Farmers get updates from radio broadcasts It’s been nearly 130 years since Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi generated the first radio transmission on the Isle of Wight off the coast of England. And yet, despite the amazing digital innovations that have revolutionized global communications since that historic broadcast, radio continues to be one of the most […]

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Farmers get updates from radio broadcasts

It’s been nearly 130 years since Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi generated the first radio transmission on the Isle of Wight off the coast of England. And yet, despite the amazing digital innovations that have revolutionized global communications since that historic broadcast, radio continues to be one of the most popular forms of media in the world.

This is certainly the case in Somalia, where the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is using this trusted medium to help farmers increase production and deal with the extreme weather conditions – from droughts to erratic rain and floods – that regularly affect this arid and semi-arid eastern African country.

Launched at the height of the COVID-19 crisis as a way of dealing with the restrictions imposed during the pandemic, FAO’s radio training modules cover a broad range of topics, such as good agricultural practices, value chain development, climate smart agriculture, nutrition, fishery, livestock and financial education.

The use of such technology is suited for Somalia, a country with a rich oral tradition but poor internet penetration rates, especially in rural areas.

Radio is the most important and effective communication channel and the most popular type of mass media here. There are more than 60 radio stations in this sprawling country. It is also considered a c