Successful Completion of Content Design Training for Radio Programming Enhancing Agricultural Extension Services in Ghana
Koforidua, Ghana - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ministry of Local Government, and various development partners, has achieved a significant milestone in advancing E-Extension services within Ghana's agricultural sector. This achievement comes with the successful completion of a 5 day of Content Design Training for Radio Programming, held under the auspices of the Emergency Support to Rural Livelihoods and Food Systems Exposed to COVID-19 (ESRF) initiative. The training was designed to fortify knowledge dissemination and bolster the resilience of vulnerable households engaged in agriculture.
With a focus on leveraging digital technologies for efficient information dissemination, the initiative underscores the importance of Complementary means such as e-extension services and digital platforms. The training gathered approximately 90 participants from across the sixteen regional Digital Agriculture Advisory Hubs of Ghana in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital.
The training workshop served as a pivotal platform for capacity building, emphasizing the development of content for interactive radio programs aimed at enhancing agricultural extension services. Through a comprehensive curriculum encompassing the 4A principle - anchor, add, apply, and take away - participants engaged in collaborative sessions to design impactful programming tailored to addressing various agricultural value chains.
Key objectives of the workshop included the development of content and poll questions for weekly programs across the sixteen regional hubs, introduction to innovative tools such as the Uliza application, and capacity building in synopsis development and high-quality broadcast production.
"With a focus on resilience and gender-transformative approaches, this training built the capacity of agricultural stakeholders to effectively utilize radio as a medium for knowledge exchange and capacity enhancement," remarked the FAO Assistant Representative to Ghana and head of programs, Mr Benjamin Adjei.
The ESRF Project
The Emergency Support to Rural Livelihoods & Food Systems Exposed to COVID-19, (ESRF), was developed by the Government of Ghana as a result of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the world in 2019. The project was designed as an emergency to mitigate the impacts of the disease on smallholder farmers and food systems.
The Project is expected to directly benefit 50,000 vulnerable people in 25,000 households, with 5% inclusion of People with Disabilities (PwD). The targeted value chains are maize, rice, soya beans, roots and tubers, fruits and vegetables, and poultry and small ruminants.
"By harnessing the power of digital technologies and interactive radio, we aim to foster sustainable agricultural practices and strengthen food security across Ghana," said the Deputy Director and Head of the Livelihoods Unit of the Directorate of Agricultural Extension Service of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr John Lovelace Kpodoviah.
The training concluded with participants equipped to embark on the next phase of in-station training, poised to contribute to the advancement of Agriculture in their regions. through the dissemination of engaging radio programs that resonate with agricultural stakeholders at grassroots levels.
As Ghana continues to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic, initiatives like the ESRF project exemplify the nation's commitment to strengthening rural livelihoods and fortifying food systems in the face of adversity.