Paddy Roberts | July 27, 2015
Mr. Christian Ofori Kumah, popularly known on air as KooFori, has a diploma in journalism from the Institute of Journalism and Business, Kumasi, in the Ashanti region of Ghana. He started working as a radio reporter in 2008.
In his home town, people’s main activity is farming. Mr. Kumah wanted to use his journalism background to help these farmers. So he branched into farm radio to achieve his aims.
With no formal education in the agriculture sector, Mr. Kumah learned to be a successful farm broadcaster through Farm Radio International workshops and in-station training programs, as well as field visits.
Through hard work, creativity, and determination, Mr. Kumah has been promoted to Senior Program Producer at Akyeaa Fm in Nkoranza, a town 360 kilometres north of the capital city, Accra.
Mr. Kumah is in charge of all farm radio programs at Akyeaa FM. In 2012, he began producing Akuafo Mo, or “Thank you farmers,” as part of a Farm Radio International project. Through this project, small-scale farmers are learning about sustainable production and post-harvest handling of high quality staple foods.
Mr. Kumah used his program to campaign against the planting method known as All die be die in pidgin English, meaning, “every form of death ends up in the grave no matter the mode of dying.” This widespread practice of scattering seeds on the land often led to low yields. But now, farmers plant in rows, which helps them better manage their crops and vastly improves yields.
Mr. Kumah says: “[I feel really privileged] when I travel in Nkoranza and its neighbouring communities and I see farmers implementing practices that were discussed on the show. It inspires me to work even harder because people are dependent on the information I deliver.”
He also feels hugely satisfied with the success of a campaign to standardize weights and measures of grains and cereals in the markets. Before, farmers in Ejura District complained about the lack of a dependable and fair market for their crops. They were forced to sell their grain crops by volume in non-standardized sacks. Now there is a single bag-size that everyone agrees on and uses.
By listening to the radio, members of farmer organizations improved their knowledge and skills in sustainable production and post-harvest handling of maize and cowpea, for both market and home consumption. Because of the radio program, farmers now sell their produce at highly competitive prices and receive more money for their produce.
One day, Mr. Kumah would like to be a correspondent for the BBC. But he is happy with what he is doing now. He says: “People in the community have recognized radio not only as an avenue to share information but [as] a tool that can bring people together to take action.”
For more information on the campaign to standardize bag sizes, go to: http://wire.barza.fm/en/spotlights/2014/07/farm-radio-international-helps-farmers-standardize-bag-sizes-for-food-crops-7693