The International Year of Family Farming: FAO and AMARC join forces

In the context of the 2014 International Year of Family Farming (IYFF), FAO has joined the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) to launch an awareness campaign targeted at farmers’ organizations and the rural population. The main objective is to use community radio as a platform to share information with the farming community and involve them further in the discussion regarding the key role that family farming plays in economic and social development. The campaign was launched in Montreal on 27 January and is set to continue throughout the entire 2014. It will consist of a series of radio programmes produced in connection with consultations, policy dialogues and events organized by FAO and AMARC in different regions worldwide.

The programmes are accessible to local radios through AMARC’s regional web platforms and web site. Audio tracks are easily downloadable together with additional documentation regarding the IYFF. The spots have been recorded in English, Spanish and French. AMARC’s members are encouraged to produce and broadcast in local languages depending on their requirements. The programmes will be broadcast through AMARC’s network and the campaign will continue during all the IYFF in close collaboration with AMARC regional offices in Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe as well as the regional platforms: Onda Rural, ComDev Asia and Kenkasa Africa.

The information campaign is part of the initiative "Communication and community media in family farming and food security", which aims, among other things, to facilitate dialogue between stakeholders and to promote communication for development guaranteeing the communication rights of the rural population.

The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) brings together a network of more than 4 000 community radios, federations and community media stakeholders in more than 150 countries. The main global impact of AMARC since its creation in 1983, has been to accompany and support the establishment of a worldwide community radio sector that has democratized the media sector. AMARC advocates for the right to communicate at the international, national, local and neighbourhood levels and defends and promotes the interests of the community radio movement through solidarity, networking and cooperation.