she ensures that farmers’ lived realities shape the issues addressed on air. When a local problem is too complex to resolve alone, she amplifies it nationally through her programming—often accelerating solutions.
Mrs. Odette ensures her programs are engaging and memorable by highlighting real-life stories and experiences from farmers. Her broadcasts have helped resolve local conflicts, such as tensions between herders and crop farmers in Mango. Through a week-long series of on-site programs supported by Acting for Life, she facilitated dialogue, reconciliation, and understanding—transforming a situation once marked by violence into one of cooperation.
Her collaboration with Farm Radio International has strengthened her work through online courses, exchanges, and new tools she integrates into her programs. She values these opportunities for learning and cross-African dialogue, which help her keep her content current and impactful.
Beyond her professional career, Mrs. Odette’s personal story reflects resilience, determination, and a lifelong bond with agriculture. Having grown up in a farming family, she dreams of establishing a large, inclusive agricultural farm where vulnerable producers can work, learn, and thrive. She hopes to pursue doctoral studies and continue championing agriculture, rural development, and community wellbeing in Togo.