FAO - AGRIC RADIO WORKSHOP

By CUG NEWS MEDIA

 

Mr. Benjamin Fiafor - Farm Radio Representative for both Ghana and Nigeria

  

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is set to improve agricultural extension services in Ghana by embracing the power of social media. Recognizing the challenges posed by the declining numbers of agric extension officers and the threat of zoonotic diseases like Ebola and avian influenza, which limit direct human interactions, MOFA is gearing up to introduce platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp to promote agriculture.

To kickstart this initiative, regional agricultural extension officers, Women in Agric Development (WIAD) representatives, and radio presenters from all 16 regions participated in a comprehensive five-day training program in Koforidua. The objective was to equip participants with the necessary skills to leverage social media in advancing agricultural communication and outreach efforts.

Madam Seli Dartey, a seasoned social media expert hailing from HSOS-UK, took the reins of the training sessions. Through practical demonstrations and hands-on exercises, participants learned how to harness the potential of platforms like Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram to amplify the reach and impact of the existing radio programs.

The integration of social media into agricultural extension services marks a significant step forward in the quest to disseminate valuable information to farmers across regions. By leveraging these platforms, stakeholders can ensure that crucial updates, best practices, and government initiatives like the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) 2.0 program reach even the most remote farming communities.

  During the workshop, Dr. Gabriel Owusu, a Director from the Agric Extension Directorate of MoFA, underscored the critical importance of stakeholder commitment to ensure the project's success. Dr. Owusu emphasized the alignment of objectives with the implementation of the E-Agriculture Policy and program, stressing the pivotal role of agricultural extension services in advancing food security and livelihoods.

 Furthermore, Mr. Benjamin Fiafor, Farm Radio Country Representative for both Ghana and Nigeria, shared insights into the creation of an interactive rural radio platform. This platform, comprising farmer groups, buyers and sellers, agricultural research specialists, policymakers, administrators, and extension providers, aims to facilitate communication and information-sharing among stakeholders in the agricultural sector. Mr. Fiafor emphasized the importance of radio in this initiative, highlighting its unique ability to bridge information gaps and empowers farming communities.

Participants expressed their satisfaction with the comprehensive training, recognizing its potential to positively impact all value chain actors, improve livelihoods, ensure food security, and contribute to the government's agricultural agenda. They highlighted the significance of the workshop in equipping them with enhanced interviewing skills to extract better answers from resource persons and farmer feedback, thereby strengthening the effectiveness of their radio programs.

 As radio programs are aired and content shared on various platforms, the collective efforts of FAO, Farm Radio, social media experts, and enthusiastic participants are poised to usher in a new era of sustainable agricultural development in Ghana. 

Participants returning to their respective regions armed with newfound knowledge and skills, the stage is set for a digital revolution in Ghana's agricultural sector. With social media as a powerful tool in their arsenal, MOFA, FAO, and their partners are poised to overcome barriers, enhance communication, and drive sustainable agricultural development across the nation.

By Adam Siaka

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF GHANA HOLDS HISTORIC VICE-CHANCELLOR HANDOVER CEREMONY

By CUG NEWS MEDIA
Image
  Fiapre, Sunyani – September 1, 2025 The Catholic University of Ghana (CUG) on Monday, September 1, 2025, officially marked the transition of its highest leadership office, as Professor Sir Daniel Obeng Ofori handed over the Vice-Chancellorship to Professor Mathew Glover Addo. The colourful ceremony at Lecture Theatre 2 (LT2) drew staff, students available on campus, university council members, and dignitaries from the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, underscoring the moment’s historic significance. In his farewell address, outgoing Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Daniel Obeng Ofori, who has served the institution with distinction for the past nine years, expressed deep gratitude to God, the university community, and the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference for their unwavering support throughout his tenure. With a mixture of humility and hope, he officially relinquished the headship of the university, expressing confidence in the leadership of his successor, Professor Mathew Glove...
Read more

Professor Matthew Glover Addo Assumes Office as New Vice-Chancellor of the Catholic University of Ghana

By CUG NEWS MEDIA
Image
  The Catholic University of Ghana (CUG), Fiapre, has welcomed a new era in its academic leadership with the appointment of Professor Matthew Glover Addo , a distinguished microbiologist and molecular biologist, as the new Vice-Chancellor. Professor Addo will officially take over office on Monday, September 1, 2025 , at a brief handing-over ceremony following a welcoming meeting with the University community. Later in the day, he will pay a courtesy call on the Bishop of Sunyani, who also serves as the Episcopal Moderator of the University. Born on May 2, 1965 , Professor Addo brings to CUG over 23 years of rich academic, research, and administrative experience at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and beyond. He is the immediate past Director of the Institute of Distance Learning at KNUST and a former Dean of the Faculty of Biosciences. His academic journey has taken him across Ghana, Norway, and France, where he earned multiple advanced degrees inclu...
Read more

BONO GJA AWARDS 2024: CELEBRATING JOURNALISM AS A TOOL FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT

By CUG NEWS MEDIA
Image
  The Bono and Ahafo Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has celebrated the region’s finest journalists at its third awards ceremony in Sunyani, where Daily Graphic correspondent Biiya Mukusah Ali emerged as the Overall Best Journalist of the Year 2024. The event, held under the theme “The Role of the Media as a Tool for Peace Building and Development in the Bono and Ahafo Regions,” brought together government officials, traditional leaders, members of the clergy, corporate partners, and the media fraternity. It was an evening that not only honored excellence but also reflected deeply on the responsibility of journalism in nurturing peace and development. In her keynote address, Mrs. Regina Benneh Siaw, Regional Chairperson of the Bono and Ahafo GJA, underscored the media’s crucial role as both a watchdog and an agent of social cohesion. She anoted that journalists in the region often face intimidation, harassment, and the growing challenge of misinformation, bu...
Read more