Nelly Bassily | August 4, 2014
This week’s story from Nigeria shows how the public can use radio programs to hold public officials to account. Our script of the week is a broadcaster how-to guide that offers tips to broadcasters on how to create radio programs that help farmers voice their opinions, wants and needs on the air.
Small-scale farmers are rarely comfortable talking on radio. They think that radio broadcasters and experts should do the talking while they, the farmers, do the farming.
But improving small-scale farming requires farmers to actively speak about things that are important to them. Farmers need to describe, discuss, debate, propose, criticize, support, and celebrate – all with their own voices.
When some farmers speak, more farmers will hear them, and they too will become emboldened to speak for themselves.