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National Policy Dialogue Synthesis Report: True Contribution of Agriculture to Economic Growth and Development in

Malawi and its Policy Implications on Extension and Radio Programming

By Rex Chapota

Submitted to FANRPAN

On 5th August 2009

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TABLE OF CONTENTS ACROYNMS iii 1.0 BACKGROUND TO THE FANRPAN NATIONAL DIALOGUE 1 2.0 THE MALAWI NATIONAL DIALOGUE PROCESS 2 3.0 AGRICULTURE AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO ECONOMIC GR OWTH AND

DEVELOPMENT IN MALAWI 3 4.0 THE ROLE OF EXTENSION IN AGRICULTRAL DEVELOPMEN T 4 5.0 THE CASE OF THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL RADIO PROG RAMMING IN

THE WIDER AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SYSTEM IN MALAWI 7 5.1 AGRICULTURAL RADIO PROGRAMMING IN MALAWI 9 6.0 THE SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS DURING THE SYMPO SIUM 12 6.1 THE KEY NOTE ADDRESS AND SPEECHES 13

6.2 PAPERS AND DISCUSSIONS ON AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION EXPEREINCES IN USE OF RADIO AND ITS IMPACT IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPEMNT 14

6.3 ISSUES RAISED IN PLENARY DISCUSSIONS 17 7.0 KEY RECOMMENDATIONS 19 8.0 CONCLUSION 21 References 22 Annex 1: List of Participants 25

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ACRONYMS ACB Agricultural Communications Branch ADP Agricultural Development Program AFFRI African Farm Radio Research Initiative AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ARET Agricultural Research Extension Trust CAADP Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme CTA Technical Centre for Agricultural Rural Cooperation DAES Department of Agriculture Extension Services DAESS District Agriculture Extension Service System DARS Department of Agricultural Research Services DBU Development Broadcasting Unit DCT Development Communication Trust DFID Department for International Development EU European Union FAO Food and Agricultural Organization FANRPAN Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network FM Frequency Modulation FRI Farm Radio International GoM Government of Malawi GDP Gross Domestic Program HIV Human Immune Virus ICT Information and Communication Technology IRLADP Irrigation Rural Livelihoods and Agricultural Development Project MACRA Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority MBC Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation MGDS Malawi Growth and Development Strategy MOAFS Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security NAADS National Agricultural Advisory Services NASFAM National Association of Smallholder Farmers in Malawi NEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s’ Development NGO Non Governmental Organization PS Principal Secretary TVM Television Malawi RLC Radio Listening Clubs SADC Southern African Development Community UNDP United Nations Development Program UNESCO United Nations Education and Scientific Cooperation Organization UNICEF United Nations Children Fund WUSC World University Service of Canada

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1.0 BACKGROUND TO THE FANRPAN NATIONAL DIALOGUE

Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) is a regional policy research and advocacy network whose operations are informed by major regional policy frameworks and processes in Southern Africa. These are currently the SADC’s Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), the SADC Heads of State Dar es Salaam Declaration, the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) of the New Partnership for Agricultural Development (NEPAD) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Agricultural Plan. At the international level, after decades of declining support, there is renewed focus on that development agencies will focus more on agriculture. An element of this focus is the World Development Report 2008, which is dedicated to “Agriculture for Development’ and emphasises the importance of agricultural productivity growth in Africa for stimulating growth, overcoming poverty, and enhancing food security. The roles of agriculture in economy, society and environment justify the increasing subsidies and other forms of substantial support developed countries provide to the sector, whose population, on average, accounts for less than 4% of the total population. The current agriculture statistics in the SADC countries focus on the primary production of crops and livestock only. They do not capture the backward and forward linkages of agriculture with other sectors such as domestic and external trade, industry, transport, tourism, infrastructure, energy, banking and various services. If those linkages were accounted for, the figures regarding agriculture would be much higher than those currently provided by the official statistics1. This would make it clear that a strong agricultural sector is a powerful leverage for the whole economic and social development. Conversely, the underdevelopment of the agricultural sector in most SADC countries constrains the development of other sectors of the economy. Similarly, it does not allow for the implementation of any meaningful poverty reduction policies either in the rural or in the urban areas. A main characteristic of the environment in which FANRPAN operates is the insufficient political attention attached to agriculture in the region resulting in low levels of public investments in, and efforts to provide services to, the sector. This situation prevails, despite recurrent political commitments, such as the Maputo Declaration2. Because of the shortcomings of the current statistics, FANRPAN currently lacks empirical evidence of the actual economic and social roles of agriculture on the basis of which it can advocate for a radical improvement of public support to agriculture in the region. In order to generate that evidence, the Network planned to bring together key

1A study commissioned by Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in North American, Latin American and Caribbean countries, has showed that if the multiplier effects of agricultural on other productive sectors and the rest of the economy are taken into account the share of the sector in GDP ranges from 3 times more (in Costa Rica) to 11.6 times more (in the United States) than the one showed in the agricultural statistics which only take primary production into account. IICA :More Than Food on the Table : Agriculture’s True Contribution to the Economy, 2005 2 Maputo Declaration, Together shaping our future. 4th Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government, Maputo, 23 and

24 June 2004.

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experts to share experiences on the “potential contribution” of agriculture to economic growth and poverty reduction - including the forward and backward linkages between agriculture and other sectors – and especially how these can be exploited to stimulate increased public investment in the sector and subsequent acceleration in agricultural productivity. One of the key recommendations from the Kumwenda and Phiri 2009 study on the True Contribution of Agriculture to Economic Development and Poverty Reduction in Malawi was that there was need for enhanced policy dialogue so as to exchange information and knowledge on the potential contribution of agriculture and opportunities in the entire value chain. Therefore FANRPAN commissioned a consultant to facilitate a national dialogue in Malawi that would contribute to the development of informed mitigation and long term food security strategies at national and regional levels. This synthesis report, therefore presents a case study on how agricultural radio programming contributes to agriculture development and how this in turn reveals the potential contribution of agriculture to economic growth and development based on the experiences of the 1st annual Farm Radio Symposium held on 5th August, 2009 in Lilongwe, Malawi.

2.0 THE MALAWI NATIONAL DIALOGUE PROCESS The Government of Malawi under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with Farm Radio International organized a national stakeholder conference in order to strengthen the role of agricultural radio programming in the wider agricultural extension system. The stakeholder conference was branded as the ‘1st Annual Farm Radio Symposium’ and its theme was ‘Farm Radio Programming: An effective tool for increasing access of agricultural extension messages by small holder farmers in Malawi. In line with the symposiums’ great importance in understanding the potential contribution of agriculture to economic growth and development, FANRPAN collaborated with Farm Radio International to disseminate the study findings and synthesize the proceedings of this stakeholder conference as part of the Malawi based national dialogue process before the FARNPAN stakeholders’ regional conference that was to be held in Mozambique in September 2009. The symposium brought together over ninety participants3 who included experts in agricultural research, agricultural policy making and implementation, marketing and trade, farmers’ organizations, extension services, broadcasting and journalism, media houses, academia, the NGO community, donors, private sector and government. The presentations were dynamic and rich with information on experiences, successes, challenges, opportunities and questions regarding the role of radio in the development of agriculture and achievement of food security which is vital to economic growth and development. The plenary discussions that ensued were lively and offered useful insights and good suggestions and recommendations as a way forward which is critical for

3 See annex 1 for list of participants

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Malawi and also the Southern African Region in promoting agricultural development. Almost all participants were involved in the discussions; a clear indication that the symposium dealt with relevant issues affecting their work in their endeavors to improve agricultural production and achieve food security in Malawi which has consequence on its true contribution to economic growth and development. In this one day symposium, a total of nine papers were presented not counting three speeches. The symposium even had time for break out sessions and reports were presented and discussed. It was covered by media houses including Television Malawi and live opening broadcast on Zodiak Broadcasting Station. The symposium was officially opened by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Andrew T. Daudi where as a key note address was delivered by Dr Stanley Khaila, a well respected academician in rural development from Bunda College of Agriculture. The opening ceremony for the symposium was convened by Mr. Rex Chapota who is the National Research Coordinator and Country Manager for Farm Radio International. 3.0 AGRICULTURE AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO ECONOMIC GROWTH

AND DEVELOPMENT IN MALAWI The World Development report of 2008 affirms the fact that agriculture is a vital development tool in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); more especially in much of Sub-Saharan Africa, since it is a strong option for spurring growth, overcoming poverty, and enhancing food security (World Bank, 2008). Agriculture continues to be the main source of economic growth in Malawi and there has been little noticeable diversification into other sectors of the economy. The industrial sector remains basic and constrained by high real interest rates restricting investment, high transport and power costs (Government of Malawi, 2006). Without doubt, agriculture is the single most important sector of the Malawi economy, contributing about 37 per cent to GDP, employing about 80 per cent of the workforce, and contributing to over 90 per cent of foreign exchange. Kumwenda (2010) notes that ‘official statistics on the contribution of agriculture to GDP are usually undervalued estimating its contribution at 36% in 2005. Traditionally measurement of agriculture contribution to and performance is based on information about harvest and sale of raw materials, mainly crops and livestock. As a result, the backward and forward linkages with agro-industry, the services and trade sectors and in general, the rest of the economy, are undervalued. Thus the value added generated by these linkages throughout the economy does not appear in the basic agricultural statistics of most countries. Regardless of what approach is used in measuring agriculture GDP, agriculture has remained the largest sector in the economy over the past two decades’. In terms of constraints to agriculture development, Malawi has one of the highest population densities in sub-Saharan Africa affecting the amount of arable land per rural

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inhabitant. Interestingly, high population density has not led to agricultural intensification, but rather to rapid expansion of cultivated area leading to deforestation and cultivation of unsuitable land. Current farming systems are in many cases unsustainable and threaten further environmental degradation. This suggests that agricultural intensification must be the main strategy for increasing agricultural production. Low and stagnant yields are a direct consequence of declining soil fertility, low level of irrigation development, low uptake of improved farm inputs, poor varietal selection and agricultural practices. Coupled with dependence on rain-fed farming, high post harvest losses due to poor storage and transport, Malawi is increasingly vulnerable to weather related shocks. Smallholder livestock is characterized by low productivity due to disease, poor nutrition and breeding practices, seasonal lack of feed and the stocking of species with low productive potential. The agriculture sector is divided into two main sectors of estate and small holder farming. The smallholder sector contributes more than 70 percent and the estate sub-sector contributes less than 30 percent to the agricultural GDP (GoM 2008). Smallholder farmers in Malawi play a crucial in agricultural development as they contribute significantly to food security needs and economic growth of the country. According to FAO (2003), concentration on small farmers leads to faster growth rates of both economic output and employment. The Malawian small holder farmers are rural based. In order to reach them effectively, there is a need for innovative strategies in extension. The agricultural extension service system plays a crucial role in this respect. The system drives the agriculture sector and ensures that smallholder farmers are reached with messages on technologies to facilitate agricultural production. This confirms the World Development Report 2008 understanding that agricultural productivity growth is vital for stimulating growth in other parts of the economy but accelerated growth requires a sharp productivity increase in smallholder farming combined with more effective support to the millions coping as subsistence farmers, many of them in remote areas (World Bank, 2008) For Malawi to achieve economic growth of at least 6 % per year and to create wealth for its people there must be a concerted effort by private sector, Government, and all Malawians to accelerate growth in agriculture especially at small holder farmer level which will, in turn, lead to the diversification of the economy through forward and backward linkages to the other sectors of the economy. Therefore this synthesis report tries to show how important is to understand the underlying factors in the agricultural sector in this case extension services on how they impact the small holder farmers in increasing productivity and marketing thereby affecting agricultures’ contribution to economic growth and development. 4.0 THE ROLE OF EXTENSION IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPME NT

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Khaila (2009) in the key note address at the symposium noted that extension by definition is a non-formal educational function that applies to any institution that disseminates information and advice with the intention of promoting knowledge, attitudes, skills and aspirations, although the term "extension" tends to be associated with agriculture and rural development. At the same time, extension is a political and organizational instrument utilized to facilitate development. Its purposes may differ, from technology transfer by companies organized around specific, usually mono-cropping farm systems to problem-solving educational approaches to participatory programmes aimed at alleviating poverty and advancing community involvement in the process of development. Furthermore, extension is multidisciplinary. It combines educational methodologies, communication and group techniques in promoting agricultural and rural development. It includes technology transfer, facilitation, and advisory services as well as information services and adult education. For its success, it depends on other agricultural development processes as well as other services and institutions such as research, marketing and credit services, not to mention economic policy and physical infrastructure. In many cases its success depends on the ability to shift program direction and development to stakeholders and program users. The World Bank (2003) states that when systematically and effectively provided, extension is known to enhance social and economic development. Technological change and the knowledge system that underpins it, is a critical factor in development. Despite the difficulty of isolating its impact on agricultural productivity and growth from that of other factors, many studies have demonstrated the high economic returns of investments in agricultural dissemination. Investment in agricultural research and extension is thus a crucial input of agricultural growth. Malindi (2009) in a paper presented at the symposium revealed that agricultural extension in Malawi dates back to the colonial times when colonial farming estates used extension service to increase production. This resulted in the creation of the Department of Agriculture in 1907. Since its birth in 1907, agriculture extension has gone through changes in terms of approach and system. Notable ones are as follows:

• In the early years, Government sent out instructors to teach farmers recommended crop production practices. Coercion was used to get farmers practice what they had learnt.

• The Master Farmer concept was adopted by the extension service to allow innovative and better off farmers demonstrate recommended practices. These farmers received support in form of inputs and extension services to enable them provide quality demonstrations to fellow farmers.

These approaches were very similar to those used in Uganda where by-laws were used in the period between 1898 and 1956 in order to ensure farmers followed agricultural practices in soil and water conservation (Oryokot, 2005). Progressive farmers acted as role models and received preferential treatment from the government. Individual approach was predominantly followed in the two systems. With time the approach was

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considered politically discriminatory as resource poor and women were deemed not adequately covered. Agricultural Extension policies formulated since the Department of Agricultural Extension came into being have taken communication including farm radio into consideration as a key component of extension. Use of agricultural extension workers to train farmers various technologies has been the priority. Emerging challenges to reach out to farmers necessitated the need to explore other channels to complement efforts of the extension workers; hence the establishment of the Extension Aids Branch in 1958. The branch was established as a public relations unit to produce agricultural information, education and communication materials (Government of Malawi, 1978). In the history of Malawi’s agricultural extension services, different methodologies have been used to reach to farmers with agricultural messages. Nonetheless, the use of force was still an element of extension services. However, the coercive approach was abandoned when the country gained independence in 1964. A number of changes have taken place in the extension services since independence as reported by Chowa in the 1st annual farm radio symposium proceedings report (Department of Agricultural Extension, 2010):

• In the 1970s, group approach was recognised as the appropriate means of reaching out to smallholder farmers with extension messages. Commissioning of major integrated projects in the Lower Shire and Shire Highlands Development project in the south, central region lakeshore projects and the Lilongwe Land Development Programme in the centre and Karonga-Chitipa Development in the north necessitated the use of groups in order to increase coverage. At that time, farmers were organised into clubs which were used to save two purposes: a) clubs were a forum for delivery of extension messages and b) they were used for credit disbursements.

• The increased number of groups created a need for proper management for them to be effective. The Ministry then adopted the Block Extension System (BES) in 1981. The BES was a modified Training and Visit System that aimed at reaching out to farmers of all gender categories. Although the system achieved some positive results by going beyond specialised groups of farmers, it failed to reach out to some categories of farmers especially the resource poor hence adoption did not significantly improve (Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, 2000).

• The 1990s brought a paradigm shift in provision of agricultural extension services due to presence of other players coupled with political change to democratic system of government.

• A new agricultural extension policy which advocates for pluralistic, demand-driven and decentralised extension services was launched in 2000 to accommodate the changes on the scene. The policy ensures that agricultural extension services are more inclusive to allow other service providers such as farm based organisations and the private sector.

In line with the new extension policy, the District Agricultural Extension Services System (DAESS) was established to operationalize the policy in a decentralized manner. DAESS has governance structures that provide opportunity for integrated planning, resource mobilisation, coordination and networking by players and stakeholders in agricultural extension services provision.

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5.0 THE CASE OF THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL RADIO PROGRAMMING IN THE WIDER AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SYS TEM IN MALAWI In 1996, the world’s heads of state meeting in Rome committed their countries to eradicating hunger and reducing the number of undernourished people by 50% by the year 2015 (FAO 1998). While on the one hand the agricultural yields in developing countries continue to decline, despite technological innovations, their populations continue to expand beyond food production capacities. This poses a great challenge for developing countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa, where it has been estimated that 50% of the total population would go hungry by the year 2000 (FAO 1998). Policy- and decision-makers thus have to identify possible and appropriate solutions that ensure rural development and food security. Khaila (2009) in his key note address notes ‘that mass media are of crucial importance in rural areas of developing countries to run large scale communication campaigns on health, nutrition, livestock breeding or agricultural technology transfer. Equally important, however, is their role in communicating the information needed for individual’s every-day lives – from market prices and credit facilities to weather reports, music, entertainment and culture. Particularly in large rural areas where population density is low and telecommunication facilities are scarce or non-existent, mass media can reach rural dwellers helping them to be informed and able to express their own concerns, thus fostering national identities and reducing the rural/urban divide’. The new extension policy recognizes coordination in the extension arena as one of the main challenges in service provision that includes the use of radio due to the proliferation of numerous stakeholders that provide various services to farmers (Ministry of Agriculture, 2000). The democratization and deregulation of the airwaves in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa including Malawi after the introduction of plural politics in 1994 has recently led to radio pluralism with the arrival of many community and private radio stations that needs effective networking and linkages among stakeholders (Farm Radio International, 2007). Radio is still the most popular, the most economic and the most accessible means of communication for rural population. In Africa, the number of radio sets per head is superior by far to the number of TV sets or telephone lines. In places with high rate of illiteracy, where electricity, phone or access to Internet is lacking, radio plays a key role in daily local life. Radio informs population in local languages on vital subjects such as agriculture and public health.

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According to latest FAO estimates, 800 million people in the world are still undernourished. Of these, 70 percent live in rural areas. This implies that a large percentage of radio audience in rural areas is an undernourished listener. In this circumstance, it makes sense for radio to respond to the community’s most urgent needs – to address the important question of food security. Any communication channel that ignores – albeit unknowingly – the most pressing and basic needs of its audience is an irrelevant channel. However there exists a gap between the scientific/agricultural researchers and the farm users. A lot of findings from the research institutions and laboratories are not used by farmers. Research information on improved seed varieties, better farming techniques, post-harvest handling and marketing are not used by farmers either because the information did not reach them, either because the implementation of the received information is not clear. The gap between the researcher and the farmer is even wider in the rural areas; large distances separate researcher from rural farmer. Other barriers like language and diversity of cultures also come into play making it even more difficult for the research information to reach the intended audiences. Despite the challenges in radio, Khaila (2009) quotes what was asserted by Sylvia Biraahwa Nakabugu of Radio Uganda that rural radio can be used to disseminate agricultural research and empower rural communities in many ways as follows:

• Research findings can be distributed through radio to o Non governmental organisations (NGOs) dealing in agriculture o Extension workers o Farmers themselves o Academic institutions

• Rural radio can make the link between researchers and extension workers by offering information on

o Where research can be obtained and used o How to pass it on to users o Communities' feedback regarding research

• Rural radio can be used to collect feedback from communities o Through programmes, farmers give their responses to research o Farmers share experiences on use of research o Rural radio airs out farmers' views/recommendations on how to improve

the research. o Communities provide alternatives depending on their experiences.

• Radio can also be used to announce processes of research and extension work: o Give venues for meetings with extension workers o Advise on where to get inputs/services o Advise on where to get technical support. o Advise on markets and other services

• Speeds up the process of informing the community and therefore acts as a catalyst of change in many way, such as:

o Serving as a watchdog on power holders, thus affording active relationships between leaders and the citizens.

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o Helping to approach consensus and to develop common objectives by providing debate and discussing issues.

o Exposing options for community action. o Enhancing artistic and intellectual culture. o Bringing out and disseminating ideas that promote diversity and change. o Reinforcing values that help maintain social order o Offering chance for individuals and groups to speak to each other, thus

developing awareness of a common membership of community. o Mobilizing both private and collective resources for personal or

community needs. Unfortunately, rural radio has a number of constraints:

• Rural radio is expensive to manage. One must have enough finances to run this kind of community-based broadcasting because it involves dealing with people who may not have communication skills.

• Another issue is the availability of radio sets. These may not be readily available to communities because of affordability.

• Translating messages into various languages is not an easy task. One needs to have people who are well versed in the language.

• Lack of collaboration between researchers, extension staff and communicators may hinder the smooth operation of rural radios.

• The scientific jargon is sometimes very difficult to interpret. • Most of the rural radio work done is donor funded. So when the donor pulls out,

there is a problem of sustaining the programme. • It is time consuming especially when people who are working on the programme

have no training in communication. • A lot of training has to be undertaken especially for the radio listenership clubs

and this requires financial facilitation. 5.1 AGRICULTURAL RADIO PROGRAMMING IN MALAWI In light of shortage of extension field workers, radio provides the best alternative to reach out to farmers. With well packaged radio messages, probability of messages getting to the target is high as long as network and timing has been taken into consideration. Radio is used to, among other things; sensitize farmers on new varieties of crops, disease outbreaks and availability of farm inputs. Agricultural radio programming has a long history in Malawi. Malindi (2009) notes that the first two 15 minute radio programmes – Kalimanzeru and Mphala ya balimi - were produced and aired in 1960. The radio programmes have undergone some changes in terms of quality and formats such as magazine, comedy and other topical formats. By June 2009, the Department of Agricultural Extension Services had 5 programmes that were produced and aired on public and private radio station as follows:

• Ulimi walero – aired Monday through Friday

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• Zokomera Alimi – aired on Saturdays • Ulimi m’sabatayi – aired on Sundays • Imvani Za Subsidy – aired on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday • Subsidy ku Malawi – aired on different days

The radio in Malawi, in particular, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) initially started with production of programs that were geared at educating the rural majority, civilizing them so they would abandon their “heathen” practices and beliefs, and encouraging them to embrace the best practices in agriculture and health. Despite massive need for radical rural development and especially agricultural development reforms, 66% of programming was musical and talk shows, 18% formal education programs, 11.5% news, 3% promotional and 0.6% for each of agricultural and religious programming (Manyozo, 2005) Manyozo (2005:2) quotes William Mackie as saying that since independence, MBC Radio was utilized as a communication tool in agricultural and rural development considering the many logistical, financial, and staffing and transport problems the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Extension Service with regards to teaching Malawi’s farmers better agricultural methods. The introduction of the farmers’ forum listening group project in July 1966, proved to be a cost-effective and effective rural development communication strategy in increasing farmers’ knowledge gain and contact between farmers and agricultural service providers. Participation in the forum project improved the “morale of some extension workers in remote areas, making them feel connected” to their colleagues and the communication program. This resulted to increased hours of agricultural programming from less than an hour of weekly programming to about four hours per week. Over the years the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agriculture Communication Branch (ACB) has built on the same farm radio forum model to implement radio listener clubs (RLCs) for rural farmers. In 1999 the Development Broadcasting Unit (DBU) was established within MBC to liaise with the station’s Programs Department to effectively engage in development programming through participatory communication activities, to promote national dialogue around development issues (Sisya, 2002). By focusing on empowering communities to define themselves and their understanding of the world through radio, DBU is promoting a citizens’ radio, as a tool for encouraging dialectical and dialogical challenge of civil rights and citizenship among the many rural, illiterate and poor people who have no adequate access to telephones, electricity or Internet. Unfortunately, in the case of MBC, “almost all programs are based on top-down information from government to the citizens with little room for alternative viewpoints and little dialogue with end users,” a fact MBC admits (Manyozo, 2005:2). Yet we know that grassroots citizens’ radio structures are in themselves communication processes “through which community-generated programs are produced,” thereby “encouraging a participatory, needs-based approach to communication” which “supports democratic development through creating an effective dialogue between the civil society, the media and politicians.”

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In order to be more participatory, MBC with encouragement and financial support from DfID and UNDP, started to use RLCs to produce programs such as Ndizathuzomwe (These things are ours) Kanthu n’khama (Hard work pays). By 2000, DBU had established 30 RLCs, which over the years have increased to about or over 40. The RLCs have led to dialogues with various bureaucratic levels such as policy makers. On the other hand service provision has come from public, private sector and civil society organizations. The DBU approach has empowered communities to a point of summoning high public officers as cabinet ministers to villages to account for decisions or services provided by their respective departments. Radio is also being commonly used by the NGOs. For instance Mahiyu in a paper presented at the symposium entitled “Effectiveness of radio in increasing access to agricultural messages by small-scale farmers in Malawi” reported that National Association of Smallholder Farmers in Malawi (NASFAM) introduced farm radio programming in order to focus on specific issues affecting small holder farmers under the association in order to increase productivity and marketing of agricultural produce. Chapota elaborates in the 1st annual farm radio symposium proceedings report (DAES, 2009) that in line with the pluralism policy; currently the land scape of the farm radio industry in Malawi comprises of various and diverse stakeholders that comprise public, private and civil society sectors as follows:

• policy makers like the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MoAFS) and Ministry of Information (MoI)

• agricultural research sector that leads to technology identification and content generation like Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS), other specialized technical departments in MoAFS e.g. Department of Fisheries; National Aquaculture Centre, University Institutions e.g. Bunda College and Chancellor College; private research institutions e.g. Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (ARET), Tea Research Foundation, Forestry Research Institute of Malawi (FRIM).

• extension service provision and delivery like Department of Agricultural Extension Services (DAES), Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (ARET), faith based organizations etc

• production and broadcasting that includes independent media houses like The Story Workshop, NASFAM studio, ARET studio; radio stations comprising of public, private (commercial and religious) and community stations; media consultants, media based NGOs like Farm Radio International etc

• broadcasting regulation like Ministry of Information and Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA)

• capacity building and training institutions in both agricultural extension and journalism that include Bunda College, Chancellor College, The Polytechnic, Natural Resources College, Malawi Institute of Journalism,.

• farmers themselves and their organizations including .Farmers Union of Malawi, NASFAM

• agricultural based civil society sector including various NGOs, CBOs • private sector including seed companies, agro dealers, private traders and

marketing institutions

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• and donor agencies that support the agricultural and media sectors like EU, World Bank, UNDP

In the symposium, the African Farm Radio Research Initiative (AFRRI) implemented by Farm Radio International with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation revealed initial findings that were presented through the papers of Dr Martine Ngobo and Mr. Rex Chapota; that there are a number of lessons that have already emerged from the AFRRI study:

• One is the holistic manner in which smallholder farmers approach farming. During campaign one, partner radio stations concentrated on one technology and it was expected that the campaign format would be continued with different technologies. But farmers have pointed out that the programs should cover all aspects of a crop. Thus if you introduce vertiver grass it will lead to decreased soil erosion and improved moisture retention and soil fertility. This, in turn, will result in increased crop yields; leading to surpluses; leading to storage and marketing challenges. Furthermore, increased crop yields if not followed by lessons in proper food preparation and distribution in the household, the increased food may not result access to food for every member of the household or nutritious meals. Hence the need for a holistic approach.

• Another lesson is that due to the participatory nature of the programs, there has been increased demand on extension services. Farmers are asking for more information from the extension workers. This is a curse as well as a blessing to the extension service. It is a curse in that it can undermine credibility of the extension service if extension workers regularly fail to provide appropriate answers. It is a blessing in the sense that extension workers can now be more responsive to farmers needs making them appear relevant leading to better job satisfaction. Furthermore, in-service training can be more focused and relevant.

• As a direct result of the above lesson, it is clear that extension services need support from research. Hence they must be more closely linked to research and subject matter specialists if they are to provide appropriate answers to farmers.

• Fourthly, as a direct result of the participatory radio approaches, agricultural research effort can now take a bottom-up approach and focus on answering smallholders’ farming needs.

• Radio is more effective if its programs are developed with the farmers and they participate in the design and production of the programs.

• Use of ICT such as mobile phone, MP3 etc. greatly enhances effectiveness and interactivity of programs by facilitating quick feedback and promoting repetition of programs.

• Lastly, if the radio promotes an agricultural technology, such a technology will not be adopted unless farmers have access to the requisite inputs. This means that there must be other service providers such as credit and input service on the ground.

6.0 THE SUMMARY OF THE PROCEEDINGS DURING THE SYMPOS IUM

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This section summarises the proceedings of the symposium; drawing attention to the main issues presented and discussed in line with how agricultural radio programming increases access to messages that in turn increase productivity and marketing of agriculture produce. The summary also engages in a critical discussion of interesting experiences and observations made in the papers and presentations. 6.1 THE KEY NOTE ADDRESS AND SPEECHES The keynote address by Dr Stanley Khaila started with a broad definition of extension in general and agricultural extension in particular and its use as a political and organization instrument to be utilised to facilitate development. The key messages in the keynote address were multidisciplinary nature of extension which combines educational methodologies, communication and group techniques in promoting agricultural and rural development including technology transfer, facilitation, and advisory services as well as information services and adult education. For its success, it depends on other agricultural development processes as well as other services and institutions such as research, marketing and credit services, not to mention economic policy and physical infrastructure. In many cases its success depends on the ability to shift program direction and development to stakeholders and program users. The paper discussed challenges in extension which have led to numerous reforms. The reforms have included decentralization efforts, partial privatization, full privatization and reforms in approaches to the provision of services. These reforms have not yielded much in terms of agricultural productivity and food security. Agricultural yields in developing countries continue to decline and despite technological innovations, their populations continue to expand beyond food production capacities. Policy- and decision-makers thus have to identify possible and appropriate solutions that ensure rural development and food security. Mass media are of crucial importance in rural areas of developing countries to run large scale communication campaigns on health, nutrition, livestock breeding or agricultural technology transfer. The speech by the Principal Secretary of Agriculture noted that the Ministry’s mandate is to ensure that the country is food secure and that agriculture continues to significantly contribute to the country’s economic growth. It was also pointed out that agriculture development is very pivotal for the Malawi nation as confirmed in this year’s state of the Nation Address delivered by the State President during the opening of the budget session that ‘Agriculture is among the 10 priority of priorities and one of the six key priorities in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS)’ which shows that Government has political will and commitment to ensure that agriculture development remains the base of Malawi’s socio- economic growth. His speech highlighted that it was pleasing to note that scientist and specialists in agriculture are working tireless to develop and promote innovative and promising technologies that can facilitate increased productivity and that the Department of

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Agricultural Extension Services drives the process by ensuring that innovation strategies are deployed to promote the technologies for adoption by farmers. He also noted that the Department uses various methods such demonstrations, drama, print and electronic media to disseminate agricultural extension messages and that radio is one of the methodologies that is used to communicate agricultural messages to farmers all over Malawi. His speech also noted that since the multi party dispensation in 1994, Malawi has witnessed an increase in the number of radio stations – particularly community and commercial FM stations and that it presented a unique opportunity to discuss how we can enhance the use of radio as a medium of disseminating agricultural extension messages. The Principal Secretary singled out the role of Farm Radio International in launching the African Farm Radio Research Initiative (AFRRI) that is providing valuable data and evidence on the role of farm radio programming in food security. He finished his speech by challenging the delegates to think creatively on how agricultural radio programming can increase household agricultural productivity so that the potential contribution of agriculture to Malawi’s’ economic growth and development is enhanced. The speech by Dr Martine Ngobo representing FRI emphasized the need for collaboration in the farm radio industry in order to meet the information needs of the small holder farmers and strengthen research, farmer and extension linkages. 6.2 PAPERS AND DISCUSSIONS ON AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION EXPERIENCES IN USE OF RADIO AND ITS IMPACT IN AGRIC ULTURAL DEVELOPMENT The first plenary session had two papers that were presented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security by Dr Grace Malindi4 and Mr. Jerome Chim’gonda-Nkhoma5. The papers provided broad policy issues and Government experiences and lessons learnt in agricultural extension programming in Malawi with emphasis on role of radio. They emphasized on the agricultural policy framework, agricultural extension system, role of radio, mmethods of packaging messages for dissemination through radio, role of the department of agricultural extension services in promoting food security in Malawi and outcomes and best practices in using radio. The second plenary session had three papers from Farm Radio International which provide a detailed situation analysis and progress to-date on innovations in extension using radio under the African Farm Radio Research Initiative (AFRRI). The papers by Mr. Rex Chapota and Dr Martine Ngobo6, gave a background to the genesis of the research initiative; highlighting the challenges in agricultural development posed by high farmer-extension worker ratio and the opportunities offered by the reliability and

4 Director of Department of Agricultural Extension Services in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security 5 The Chief Agricultural Communications Officer at the Department of Agricultural Extension Services 6 The Senior Research Manager of AFRRI

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accessibility of radio, the democratization and deregulation of airwaves in Sub-Saharan Africa and the popularity of radio. Dr Ngobo begun by posing the difficult issue of the developmental impact of farm and rural radio which have always revolved around two key questions: Can positive changes within communities be traced back to specific programs and radio stations? And to what extent are the programs and stations meeting their audience’s aspirations? Borrowing from the literature on the design and implementation of impact evaluations of development radio, AFRRI’s approach emphasized the process of developing the radio programs; exposure to radio programming; and the decision-making process of adopting best practices. The reviews also revealed knowledge gaps and opportunities which became the basis for the research initiative. The AFFRI approach is premised on the action research model. Action research is a methodology which has the dual purpose of action and research; action to bring about change in some community or organization or program and research to increase understanding on the part of the researcher or the client, or both. Action research is cyclic or spiral; is participative and primarily qualitative; is a flexible spiral process which allows action (change, improvement) and research (understanding, knowledge) to be achieved at the same time. The main elements adopted in the implementation of this AFRRI model were:

• Assessment of AFRRI partner radio stations’ capacity needs to identify gaps in competencies with respect to programming, participatory or journalistic approaches and technical, management of 25 AFRRI partner radio stations.

• Stakeholder involvement • Community rapid appraisals • Baseline studies informed by a participatory action research framework. • Formative research process • Development of Country Action Plans

o Criteria for agricultural improvement/technology selection o The agricultural improvement/technology selection process

• Campaign designs and formats • Smallholder farmers’ involvement in the participatory radio campaign

o Choosing format of the program o Choosing appropriate timing for airing the o Producing signature tunes for the program o Giving their voice on the topics of o Involvement in producing entertaining clips relevant to the programs o Providing feedback on the aired programs

The main lesson learnt is that smallholder farmers’ information needs are many, and to come up with one topic that could be used in the campaign has always been a challenge. The paper by Mr. Chapota (2009) suggested that there is anecdotal research evidence indicating that agricultural radio programs has impact in farmers’ adoption of

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technologies which have a potential for improving food security among smallholder farmers. The third plenary session had four papers which gave a field experience of the role and effectiveness of farm radio programs in agricultural development. These were presented by Mr. Rex Tolani7, Mr. Smith Likongwe8, Mr. Abiel Banda9 and Mr. Andrew Mahiyu10. These papers focused on:

• Opportunities offered by radio in program implementation • Rationale for using radio as a channel of communication • Methodologies used in producing radio programs • Experiences of using radio in agriculture and food security • Farmers perspective on the role of radio • Impact of the radio on the audience • The key challenges and lessons • Conclusions and recommendations

It was therefore noted that radio provides opportunity to project implementers for:

• Sensitizing the rural communities about projects • Updating all the stakeholders and the rural communities about the progress of

projects • Promoting adoption of various agricultural technologies through enlightening and

clarifying areas not well understood by the communities The project implementers see the role of radio largely to persuade farmers in their quest to influence farmers to achieve and improve the food security in their households. Using techniques from social theory of reasoned action, social learning theory and diffusion theory, they argue that they have been able to produce radio programmes that have had overwhelming impact in the lives of many small holder farmers in Malawi. Project implementers said that radio is communication channel that is the most effective in terms of reaching out to many people. It is the cheapest and fastest means of communication. The hard to reach rural poor are accessible through radio at a low cost. Some of these project implementers conduct evaluations using various methodologies with different levels of achievements in impact. However, there is little quantitative evidence of impact of radio and furthermore, it is difficult to attribute impact to any one factor. Lessons include:

• Many people believe that what comes out of the radio is the gospel truth. • It is therefore easy to mislead listeners if radio is used without proper planning.

7 IRLADP Manager 8 Programs Manager of Story Workshop 9 The President of Farmers Union of Malawi 10 Communications Officer for National Small Holder Farmers Association of Malawi

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• There is no immediate feedback to the communities on areas for clarification. • Projects rely on consultants most of whom do not have capacity and are not be

reliable Challenges faced by project implementers include the following:

• Has potential for misrepresentations are high where people claim they heard one method or the other from radio while confusing some pertinent facts.

• Demands to see results of the radio programming when in most cases radio does not achieve instant results.

• The cost of material collection from the field is fairly high, as it currently requires the presenter to travel throughout the country.

• Access is needed to a radio in order to hear the programmes. Within households, husbands tend to take possession of the family radio, and select the station. Thus female farmers may be denied radio access at the times programmes are broadcast if they are not of interest to the husband.

• Retention of information is difficult. In recommendations, the papers made a number of requests mostly to government as follows: • Government to continue providing radios to groups and this task should be taken up

by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in liaison with the Ministry of Information.

• The two Ministries mentioned above should establish a directory of radio consultants. All engaged in radio practices must be registered by the relevant ministry. This will assist when it comes to recruitment of consultant to produce and to broadcast radio programs. The institution will be able to advise accordingly.

• Heavy investment should be given to capacity building in the following areas: o Training of journalists in agricultural information. General journalists are not

good for broadcasting agricultural programs. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security should collaborate with the Ministry of Information for this task.

o Existing staff in the Ministry should be upgraded in the field of agricultural communication.

o Radio program production consultants need to be assessed at a specific period to check their capability. This should be done by competent assessors from the relevant ministries.

o Establish an agricultural radio station in the country for the long-term. In conclusion, the three papers noted that radio is an effective tool in disseminating agricultural information as long as it is fully supported in the planning and implementation process. The success of radio communication for farming may not always be seen immediately. 6.3 ISSUES RAISED IN PLENARY DISCUSSION

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During the symposium, participants were given a chance to break out into groups to discuss farm radio issues in more detail. The main areas for discussion were capacity building in the farm radio industry, resource mobilization, coordination and quality assurance of farm radio and agricultural technologies. In terms of capacity building, a number of issues that affect the farm radio industry were identified. These included skills capacity for journalists, number of radio technicians and management skills. Participants noted that there was limited knowledge and skills in farm radio production which were very critical in community radio stations. Inadequate equipment, equipment failure and challenges of maintenance of the equipment were also noted. Other issues raised were attitude towards production of agricultural production, lack of collaboration between the radio stations in programming of agricultural programs and rapid turn-over of the trained volunteer staff at community radios. Participants also noted that there was a need for scaling up role of radio for a number of reasons. For instance, it was pointed out that there is a need to sustain benefits of farm radio, that radio helps open forum for exchange amongst stakeholders, helps create awareness even on marketing of agricultural produce, helps in the commercialization of farming and also may help in policy discussions and increase content coverage to a wider number of issues not only a single crop (maize). Radio has the potential to create awareness of technologies on the shelf that have been released. With well trained producers and innovative program designs, it is possible to get feedback on technologies that are aired. Feedback creates an opportunity to revise technologies to take into account farmers’ concerns or needs. In discussing coordination participants noted the following players in the farm radio industry: radio producers, farmers, development partners (donors and sponsors) and research experts. Currently, there is limited coordination in sharing information and expertise among the players. It was considered important that these players are coordinated in order to achieve quality assurance. A number of challenges were pointed out in the radio industry and these include:

• Over confidence in radio producers • Producers are too busy to check the quality • Unqualified producers • Inadequate journalists in agriculture • Lack of coordinating body to monitor radio programs • Non functional editorial boards • Lack of standards to guide quality of programs • Competition among broadcasting stations • Inadequate access to good equipment • Insufficient prioritization of communication on government agenda • High operational costs of radios • Challenges of multi-languages in the country

Participants noted that there are opportunities that can be exploited and these include:

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• Institution are in existence to institute coordination and monitor quality assurance e.g. government ministries

• Availability of local training institutions which can be used e.g. MIJ • Interest of local and international organizations in farm radio • Favorable Policy environment • There are willing partners to partner with the media in the agricultural programs. • Potential for exchange in terms of training to share skills and general broadcast

materials • There are willing volunteers • Government placed agric as priority of priorities

7.0 KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

The following are the recommendation made during the symposium to enhance the role of agricultural radio programming in agricultural development.

• Institutionalize farm radio programming in the media for development, journalism and agricultural extension curriculum : There is need to scale up farm radio programming training as a professional course in institutions of higher learning. The University of Malawi (Polytechnic, Chancellor College and Bunda College) and other colleges like Malawi Institute of Journalism need to take up this challenge of building the capacity of broadcasters, agricultural extension workers, radio officers etc in agricultural technologies and terminologies for effective and efficient production of farm radio programmes.

• Explore the gender dimension to access and use of agricultural messaging in view of the fact that women are major agricultural producers: There is a need to explore through research and innovative strategies the gender dimension to access and use of agricultural extension services especially radio messaging. There is a need for affirmative action to involve more women broadcasters and creative engagement of women farmers in listenership groups and only women’s programmes.

• Undertake comprehensive research, monitoring and evaluation work in farm radio programming and how it affects agricultural development: The symposium noted the need for research, monitoring and evaluation to understand what models work in farm radio, how to measure impact and assess quality of farm radio programmes. Regular audience survey for agricultural broadcasts have to be undertaken in order to have evidence and impact of farm radio programming as one way of engaging donors in the private sector to invest in agricultural broadcasts. There is also a need to undertake and develop research models in assessing farm radio programmes; ensuring feedback systems for radio programming beyond the listeners to experts in different agricultural fields. There is a need for continuation of the AFRRI research approach with several

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institutions working together. In addition to conducting research, there is need for promotion of utilization of research findings through documentation and dissemination using various channels.

• Initiate innovative and diversified farm radio programming that addresses emerging issues such as climate change, HIV/AIDS, gender and agricultural policies: Agricultural radio programming needs to take a leading role in addressing emerging issues affecting agricultural productivity like climate change and sustainable livelihoods. Agricultural radio programmes can be used as a platform for policy engagement between small holder farmers and policy makers through innovative radio programming. Creative ways of reaching young people with agricultural messaging need to be explored in order to build a critical mass of young farmers who can easily apply new agricultural technologies in farming. Agricultural radio broadcasts have to be diverse enough to address farmers’ problems in a holistic manner; covering issues of livestock production, crop production and their value chains.

• There is a need to scale up and out the use of radio as a major tool in agricultural extension services: Given that Malawi is an agro based economy, it is important to increase quantity and coverage of agricultural messages across the country. Therefore there is a need for the establishment of agricultural based radio stations as well as lobbying for low prices on air time for agricultural programmes. There has to be a paradigm shift in the media community to embrace farm radio programming as business. It is recommended that the Ministry introduces awards to best agricultural broadcasters and programmes in order to promote the role of radio in agriculture. The Ministry also needs to involve other broadcasters such as community and religious stations to air their programs.

• Improve collaboration, coordination and institutional strengthening in the farm radio industry : The symposium noted that stakeholders in the farm radio industry are working in isolation in the production and airing of far radio programmes thereby not optimizing the potential of farm radio. There is a need to improve collaboration and linkages among trainers, researchers, extension professionals, broadcasters and farmers to ensure effective and efficient farm radio programming. There is a need to have directorate of service providers in the farm radio industry in the entire radio programming continuum. There is a need to establish Farm Radio Broadcasters Association which could lead in addressing issues that affect broadcasters dealing with agricultural radio programming. There is a need for institutionalizing a civil society national body in Malawi that will take issues of farm radio programming to scale.

• Develop guidelines for quality assurance and standards in farm radio programming: The symposium bemoaned the poor standards and quality of agricultural radio programs which are boring and unattractive to farmers. Some of

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the issues cited included incorrect information, untimeliness of broadcasts and irrelevant programming. There is a need to develop standards and quality assurance guidelines for farm radio programs if they are to be attractive and competitive with other types of broadcasts. The Ministry needs to regularly update the Guide to Agricultural Production and make it readily available in order to provide appropriate messages and technologies for radio broadcasting. There is need to equip producers of agricultural radio programs in quality assurance.

• Develop sustainable mechanisms for resource mobilization for agricultural broadcasts: The symposium noted that most of the farm radio programs are mostly donor funded with little investment from private sector. There is a need for government to prioritise agricultural broadcasts and invest resources to efficient and effective use of radio in agricultural development. Lobby departments, assemblies and organizations to sponsor production and airing of farm radio programs in order to diversify sources of funding.

8.0 CONCLUSION

The symposium has affirmed that there is a greater role of agricultural extension services especially the agricultural radio programming in increasing access for extension messages that will reach small holder farmers in order to promote innovative technologies that will improve agricultural productivity and thereby contributing to economic growth and development. Therefore supporting implementation of innovative programs on the use of radio such as the African Farm Radio Research Initiative (AFRRI) and others will help to bring out critical experiences and models to use in furthering the use of radio in agricultural development. It can be concluded that the national dialogue through the farm radio symposium provided a platform and an opportunity for sharing and learning from lessons and experiences of best practices for using radio-based communication strategies to enhance agricultural development food security in Malawi hence revealing emerging issues that have to be dealt with as governments in the African Sub Saharan region spur agricultural productivity that has great potential for economic growth and development.

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REFERENCES Banda Abiel (2009) Farmers perspective on the Role of Radio in Food Security: Success, Challenges and Opportunities: A paper presented at the Farm Radio Symposium held at Cresta Hotel, Lilongwe, Malawi, 5th August, 2009. Chapota Rex, (2009) The African Farm Radio Research Initiative-Working with Radio Stations and Smallholder Framers in Malawi: Experiences and Lessons learnt : A paper presented at the Farm Radio Symposium jointly organised by Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and Farm Radio International, held at Cresta Hotel, Lilongwe, Malawi, 5th August, 2009. Chim’gonda-Nkhoma J. (2009) ‘Experiences and lessons learnt in Agricultural Extension programming: the Case of Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MOAFS) in Malawi with emphasis on role of Radio. A paper presented at the Farm Radio Symposium jointly organised by Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and Farm Radio International, held at Cresta Hotel, Lilongwe, Malawi, 5th August, 2009. Daudi A.T.(2009) Opening Speech by the Principal Secretary for Ministry of Agriculture and Food security during the official opening of the Farm Radio Symposium held on 5th August 09 at Cresta Hotel, Lilongwe, Malawi. DAES (2010). Proceedings Report of the 1st Annual Farm Radio Symposium. Organised by Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and Farm Radio International, held at Cresta Hotel, Lilongwe, Malawi, 5th August, 2009 Farm Radio International (2007). The African Farm Radio Research Initiative (AFRRI) Project Document. National Research Coordinators’ Version. Ottawa, Canada. FAO (2003) Agricultural Extension, Rural Development and Food Security Challenge. Government of Malawi (1978) Extension Aids Branch 1958 -1978. Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Government of Malawi (2006). Malawi Growth and Development Strategy, Volume I.

Government of Malawi (2008) The Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) Malawi’s prioritised and harmonized Agricultural de velopment agenda: 2008 -2012. Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

Joseph Oryokot (undated) The role of ICTs in provision of agricultural information and knowledge to farmers under Uganda’s National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), NAADS Secretariat, Plot 39A, Lumumba Avenue, P.O. Box 25235, Kampala, Uganda, Tel: +256 (0) 41 345440, 345065/6, Email: naads@utlonline.co.ug ; joryokot@yahoo.com.

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Khaila, Stanley (2009). In search of Innovative Ways for Improving Extension Services in Malawi: Key note address at the Farm Radio Symposium jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and Farm Radio International , Cresta Hotel, Lilongwe, August 2009 Mahiyu Andrew (2009). Effectiveness of radio in increasing access to agricultural messages by small-scale farmers in Malawi. A paper presented at the Farm Radio Symposium jointly organised by Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and Farm Radio International, held at Cresta Hotel, Lilongwe, Malawi, 5th August, 2009 Malindi Grace (2009). The Agricultural Extension Policy with emphasis on the role of Radio as part of the Agricultural Extension Methodologies. A paper presented at the Farm Radio Symposium held at Cresta Hotel, Lilongwe, Malawi, 5th August,

Manyozo Linje (2005). Rural radio and the promotion of people-centred development in Africa: Radio Listening Clubs and community development in Malawi, Paper presented at the Codesria 11 General Assembly- Rethinking African Development: Beyond impasse, towards alternatives. Maputo, Mozambique, 6-10 December, 2005.

Manyozo Linje (2005:2). Concept and Practice of Rural Broadcasting in Malawi: Dzimwe Community Radio, Report of the Sensitisation Workshop on Rural Radio for Policy and Decision Makers in East and Southern Africa, 26 – 29 April, 2005 – Lilongwe, Malawi, SADC Centre of Communication. Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (2000) Agricultural Extension in the New Millennium: Towards Pluralistic and Demand-driven Services in Malawi. Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Ngobo Martine & Sheila Huggins-Rao Radio for Farmers: The African Farm Radio Research Initiative’s Approach to Strengthening Agriculture and Food Security Radio Programs. A paper presented at the Farm Radio Symposium jointly organised by Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and Farm Radio International, held at Cresta Hotel, Lilongwe, Malawi, 5th August, 2009 Oryokot Joseph (2005) Report of the sensitization workshop on rural radio for policy and decision makers in East and Southern Africa

Sisya, S. 2002. DBU production report on Kanthu N’khama for March . Blantyre: DBU. Unpublished document.

Sylvia Biraahwa Nakabugu (undated) The Role of Rural Radio in Agricultural and Rural Development: Translating Agricultural Research Information into Messages for Farm Audiences, Farm and Environment, Radio Uganda

World Bank (2003). A Multi-Country Agricultural Productivity Programme (MAPP) for Africa . (Draft).Washington, DC.

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World Bank (2008). World Development Report: Agriculture for Development. Washington, DC.

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Annex 1: List of participants to the symposium

Name Designation Organization Contacts 1 Andrew T.

Daudi Dr. Principal Secretary Ministry of

Agriculture &Food Security

Box 30134 Lilongwe 3 0888 826 283 adaudi@africa-online.net

2 Aaron K.H. Kachimera

Principal Extension Methodology Officer

Kasungu ADD P/Bag 28 Kasungu 0999 326 054

3 Abiel Banda President Farmers Union of Malawi

Box 30457 01 750 222 / 0888 898 136 abiel.banda@yahoo.com

4 Alhaji Rasheed

Station Manager Nkhotakota community Radio Station

P/Bag 48 Nkhotakota 01 292 388 / 0999 628 176 nkkcommradio@yahoo.com

5 Andrew Mahiyu

Communications Officer

NASFAM Box 30716 Lilongwe 3 01 772 866 / 0999 312 515 amahiyu@nasfam.org

6 Benson Nkhoma Somba

Projects Manager Galaxy Media Consulting

Box 80178 Blantyre 8 0999 551654 bnkhomasomba@yahoo.com

7 B. P. Chikabadwa

Chief Agricultural Extension Officer

Department of Agriculture Extension Services

Box 30145 Lilongwe 3 01 752 143 / 0999 302 862 ems@gmail.com

8 Clodina Chowa

Deputy Director Extension Methodologies and systems

Department of Agriculture Extension Services

Box 30145 Lilongwe 3 01 750 379 / 0999 952 224 chowaclod@yahoo.co.uk emsbranch@gmail.com

9 Caroline Nkhoma

Agriculture Communications Officer

Mzuzu ADD Box 131 Mzuzu 0999 101 070 carolinenkhoma@yahoo.co.uk

10 Catherine Mthinda, Dr.

Lecturer Bunda College Box 219 Lilongwe 0999 949 388 cmthinda@bunda.unima.mw

11 Charles Mthepeya

Radio Officer Department of Agriculture Extension Services

Box 594 Lilongwe 0999 264 379 charlomthepheya@yahoo.com

12 Chris S. Khonje

Programme Manger Mzuzu ADD Box 131 Mzuzu 0999 930 266 chrisskhonje@gmail.com

13 Charles Masangano, Dr.

Head of Extension Department

Bunda College Box 219 Lilongwe 01277 399 cmasangano@bunda.unima.mw

14 Charles Vimtulla

Reporter Malawi Broadcasting

Box 162 Lilongwe

26

Corporation 0888 851 007 / 0995 351 007 cvimtulla@yahoo.com

15 Clare Likagwa

Research Assistant Farm RadioInternational

Box 30268 lilongwe 3 01 771 561 / 014 clara@wuscmw.org clare.likagwa@afrri.net.org

16 Chitima Munthali

Sound Engineer Zodiak Broadcasting Station

P/Bag 312 Lilongwe 3 0888 866 401

17 Daniel Manyowa

Media Consultant Independent media consultant

Box 150 Mchinji 0999 626 061 danielmanyowa@yahoo.com

18 Diedrichs J. Matewere

Radio Officer Kasungu ADD P/Bag 628 Kasungu 0999 137 284 / 01 253 408

19 David Boston Kamchacha, Dr.

Director- Inputs, Outputs, Market Development

FANRPAN P/Bag x813 silverton 0127, Pretoria S.A. 0027823759506 / 0027 128459100 kamchachadavid@yahoo.com d.kamchacha@cgiar.org

20 E. P. Ching’amba, Dr.

Programme Manager Lilongwe ADD Box 259 Lilongwe 0888 842 671 epchingamba@yahoo.co.uk

21 Everesi Kayanula

Team Leader- AFRRI Malawi Broadcasting Corporation

Box 30133 Chichiri Blantyre 3 0888 850 307 / 01 917 976 everesbanda@yahoo.co.uk

22 Edward Mponda

Information, Education and Communication Specialist

Community Based Rural Land Development Project

Box 1903 Blantyre 0999 951 512 cjkharapuwa@africa-online.net

23 Excello Zidana

Radio Programmes Officer

Department of Agriculture Extension Services - ACB

Box 594 Lilongwe 0999 226 261 excello1962@yahoo.com

24 E. Mlolongo Secretary Department of Agriculture Extension Services

Box 30145 Lilongwe 3 0888 302 817 mlolongo@yahoo.com

25 Freda L. Kayuni

Deputy Director –AGRESS

Department of Agriculture Extension Services

Box 30145 Lilongwe 0995 127 177 flkayuni@yahoo.co.uk

26 Fallys Masambuka

Communications Officer

Department of Agriculture Extension Services

Box 30145 Lilongwe 0888 379 276 fallymasambuka@yahoo.co.uk

27 Frank Kamanga

Chief Economist – Planning Department

Ministry of Agriculture &Food Security

Box 30134 Lilongwe 3 frankamanga@yahoo.com

28 Felister Bodzalekani

Agriculture Communications Officer

Kasungu ADD P/Bag 28 Kasungu 0999 173 636 felibodza@yahoo.co.uk

29 George J. Magai

Country Director CNFA/ RUMARK Box 31290 Lilongwe 3

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01 752 880 / 0999 890 475 gmagai@cnfamw.org

30 Gladson Makowa

Media &Communications Manager

Story Workshop P/Bag 266 Blantyre 01 821 335/ 657 / 0888 208 130 gladson@africa-online.net

31 Gilbert Malota

Agricultural Communications Officer

Shirevalley ADD P/Bag 1 Ngabu 0999 301 368 gilbertmalota@yahoo.com

32 George Kapelemera Phiri

Chief Agriculture Extension Officer

Lilongwe ADD Box 259 Lilongwe 0999 576 818 geokapelemera@yahoo.co.uk

33 Getrude Kalinde Thaulo

Programme Manger Machinga ADD P/Bag 3 Liwonde 01 542 451 / 0888 873 931 kalindethaulog@yahoo.com

34 Giestome M.C. Mbibzi

Radio Officer Department of Agriculture Extension Services- ACB

Box 594 Lilongwe 0884 263 533 giestomembubzi@yahoo.com

35 George M. Jobe

Project Director Mudziwathu Community Radio Station

Box 207 Mchinji 01 242 483 inmyvillageradio@yahoo.com

36 G. M. Banda Project Officer Agriculture Youth Network (AYONET)

Box 4008 Blantyre 0888 333 912 munawalah@yahoo.com

37 Grace Malindi, Dr.

Director Department of Agriculture Extension Services

Box 30145 Lilongwe 0888 506 440 gmalindi@gmail.com

38 Harris A.N. Katete

Agriculture Communication Officer

Blantyre ADD P/Bag 379 Chichiri Blantyre 3

39 Hardwick Tchale, Dr.

Agricultural Economist World Bank Box 30557 Lilongwe 3 0995 746 647 htchale@worldbank.org

40 Hilda Jambo Station Mangeress Dzimwe Community Radio Station

P/Bag 4 Monkeybay 0888 523 042 / 01 587 728 hili@yahoo.com

41 Ireen Linje Secretary Department of Agriculture Extension Services

Box 30145 Lilongwe 0995 849 924 ireenlinje@yahoo.com

42 Joshua Kambwiri

Regional Controller Malawi Broadcasting Corporation

Box 162 Lilongwe 0999 600 162 jkambwiri@hotmail.com

43 Joseph Jiya Agriculture Communication Officer

Machinga ADD P/Bag 3 Liwonde 01 542 410/ 0999 286 382

44 Jacob Paul Mapemba

Country Director & AFRRI NAC member

World University Service of Canada

Box 30268 Lilongwe 3

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01771 561/014 / 0888 835 768 jacob@wuscmw.org

45 James Banda Deputy Director- Land Management &Training

Land Resources Conservation Department

Box 30291 Lilongwe 3 0999 228 375 greencatjack@yahoo.co.uk

46 Jerome Chim’gonda Nkhoma

Chief Agricultural Communication Officer

Department of Agriculture Extension Services - ACB

Box 594 Lilongwe jeronkhoma@yahoo.co.uk jeromemorai@yahoo.co.uk

47 Jacqueline Juma

Sales Representative Monsanto Malawi Box 30050 Lilongwe 0999 964 087 jacqueline.juma@monsanto.com

48 Joyce Ng’oma

AFRRI Board Member & Freelance journalist

Box 5038 Limbe 0999 922 834 / 01 918 038 dlwchirwa@yahoo.com

49 Lawrent Pungulani

Chairman- Technology Transfer

Chitedze Research Station

Box 158 Lilongwe 01 707 219/ 0888 386 849 lawrentp@yahoo.co.uk

50 Levi Zeleza Manda

Lecturer Polytechnic P/Bag 303 Chichiri Blantyre3 0888 851 486 admanda2002@yahoo.com

51 Lyod Chingwalu

Radio Officer Salima ADD P/Bag 1 Salima 0999 149 769

52 Moses Majiga

Sound Engineer Zodiak Broadcasting Station

P/Bag 312 Lilongwe 3 0999 313 896 mosesmajiga@yahoo.com

53 Mufunanji Magalasi, Dr.

Senior Lecturer –Drama & Development Media

Chancellor College Box 280 Zomba 01 524 222 / 0999 338 707 mmagalasi@chanco.unima.mw

54 Marvin Hanke

Director Audio Clinic Productions

Box 2931 Blantyre 0888 834 787 marvinhanke@yahoo.com

55 Mike Chigowo

Economist Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development

P/Bag 311 Lilongwe 3 628 065 / 0884 153 101 chigowo@yahoo.com

56 Miriam Chikoma

Radio Officer Agriculture Communications Branch

Box 594 Lilongwe 0999 398 880 / 0884 429 983 chikomirie@yahoo.com

57 Martha Bvumbwe

Chief Agriculture Extension Officer

Karonga ADD P/Bag 4 Karonga 0999 246 946 / 0888 505 196 maritakachali@yahoo.com

58 Mathias Manyeka

General Manager Zodiak Broadcasting Station

P/Bag 312 Lilongwe 3 0999 961 733

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mmanyeka@yahoo.com 59 Marlin

Kayira Programme Manager Salima ADD P/Bag 1

Salima 0999 102 455/ 01 263 203 marlinkausi@yahoo.co.uk

60 Monica Matumbi

Radio Officer Blantyre ADD P/Bag 379 Blantyre 0888 875 769 / 0999 875 769 cmmatumbi@yahoo.com

61 Margaret B. Lwanda

Deputy Director Department of Agriculture Extension Services-

Box 30145 Lilongwe 0999 570 589 margielwanda@yahoo.com

62 M.J. Machera

Department of Agriculture Extension Services-

Box 30145 Lilongwe 0999 432 767

63 Mphatso Dakamau

Economist Farmers Union of Malawi

Box 30457 Lilongwe 3 099 9 157 078/088 8 517 784 mphadakamau@yahoo.com

64 Dr.Martine Ngobo

Senior Research Manager

Farm Radio International

C/o IITA-HFC Box 2008(Messa) Yaounde Cameroon 237-99 811 389 mngobo@farmradio.org

65 Noel Sodzapanja

Radio Programmes Officer

Dept. of Agri. Extension Services

Box 594 Lilongwe 099 9 377 338 Noel.sodzapanja@yahoo.com

66 Nick Stans Shawa

Research Systems Specialist

American Institute for Research (FVR)

C/o Box X299 Post Dot Net, Crossroads, Lilongwe 099 9 250 524/01 922 524 nshawanicholas@yahoo.com

67 Numeri C. Geresomo

Lecturer in Human Nutrition

Bunda College Box 219 Lilongwe 099 9 335 199/088 8 867 714 Numeri6@yahoo.com

68 Owen Lupesya

Projects Officer Zodiak Broadcasting Station

P/Bag 312 Lilongwe 01 726 724/088 8 729 684 lupesya@yahoo.co.uk

69 Dr. Patrick Mviha

ADARS DARS Box 307779 Lilongwe 099 9 117 320 patrickmviha@yahoo.com

70 Pilirani Chimutu

Station Supervisor Mudziwathu Community Radio

Box 207 Mchinji 099 9 105 768 piliranichimutut@yahoo.com inmyvillageradio@yahoo.com

71 Phideria Negece-Moyo (Mrs)

Chief Irrigation Officer Department of Irrigation

Box 30797 Lilongwe 3 01 752 122/088 8 857 731 phiderianegece@yahoo.co.uk

72 Patricia Linda

Agricultural Comm. Officer

Min. of Agriculture (LADD)

BOX 259 Lilongwe

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Yadidi 099 9 279 414 Patricia.yadidi@yahoo.com

73 Perrina B. Phewa (Mrs)

Agricultural Communication Officer

Salima ADD P/Bag 1 Salima 099 9 343 881

74 Rex Chapota AFRRI National Research Coordinator

Farm Radio International

Box 30268 Lilongwe 099 9 899 489 rchapota@farmradio.org

75 Rex J.S. Tolani

Social Development Specialist

IRLADP P/Bag A 192 Lilongwe 099 9 833 709/088 8 688 657 rjtolani@yahoo.co.uk rextolani@irladp.org

76 S.A.Kamanga

DCO Shire Valley ADD P/Bag 1 Ngabu 088 8 320 880 Kamanga.agrrey@yahoo.com

77 Smith Likongwe

Director of Programs Story Workshop P/Bag 266 Blantyre 01 821 335/657 088 8 846 485 smith@africa-online.net

78 Steven R. Chikwakwa

Radio Officer Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security

P/Bag 1 Ngabu 01 427 211/088 8 611 837

79 Simeon B. Mawindo

Country Representative American Institute For Research (AIR)

Box 1100 Zomba 088 8 844 559 smawindo@air.org

80 S. D. Chihana

Ag. PM KRADD KRADD P/Bag 4 Karonga 099 9 279 846 sdchihana@yahoo.co.uk

81 Samson W. Munthali

Sales Representative Monsanto Malawi Ltd

Box 30050 Lilongwe 3 099 9 11 573 Samson.munthali@monsato.com

82 Dr. S. Khaila Chairperson AFRRI NAC

Bunda College Box 219 Lilongwe 099 9 930 235 khailas@bunda.unima.mw

83 Vincent M. Wandale

Principal Agribusiness Officer

MOAFS Box 30145 Lilongwe 3 099 9 315 802 vincentwandale@yahoo.com

84 Watson Maloya

Coordinator AFSAG Box 123 Blantyre 099 3 152 308 watsonmaloya@yahoo.com

85 Willie Mwakalinga

Association Secretary Mushroom Growers Association of Malawi

Box 23 Mzuzu 088 8 121 310 healthadvocacy@yahoo.com

86 Yasini Watch Chitsonga

Agricultural Communication Officer

Karonga ADD P/Bag 4 Karonga 099 9 799 702

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