Throughout its implementation, the Communal Approach to the Agricultural Market in Benin Phase 2 (ACMA2) program has forged partnerships with local radio stations in rural areas of Benin to facilitate the project’s scalability and to ensure the empowerment of program participants in agricultural business clusters (ABCs).
Since 2016, 10 radio stations have widely contributed to the visibility of ACMA2 program activities. These stations include the Voice of the Valley in Ouémé, Alakétou, and Olokiki in Plateau; Radio Tonassé and Carrefour in Zou; and Illéma, Idadu, Ouèssè, Cité Savalou, and Ore Ofe of Tchètti in the Collines Department.
For six months in 2020, 788 programs were produced and broadcast on these radio stations. In 2021, this number increased to 998 programs. A variety of resources – interactive thematic programs, games, debates, theatre, etc. – have made it possible to disseminate information on good agricultural practices (GAPs) in the communities. Furthermore, the ACMA2 program utilizes radio to release the results of its activities in languages accessible to both direct and indirect agricultural value chain contributors.
“I have learned a lot, and I am happy about it. I was even able to benefit from the trainings that I could not attend directly, because they were relayed on the radio.”
Ogoudare Folaran is the president of the multi-stakeholder committee that manages the maize marketing infrastructure built by ACMA2 in Kétou. He has participated in many awareness-raising radio programs on warrantage. Folaran says, “Warrantage is a system that helps our producers store their products until the market reaches a satisfactory price. When the product is cheaper, instead of selling it at a loss, you put it in warrantage and use a loan to meet your needs. Afterwards, you can sell it when it is more valuable on the market, which allows you to get your money back and even make a little profit. We have done awareness programs on Radio Alakétu, through which we reach producers even outside our organizations. I can tell you that for this year’s warrantage campaign, many of them participated.”
We have done awareness programs on Radio Alakétu, through which we reach producers even outside our organizations. I can tell you that for this year’s warrantage campaign, many of them participated.
Ogoudare Folaran
In 2020, the media relayed the testimonies of project participants who managed to sell their products despite the closure of Nigeria’s borders. Many farmers learned that the closure was not a hindrance to the sale of their products, and they developed resilience strategies.
Kossou Satingo is an oil palm producer. He explains that the good practices shared by the ACMA2 program on the Voice of the Valley radio station have helped him to improve the quality of his product.
My palm nuts are strong and full of oil. Today, I know how to capture markets, and I can do so despite any obstacle.
Kossou Satingo
The cassava gari processors in Ouèssè, Collines Department, confirm that the radio broadcasts have attracted many new customers in the area. The processors have also improved the quality of their gari with support from the ACMA2 program. Pepper producers and fish farmers in Adjohoun, Ouémé Department, have used the information from the media in their decision-making. Because of the broadcasts’ promoting their products, their sales have multiplied.
“I have learned a lot, and I am happy about it. I was even able to benefit from the trainings that I could not attend directly, because they were relayed on the radio,” confided an ABC member.
