Week 2: How do you report on the effects of climate on farming in your broadcasts? What are farmers saying?

Archived English Discussions Agriculture and Climate Change
#1

Hello everyone,

This is week 2 of or discussion on agriculture and climate change. In the previous week we were getting to know each other better. If you have just joined us, you are welcome to introduce yourself in Week 1: Introduction and icebreaker topic.

This week, we will deal with how you as broadcasters report on the effects of climate on farming in your broadcasts. We would also like to know what farmers are saying.

According to a new United Nations report, climate change and El Niño had a strong influence on natural disasters in 2015. The report says both the number and intensity of droughts, floods and other weather-related hazards around the world has intensified.

The U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction says 32 major droughts were recorded in 2015. This is more than double the 10-year annual average. The impact was particularly serious in sub-Saharan Africa and continues to be felt this year as well.

Debarati Guha-Sapir is the director of the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. Guha-Sapir says: “Over 50 million people are now affected. This will get worse in 2016. We are going to face a humanitarian disaster in 2016 and there will be a movement of population of migration.”

Africa last recorded severe drought in 2011, when a lack of rain in the Horn of Africa displaced about 12 million from their homes, and killed an estimated 260,000 people in Somalia.

Guha-Sapir warns droughts are the disasters that have the most persistent impact on human development.

Guha-Sapir adds: “Drought leads to severe malnutrition in small children and severe malnutrition of small children leads to their deaths within four to six weeks." Early warnings of the disaster in 2011, but governments did not pay attention.

In light of such news:

  1. How do you, as a broadcaster, currently report on the effects of climate on farming?

  2. What have you, as broadcasters, noticed from your interactions with farmers about farmers’ understanding of climate changes and how it affects their lands, access to water, crops, animals…etc?

  3. As broadcasters, where do you go to get the best and most up-to-date information on climate change for your listening audience?

Click on reply to respond to the questions above or share your experiences.

Cheers

#2

As a broadcaster, I have been reporting effects of Climate change on farming using various approaches. These include: news reporting, programme qua programme inserts, jingles and spots, public enlightenment and service announcements, stints and testimonials.
From my interactions and observations with the farmers, they have not shown much interest and willingness in understanding the issues of climate change and how it affects their lands, access to water, crops and animals etc. They have only tried to adjust their practices to changes but have not taken much interest in what factors that are causing the changes. These are due to old held beliefs and superstitions. Most governments in Africa need to declare national state of emergency on Climate Change as most of them did with Ebola and Lassa fever. Until that is done the farmers may not take interest as soon as possible in climate change issues. They at worst will try to adapt to it but with enormous consequences on agriculture and its product.
For now Broadcasters get the information on Climate Change from the internet, NGOs working on climate change and related mandates, Ministries of Agriculture national and states, Ministries of Environment national and states, Metrological services departments at national or state levels, Conservation agencies, Universities and tertiary institutions with departments of Agriculture, Environment, etc. We as Broadcasters get information from Experts working independently or working for International Agencies like UNDP, USAID, AU, UK Aid, DFID, FAO, etc.

#3

Thank you Chris for sharing how you report and what farmers do about it. Clearly a lot needs to be done to make sure that farmers take note and find ways of dealing with climate change challenges.

Hopefully we will hear from other participants sharing their experiences

#4

Hi everyone,

After reading the Topic for Week 2 as provided by Busi, below are my responses.

Sorry, before i embark on the topic, i just wish to define in simple terms in my understanding what climate change is: From the the resources provided by Makerere University Climate Change Centre for Excellence, Climate Change are the changes that occur after a long period of time say; 30 years. These changes are noticed as things or strange things occurring as compared to what things were before that period (30 years). In the resources, it is noticed that if there were no floods for instance 30 years ago and now they occur or if there were no much insects like butter flies before and now they do occur, then one can say climate change has occurred. This is emphasized that changes occur after a long period of time which is estimated to be 30 years. When i read the resources further, i notice that climate change is already here with us, so the need to build capacities of people to be able to adopt to the changes. To adopt meaning: to put in place mechanisms to deal with the changes to continue surviving sustainably. It further indicates that occurrences of things are also noticed in extreme weather events like much rain causing floods, too much heat or sunshine and no rain for a long period of time. All these have effects on human nature, animals and other wild species, which require serious attention lest survival will end.

Now let me embark on the questions asked.

  1. How do you, as a broadcaster, currently report on the effects of climate on farming?

    I have identified some sources of information and also followed some activities done to deal with Climate Change in Uganda and beyond since Climate change is a global issue but affecting
    nations or people locally. More sources where i get info will be shared in question three down.

    However, a source like United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Climate Change/Environment Based Agriculture project that is working in the eastern part of Uganda (Mt. Elgon region) to build
    capacities of communities to be able to deal with climate change is used since it trains communities on how to use forests sustainable without depleting the natural cover/forests. They are supported with grants
    to engage in other income generating activities other than depending of trees or forests. They are also given seedlings for trees and fruits from which they are earning income other than depending on natural
    forests year in year out. Others are doing Apiary as another activity in the natural forests so that they continue utilizing them as another way to earn other than depending on only forests or trees.

    There is also another new activity by ECOTRUST- an Organization that is paying Carbon Farmers in the same Eastern (Mt. Elgon) region and Western region of Uganda. Here, farmers are identified, they are given
    grants to plant trees. This is termed as Carbon farming in that when trees grow they sack up the Carbon in the air, which Carbon causes green gases in the air since these gasses have effects on the earth making
    land unproductive and wasted since the gasses in the air form a canopy and rain will nor penetrate through so the earth remains hot and dry. With these no farming activity will be meaningful since farming or
    agriculture is supported by rain.

    I have also worked with small organizations and groups in Busoga region of Uganda who are planting trees, doing conservation agriculture using permanent basins-which are holes dug where seeds like; maize,
    beans and ground-nuts are planted. These keep water or moisture even in the dry seasons, plants can still do well. And this method is used with minimum tillage whereby the soil is not disturbed or opened and
    exposed to heat which makes it lose nutrients and becomes unproductive. In this i try to promote the modern methods of farming like conservation agriculture or SMART agriculture whereby i inform them about the
    good in rearing animals and birds whose wastes they can use as manure in their gardens or farms as a way of dealing with climate change or dealing with dryness and loss of soil fertility.

  I normally prepare by reading something bout the topic or issue i want to tackle, then plan the resources like money, batteries and airtime on my phone to make contacts with the source i want to interview. If i fail  
  to get transport facilitation, i normally make arrangements and call the source to either come to studio for a pre- recorded programme or for a live one. If i get money for transport, i go to sources and interview them 
  while recording, after which i get back to my station, listen through, edit, write a script and then package or voice a full programme or make short features for news which are aired in the agriculture and environment 
   programme slots or in the news slots which are aired on the Radio- Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) Radio as a way of educating the masses and informing them about climate change and the activities 
   that can be done to be able to adopt to it.

  1. What have you, as broadcasters, noticed from your interactions with farmers about farmers’ understanding of climate changes and how it affects their lands, access to water, crops, animals…etc?

    In my interactions with the farmers in both Kamuli and in Iganga districts in Uganda, they know that climate change has occurred since they see strange things or changes like too much rainfall and after a short
    period too much sunshine sets in! They also said they see changes in the planting seasons; that they used to have two planting seasons in a year that’s; between February and May then August and November.
    This has since changed as they say rains come late when the season is ending. When they plant food/sow seeds, on germination the rains stop and again sunshine sets in. The crops are affected or scorched
    with sunshine and no yield is got! So people experience hunger and famine.

    Another thing that i keenly noticed is; the people do not know the difference between climate change and weather. I remember reading in some resources that climate change occurs after a long period, weather
    is the average condition of a given day or for a particular day. For the farmers, everything that changes everyday like coldness in a certain day, when it threatens to rain, or there is much wind blowing for a single
    day they say that is climate change. This requires further explanations in the programmes presented.

    Further more, in the cattle corridor of Kamuli, Nakasongola and Soroti districts, the Cattle keepers and farmers say when there is too much flooding, the animals/ cattle fail to wade through to get pasture and
    also the pasture is covered with floods so the animals starve. They do not only starve but get infected with foot and mouth disease that claim a big number of their animals and even the crops are affected thereby
    making the cattle keepers and farmers make losses.

  2. As broadcasters, where do you go to get the best and most up-to-date information on climate change for your listening audience?

    I try to source information from so many sources but with a task of translating and transcribing the material or information for my local audience to understand in the local language they do understand better.
    All the same, below are some of the sources i usually contact to get information or material.

    (i) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Climate Change/Environment Based Agriculture and the NGOs they are working with
    (ii) Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Studies and their partners like REDD+ project
    (iii) Farmers and the old people who have lived for long
    (iv) Weather Experts in the Uganda Meteorological Authority
    (v) Climate Change Department in the Ministry of Water and Environment
    (vi) International conferences on Climate Change when they happen
    (vii) Research work done by researchers for example the Uganda National Academy of Science
    (ix) Some published work or books and other as they come.

#5

Dear colleagues.

You will forgive me for the bad characters that are appearing in my submission in line with Topic 2! I really do not know how they happen to appear that way. Also, i have realized that i used the word adopt to climate change instead of using the word adapt to climate change. Please note the word is Adapt not Adopt.

Thank you.

Sarah.

#6

1.I broadcast by using role models and real examples ie real people
and real situations

  1. Climate change has really affected the farmers in many ways, access
    to clean water, animal welfare and crops are failing because of lack
    of rainfall

  2. As a broadcaster, I always go to subject matter specialists on
    climate change and information from meteological services in our
    country

#7

Thank you Sarah @smawerere for sharing your experiences with regard to reporting on climate change. I like the fact that you started by explaining what climate change is all about and you went on in details responding to the questions posed.

I am sure experiences differ according to different regions. This maybe as a result of a lot of factors as some were mentioned here and by Christian @krizo

What do other people say?
@Nyangss, @Blackmagic @princeappiahgh @Kwamee_Kwame @Faustine @Peter_Balaba @Pauline_Kalumikiza_M @Jacqueline @pascalalex @Elisha_Adarkwah @Monica @shalom @wengo @Sarkodie_Gideon @jpeprah @David_L_Nalitolela @sakkie @Lamine @SammyRay22 @joern @MartinMwape @MATABA @Izack_Boniface @kasooha @Mwesimus @Asiki @Alexis @petsim @moses @Joseph @cpondelani @Susuma @Inno8 @blobmaster @Mathew_Philip_Bravo @Ismaila @shizho99 @RAY @Tidjane @natogmah @birhanu @Ajonobia @nebyam @Isma_ila_Dan-Muhamma @KEKLE @Gharos_Riwa @dabota @miopa

#8

As abroadcaster, I currently report on the effects of climate change through Radio features, news and recorded testimonies from the community.
From my interaction with farmers, I have noted that our really know what climate change is, some of its causes which they partly blame on themselves and on government’s inability to implement written laws that could have helped reduce the effects of climate change.They also feel the pitch especially because it has now changed the planting season, made planting timing unpredictable, poor harvest, and caused increased food insecurity due to severe drought, floods, delayed start of the rainy season.
I sometimes Google (like denmarkconference on climate 2015), consult with researchers at Universities, use documents from line Ministry, and use documents from meteorological department.

#9

Thank you @monica

What do farmers say about the climate change challenges? How do they respond to the reports?

#10

Hi Sarah

It is true sometimes people either blame themselves or the government even for issues beyond their control. Some resist change and do not want to adapt to current situations.

I would like to share some resources on agriculture and climate change. These might be helpful for broadcasters:

Raising goats to beat the drought in eastern Kenya: http://www.farmradio.org/radio-resource-packs/102-raising-guinea-fowl/raising-goats-to-beat-the-drought-in-eastern-kenya-2/

How farmers can adapt to a changing climate: http://www.farmradio.org/radio-resource-packs/package-89/how-farmers-can-adapt-to-a-changing-climate/

Breeding cows in a zero-grazing system can be a dual environmental solution: http://www.farmradio.org/radio-resource-packs/package-89/breeding-cows-in-a-zero-grazing-system-can-be-a-dual-environmental-solution/

Issue Pack: Awareness of climate change: http://www.farmradio.org/radio-resource-packs/package-89/issue-pack-awareness-of-climate-change/

Rural communities adapting to climate change in Benin http://www.farmradio.org/radio-resource-packs/package-88/rural-communities-adapting-to-climate-change-in-benin/

Cheers

#11

  1. Broadcasters reporting on the effect of climate change is very important as we struggle to adapt. We have the power to bring change to every aspect of the society. For example, media reports on a school in Ghana where children sat on the floor to learn made the government and Opposition scramble to be the one to solve the problem.In the end, the running mate of the largest opposition party who first heard the problem form the media paid a visit and contracted 500 desks for the kids, before that could come, government knowing it will be embarrassing to them rushed to provide these desks in just one day! What if we could to same to Climate Change issues?
    Personally, I report on climate change through Farming Programming and others such as news, flagship programs etc.

  2. Fortunately for me, the implementation of an FRI/GiZ Climate Change Adaptation project in 2014/15 has really given me an insight. From several interactions with farmers through Focus Group Discussions and interviews, farmers really have the knowledge and understanding of climate change its effects.
    Most farmers know that the major causes of climate change as deforestation and global warming. They do not know about other causes such green house effects etc.
    Secondly, they know that climate change affects soil water, fertility, rain patterns,brings drought, new plant and animal diseases, etc. It also dry up water sources, and make access to fertile land difficult.
    Apart from that, farmers also know that climate change causes windstorms,flooding, etc.
    The major thing that most farmers do not know is the best adaptation, strategies, Even though they have indigenous knowledge and practices of adaptation, they are not aware of scientific adaptation techniques.

  3. My best sources of climate change up-to-date information are international and local institutions on climate change, experts,farmers themselves, Agriculture officers.

1 Like
#12

Hi!

(1) As a broadcaster I used a recorded voice from different experts who are real knowing about climate change. The experts are from Universities who conducted a research about climate change or implement a projects about it, others are from farmers organization. There voice can be a direct interview which I conduct with them or from workshops which discuss the issue on climate change.

I also used various materials, farmers voice and songs to support the topic.

(2) Previously they were wondered to see their water resources became dried, the produce are not sweet like before, changes of rain seasons instead of cultivating three times per year they started to cultivate once per year, the land lost its fertility hence started to apply industrial manure… but soon after educating them why all this they are now aware of climate change and they cultivate alternative crops to adapt the situation.

(3) Through internet (reading various information), my fellows staff who attend workshops on climate change issues, researchers, government extension officers and listening to other programs based on climate issues issues.

That’s all Busi.

#13

Thank you Busi for the comments!

Thank you very much too for providing these resources from different countries and regions. I find them useful.

True, experiences differ according to different regions and what i have also discovered is; climate change affects regions or areas differently. What happens in Zambia may be different from what happens here in Uganda. Or what happens in Eastern Uganda may differ from what happens in Western Uganda. So approaches to address such also differ?

1 Like
#14
#15

Dear Colleagues,
How I report on Climate Change
The program I produce “News Hour,” gives update information daily on not only the weather pattern but also explains to the farmers the effects of climate change on farming. I have made sure with the entire team in the department we are on the lookout for any changes in the climate and subsequently asked the expert in meteorology to give an explanation for the benefit of the farmers.
In the one hour program we have a slot called the “District Focus” where we give a fore cast of which climatologists and agricultural officials are fond. We did well when we carried messages that Uganda was to experience Elinino rains from September 2015 to early 2016 and the farmers were not taken unawares at any cost.
I was privileged to attend a meeting late last year between UBC and Uganda Meteorology Authority during which both institutions signed to provide timely information on weather changes to the farmers; a two year renewable partnership and both organizations are keen on this issue.
Farmers Understanding of Climate Change
Most farmer have now come to understand that climate is having a negative impact on land, water , crops and their animals unlike in the past. Most of those I have spoken to especially from the hilly areas of Eastern Uganda after experiencing landslides, sweeping away their crops and animals now say it is effects of climate change. They tell me that they have also noticed in the reduction of streams flowing from the slopes of Mt. Elgon and that because the explanations they now understand. Majority are now heeding to the call to preserve the environment by planting trees.
There is also a shift in the cultivation and when we do a phone in program they are so eager to learn about land management and cultivation to the audience.
Up-to date information Climate Change
At my station we rely on information from the Uganda Meteorology Authority by the fact that we are in partnership which is broadcast everyday to the audience.
The Ministry of Water and Environment which also has a Climate Change Unit with all the information needed.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Industry.
Farmers’ organizations for example Uganda Farmers Federation among others are very crucial availing interviews to us including press briefings and statements on Climate Change.
Thanks

#16

Hello @Wandeba

Thank you for sharing. It is encouraging when the response from farmers is positive. It shows they need help and do not want to lose because of uncontrollable circumstances. If they cannot control a situation, at least they can adjust their practices.

I would like to share with everyone other examples of scripts on agriculture and climate change

Sekedo, a drought resistant sorghum for Karamoja:
http://www.farmradio.org/radio-resource-packs/package-84/sekedo-a-drought-resistant-sorghum-for-karamoja/

Livestock management practices to cope with climate change: http://www.farmradio.org/radio-resource-packs/package-84/livestock-management-practices-to-cope-with-climate-change/

Manure the magic worker http://www.farmradio.org/radio-resource-packs/package-84/manure-the-magic-worker/

Organic fertilizer within easy reach:
http://www.farmradio.org/radio-resource-packs/package-84/organic-fertilizer-within-easy-reach/

We are still expecting other participants to share their experiences too.
@Jacqueline @Sarkodie_Gideon @Ajonobia @Asiki @Alexis @Adebisi @Blackmagic @birhanu @blobmaster @Charles @clara @Felix @Faustine @Godfred @Ismaila @Izack_Boniface @Inno8 @Isma_ila_Dan-Muhamma @jpeprah @Joyce_Bigra @Joseph @Kwamee_Kwame @Lawal @muluberhe2 @MartinMwape @Nyangss @Nathaniel_Ofori @princeappiahgh @Peter_Balaba @Pauline_Kalumikiza_M @pascalalex @shalom @sakkie @SammyRay22 @tumchaz34 @Viola_Nuwaha @victorasumani @wengo @z

#17

Wow, I am sorry I came in late. Would organize myself and get back in the next few hours. Happy to be a part.
Kwamee Kwame. Thanks.

1 Like
#18

Thanks everyone. I may say am late but I can also say something on this topic. I try to emphasise on proper timing of seasons in my broadcast. And I sometimes teach farmers on how to use improved methods of farming which can reduce on the negative effects of climate change.

#19

@Mwesimus great that you teach farmers different methods of farming in relation to climate change but do they respond positively?

#20

@Busi majority respond positively but of course some say they are expensive. Talk of irrigation in times of drought among others.

1 Like