Farm Talk Radio Educates Farmers in Zambia

We’ve recently returned from an immensely gratifying trip to Zambia’s Eastern Province, where we spent a week working with our partner Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO). COMACO began using 1,000 of our Prime radios nearly four years ago. They have now doubled that number and included Lifeplayer MP3 units for those areas with poor FM reception who are unable to receive the weekly Farm Talk radio programs. COMACO works right across most of the Luangwa Valley in the Eastern Province.

We worked with Farm Talk radio producers, Filius and Ndabile, to certify them as master trainers who would then set up a train-the-trainer system for COMACO listening groups. Being the recognised trainers keeps them in front of the farmers and in touch with both the impact of their radio programs and of the Lifeplayers.  

The lead master trainer, Ndabile, has produced dozens of radio programs and has been the female voice heard on the radio by farmers for more than two years. However, she had never dealt with groups of farmers herself. At first she was nervous, but was a natural and it was our pleasure to watch her in action. She said, “I am going to enjoy not just producing the radio programs. Now I will be able to meet many of the farmers myself and help teach them to use the Lifeplayers. This device will really assist COMACO to spread farming information to places that don’t even receive a radio signal”. The farmers were hugely responsive to both Ndabile and to the Lifeplayer.

The local radio station, BreezeFM, broadcasts from Chipata, the capital of the Eastern Province. Three times a week, BreezeFM broadcasts Farm Talk, which advises farmers along the guidelines of COMACO's Better Life book. The Farm Talk programs and the Better Life book review on a monthly basis what needs to be done in terms of soil, seeds, irrigation, planting, harvesting and readying crops for market. Becoming a farmer means committing to conservation farming and wildlife and habitat preservation.

For us, working with COMACO is hugely satisfying, as they understand the importance of creating a comprehensive training programme. Trainers are identified and trained not only in how to use, maintain and repair our Lifeplayers, but also to create and sustain listening groups. These trainers then go out and help form listening groups that each have a leader who is responsible for looking after the Lifeplayer. We also spend time with listening groups, to understand more their needs in terms of content. This content may not be directly farming, but is farmer related - topics such as nutrition, early marriage and health issues, which impact everyone.  

We thank you for your continued support of Lifeline Energy and our work with farmers in Eastern Zambia.