1. Linking farmers’ access to rural radio,
gender and livelihoods:
case study of rice processors in Benin
Espérance Zossou
PhD Student, Rural Economy for Development, ULg, Gembloux Agro-Bio-Tech
Simplice Vodouhè, Paul Van Mele,
Philippe Lebailly
Third IAALD Africa Chapter Conference
21st May 2012 – 23rd May 2012
EMPERORS PALACE, JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA

2. Outline
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Results & Discussions
4. Conclusion

3. Outline
• Introduction
• Methodology
• Results & Discussions
• Conclusion

4. 1. Introduction
• Benin is a sub-Saharan
African developing country
that has noted a growth of
rural radio stations over the
past few decades as part of
a broader process of
democratisation

5. 1. Introduction
• Traditional roles of disseminating technologies are
proving insufficient in today’s global context
• Benin is characterized by rurality (58% pop) and
where 66.4% of the population is illiterate
• Thus, rural radio appeared more appropriate as
they broadcast in the local language =>
• Opportunity research-extension-farmer linkages
• This study investigates interactions between
access to rural radio, gender & livelihood assets.

6. Outline
• Introduction
• Methodology
• Results
• Conclusion

7. 2. Methodology
• The study was conducted in north & south Benin
• We interviewed 18 rural radio station staff
• We then interacted with rice processors in 12
villages (6 north & 6 south) randomly selected
• Qualitative data collection (focus groups)
• Quantitative data collection: randomly selection
240 rice processors (20 per village) for
individually interview

8. 2. Methodology
• Sustainable livelihood approach (SLA)
– Alternative to new questions in poverty analysis (monetary)
– Capabilities, assets, goods & activities necessary to welfare
– sustainability => adaptation to difficulties, adversity, without
compromising natural resources base & future generations
– Theoretical framework = multiples dimensions: economic, social,
cultural & institutional welfare

9. 2. Methodology
• Then SL framework with 120 randomly selected
processors (10 per village) from 240 to get each
rice processor’s capital stocks
• The respondents rated their capital stocks
identified for the surveyed year on a 0-5 scale
• Spider diagram to visualize the 5 capitals with 0
value (no stock) at the centre & value 5 (full
satisfaction ) at the other extreme of the axe.
• Median & Mann Whitney test for differences
visible men / women & listen to / not listen to

10. Outline
• Introduction
• Methodology
• Results & Discussions
• Conclusion

11. 3.1 Rural media and agriculture

12. 3.1 Rural radio and agriculture
• 72% rural radios have institutional contracts with
Ministry Agriculture for broadcasts on agriculture
• 40% monthly programs relate to agriculture &
environment
• Rural radio stations broadcasts on development
issues with local & international NGOs
• Broadcasts on agriculture are deferred or live
• Live broadcasts often interactive => opportunity
to famers to call & intervene by phone

13. 3.1. Rural media and agriculture
Characteristics of radio stations visited during the survey
Denomination Localisation Type of rural radio Estimated people
reached
Plateau FM Pobè, South-Benin Private/commercial 629 881
FM Alakétou Kétou, South-Benin Community 1.345.803
Radio Adja-Ouèrè Adja-Ouèrè, South-Benin Private/commercial -
La voix de la Vallée Adjohoun, South-Benin Community 284 213
Ahémé FM Possotomè, South-Benin Community 554 478
Mono FM Lokossa, South-Benin Private/commercial 483 946
La voix de Lokossa Lokossa, South-Benin Private/commercial -
Couffo FM Azovè, South-Benin Private/commercial -
Radio rurale de Lalo Lalo, South-Benin Public 555 662
Radio Tonassé Covè, South-Benin Private -
Radio rurale Ouaké Ouaké, North-Benin Public 33 695
Radio rurale Tanguiéta Tanguiéta, North-Benin Public 163 108
Nanto FM Natitingou, North-Benin Community 68 869
Kuffè FM Bassila, North-Benin Community 126 379
Nonsina FM Bembereke, North-Benin Community 474 174
Kandi FM Kandi, North-Benin Community 140 640
Bani Ganse Banikoara, North-Benin Public 179 769
Fara’a Gya, North-Benin/Niger Pricate/commercial -

14. 3.1 Rural radio and agriculture
• Extension services criticised for failing to reach
majority farmers & communicate successfully in
developing countries (Chapman et al., 2003)
• Local extension agents think rural radio can help
them to reach millions of illiterate farmers
• Partnerships farmers-extension-research can
help to develop new knowledge, skills & attitudes
towards collaborative learning
• Requires efforts as communicating agriculture
involves multiple skills & positive mindset
towards working with farmers.

15. 3.1 Rural radio and agriculture
• Main constraints rural radio
stations expressed are:
– Need for capacity building on
agricultural subjects and
– Insufficiency of agricultural
research material: broadcast
scripts on agricultural subjects
• Van Mele et al. (2010)
presents some ways farmer-
to-farmer videos can
strengthen radio
broadcasters knowledges

16. http://www.africarice.org/africarice/guide-video.asp

17. 3.2 Rice processors’ access to rural
radio

18. 3.2 Rice processors’ access to
rural radio
• In survey sample mostly women (67%), illiterate
(87% women & 53% of men), married, with 8
persons on average in the household
• 87% of men compared to 66% of women have
their own radio set
• Main reason not have own radio set = lack of
financial resources for men and indeed the
household literate will appropriate it for women
• Majority of those who did not have their own
radio set listened to the radios of their parents

19. 3.2 Rice processors’ access to rural radio
Figure 1: Level of rice processors access to radio
according to gender
• Men & women have good
access to radio
• Men have more access to the
radio compared to women
• Reason: more men have their
own radio sets
Figure 2: Frequency with which rice processors listen to
• More men than women listen to radio broadcasts in general
rural radio broadcasts daily
• Reason: men are more owners
of radio sets & less occupied in
rural area than women
(domestic activities)

20. 3.2 Rice processors’ access to rural radio
Figure 3: Frequency with which rice processors listen to
rural radio program on agriculture
• No real gender differences with
regard to listening to agricultural
broadcasts
• Major reason rarely/never listen
to agriculture program =
schedules inappropriateness
• Appropriate time proposed = 8-
9 pm because busy whole day Figure 4: Reasons why rice processors rarely or never
listen to radio program on agriculture
• Radio & development agents
may consider this major problem
• This will enable more farmers to
listen to radio programs
• Majority think programs are
interesting

21. 3.3 Radio programs on agriculture,
gender and livelihood assets

22. 3.3 Radio programs on agriculture, gender and
livelihood assets
• Focus group for description 5
capitals highlighted:
– Financial capital: incomes; activity
extend; access to formal & informal
MFI; rate of saving; & financial
resources
– Social capital: working in groups;
relation with local authorities &
development agents, cohesion ,
solidarity and information exchange.
– Human capital: knowledge, health,
happiness and skill
– Natural capital: Forest, hydrological
resources, cultivated land & climate
– Physical capital: communication
equipments, roads, drinking water,
hospitals and public services

23. 3.3 Radio programs on agriculture, gender
and livelihood assets
• Rice processors who often Capital stocks recorded for rice processors according to
listen to and not listen to rural radio program on agriculture
listen to radio program on
agriculture have better
financial, social & human
capital comparing to those
who rarely/never listen to
• Participatory Radio
Campaigns are widely listened
to and can have a significant
measurable impact on
knowledge and practice in
farming communities (Hambly
Odame, 2003)
• Future studies will need to be
F = Financial Capital, S = Social Capital, H = Human
made for real impact Capital, N = Natural Capital, P = Physical Capital. a =
Mann Whitney test significant (p≤0.05); b = non significant

24. 4. CONCLUSION
• Rural radio can be an extension tool to reach
millions of illiterate farmers and to provide them
with information relating to all aspects of
agricultural production, processing and marketing
in a language they understand.
• But most rural radio stations expressed their
concerns that they did not have sufficient
knowledge of agriculture in order to deliver
appropriate messages.

25. 4. CONCLUSION
• Although partnerships with government staff from
research and extension services partly helped to
address this, interactivity with farmers needs to
be revised (broadcasts between 8-9 pm (after
office hours).
• But most rural radio stations expressed their
concerns that they did not have sufficient
knowledge of agriculture in order to deliver
appropriate messages.

26. 4. CONCLUSION
• Expertise could be equally drawn from other
sources, such as from farmers within their own or
other rural communities, and from farmer-to-
farmer training videos.
• Future efforts need to seek synergies between
various media.
• Access Agriculture is a new initiative that
addresses these challenges by building farm-
relevant knowledge among multiple rural service
providers.

27. Acknowledgements
• This study has been financed by the Belgian
Technical Cooperation (BTC), the International
Foundation for Science (IFS) and the Government
of Japan through AfricaRice
• We are grateful to Felix Houinsou for his support
during the field research & all surveyed farmers
• We are grateful to the CTA that kindly supported
my participation to this conference

28. Espérance ZOSSOU
Email: benezos@yahoo.fr / esperancezossou@gmail.com