Engaging Communities with Farm Radio in Malawi

Abstract

90% of Malawian households are engaged in agriculture, with 81% of the active rural population classified as subsistence farmers – using low input rain fed farming. Most farm plots are not big enough to feed a family. Following a bad corn harvest in 2005, almost five million of Malawi's 13 million people needed emergency food aid and although food security has improved, it is still an ongoing issue of concern, particularly amongst the large population of subsistence farmers. // One method of improving food security and nutrition is through the use of radio to improve knowledge and awareness of better farming practices and to engage and mobilise communities to improve their own food security and nutrition. // The objective of this research was to review the current strategies used to engage communities with farm radio in Malawi and to identify common factors of success and feasibility for widespread adoption (see appendix 2, table 5).