By Sulaiman Jalloh
On Thursday, 7th November 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in partnership with the Rural Finance and Community Improvement Programme engaged in a board induction workshop and rolling out of the rural farmers’ radio at YWCA, Brookfields, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Dr. Theresa Dick, the deputy minister 1, Ministry of Agriculture said that “the initiative is more than special. It is powerful tool for development — a platform that meant to amplify the voices of farmers in the region. Rural farmers radio is charitable non-profit making entity, committed to supporting farming for the betterment of the nation.” She added that that the radio will foster advocacy hence it will serve as a learning platform where farmers will channel their concerns and experiences.
According to Dr. Theresa, the radio will be gender balanced in terms of staffing and contribution since ‘it takes women and men to build a nation’. “Women should free to discuss challenging issue to bolster decision making in the agricultural sector,” she intimated. The deputy minister furthered that the mission is to make sure that radio RFM becomes the leading voice in agricultural broadcasting, prioritizing the agriculture, rural finance and climate change.
It is expected that the radio will serve as a trusted source of information making sure that it is free from misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information. Dr. Theresa noted that
the objectives of the radio will be among other things to educate farmers about farming techniques and sustainable practices.
Professor Adolphus Johnson of Njala University who chaired the program said that the launching of the radio was a step in the direction while recalling back in the 80s and in the 90s, saying the country used to export rice to other countries. “Therefore, the rolling out of rural farmers radio will create positive impact in the Agricultural sector,” he underscored
Alimamy Conteh, Director of Business Development at Apex Bank started by complementing the effort of the ministry of agriculture and rural finance and community improvement programme for their effort in realizing the feed Salone project that a reason RFM is put to action. As financial institution He dedicated their support to the feed Salone project and radio RFM. He said this is a step in the right direction inasmuch as the radio will bridge the gap between the people and decision makers. He said the idea of having a workshop to discuss issues around agriculture is good but having a radio platform that constantly inform people is better. Radio is effective because it will cover a wide range of farmers in different places and farmers will be chanced to give feedback. Mr. Alimamy said “information is very crucial especially when it has to do with the rural people. We believe that information is key for a transformative rural community.”
Khalil Kallon, Executive Secretary of the Independent Media Commission (IMC) gave a background of his institution, noting that the commission was created by an Act of Parliament with the mandate to register and regulate the mass media including to issue license. He noted that it is the right of every citizen to open a radio station as long as they don’t violate the IMC codes. He pointed out that it is the way to promoting freedom of speech in the country. “Despite the intervention of the new media, radio has remained the most impactful media to pass information particularly in rural areas where other forms of medium are often limited”, Mr. Kallon submitted.