ICARDA Caravan 18/19

Spreading the Message

Communication is the key to the implementation of new ideas and research methods. The latest challenge has been in Afghanistan. Experienced ICARDA communications staff traveled to the country to gather first-hand information and images as well as to implement communications projects in the country, such as the Afghan Radio Project.

Afghan Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MOAL), H.E. Mr Sayed Hussain Anwari, cuts the ribbon on the Ministry's refurbished recording studio, assisted by Dr Nasrat Wassimi (right), Executive Manager of ICARDA's Kabul office, and Mr Amir Muhammad Safi (left), head, MOAL communication section, on 11 September 2003 in Kabul.

The ICARDA communications center is a bilingual facility possessing a full complement of technology and staff expertise for a wide array of media activities. Regular publications in Arabic and English include "The Week at ICARDA," "ICARDA Annual Report," "Caravan: Review of Agriculture in the Dry Areas," internal documents, scientific papers, feature articles and numerous press releases. Many documents are produced entirely in-house, from translation and typesetting to printing and binding. Publications are distributed in both hard copy and electronically to media agencies throughout the world. The Center maintains an information-rich website (), which includes a sub-site specifically devoted to Afghanistan.

Communications activities of the Future Harvest Consortium to Rebuild Agriculture in Afghanistan have included regular reports to USAID, photographs, press releases, posters, brochures, radio programs, videos, contacts with media outlets in Kabul, articles in "The Week," and "Caravan," multi-media presentations, and websites, all using up-to-date digital technology.

Agriculture Minister H.E. Mr Sayed Hussain Anwari (right) is interviewed by Mr Enayat Safi in the Ministry's refurbished studio. Mr Safi produces a weekly radio program for farmers, funded by the ICARDA-led Future Harvest Consortium.

Ag Radio Reaches Out to Afghan Farming Families

Under the Taliban, radio broadcasts were limited to "the Voice of Shariat." There was no music and not much opportunity for independent, creative programming that responded to the needs of the audience. Partly due to the low literacy rate of only 31%, Afghans mostly depend on the radio for information, entertainment and their connection to other provinces and the central government. Radio remains the most popular and effective media in the country.

Two decades of conflict have left Afghan farmers far behind the rest of the world when it comes to new technologies, improved crop varieties, and agronomic methods. Farming families need the latest information on how to improve their operations. To address this need, communications experts organized a five day workshop in Kabul on Agricultural Journalism. Radio reporters from 13 provinces visited agricultural research stations along with progressive local producers of vegetables, poultry and dairy projects. Instruction was provided in basic journalism, interview techniques, and creative production. ICARDA/Kabul staff provided agricultural expertise along with representatives from the Afghanistan Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Topics ranged from water management to fertilizer application and genetics.

Farmers being interviewed for “Dialogue in Agriculture” radio program in Kabul.

Each participant selected a specific topic, conducted interviews with appropriate agricultural resource people and wrote a 3-minute script that was recorded on CDs. At the conclusion of the workshop, the reporters were presented with 17 broadcast-ready programs to take back to their home radio stations. The programs, recorded in Dari and Pashto, were entitled "Dialogue in Agriculture."

Reporters upgraded their knowledge of agriculture and quality standards for production. As the media becomes more self-confident, reporters will be able to practice journalistic values and raise standards and audience development. Farmers will also benefit from increased access to useful information on agriculture to improve their crop yields.