Backgrounders
Backgrounders are brief introductions to important and technical topics and Answers to frequently asked questions share key information on a topic.
Use this information to plan an episode or series of episodes on the topic, to prepare for an interview, or to answer questions from callers.
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- Agriculture
- Aquaculture
- Children and youth
- Climate change
- Community development
- Crop production
- Energy
- Environment and climate change
- Gender equality
- Health
- Hygiene and sanitation
- Land issues
- Livestock and beekeeping
- Marketing and market information
- Nature-based Solutions
- Nutrition
- Post-harvest activities
- Social issues
- Soil health
- Trees and agroforestry
- Water management
Banks open for small business
Today I’m going to ask you to use your imagination and dream a little. Imagine that you have the opportunity to borrow a small amount of money. Then think about how you could use this money to improve your business. If you are a farmer you might want to consider planting a new crop. For…
Woman Farmer Invents a Cassava Grinder
Olga Turner has farmed for many years in the Blue Mountain region of Jamaica. She grows over twenty herbs, fruits and vegetables on her two and half acre family plot. She works hard and makes good use of the resources she has on her farm. This has made her a successful farmer. Olga grows and…
Marie and Jean Thomas Grow Tropical Flowers in Coconut Husks
Tropical flowers are pretty, but often expensive. Even in tropical countries where the best growing conditions exist naturally, flowers are usually costly to grow and buy. But they do not have to be. Here is a story of two women in Jamaica who found ways to make a profit growing flowers. Their story is a…
Medicinal Plants Reduce Muscle Pains
Method 1: Garlic, ginger and hot pepper oil The first method requires garlic, ginger and hot peppers. These three foods contain oils which warm the skin, relax the muscles, and reduce pain. You will need one handful each of garlic, ginger and red chili peppers. Chop the garlic and ginger into tiny pieces, and crush…
Iodine: The Hidden Hunger
In some parts of the world, you see people with a swelling at the front of their necks. They rub the swelling with all sorts of things to make it go away. The trouble is, nothing works. And that is because the problem isn’t the swelling. The swelling is just a warning. The real problem…
Harvest Fresh Vegetables for Several Months
If you grow garden vegetables, then you know that gardening is a good way to save money and supply nutritious food for your family. Many garden vegetables can be planted over a period of two to three months. If you sow your seeds a few at a time over those months, you can harvest the…
Use Hot Peppers to Protect Stored Grain
Here’s an easy way to protect stored grain from insects such as weevils. This method is popular with farmers in the state of Bendel, in northern Nigeria. After you harvest your grains, dry them thoroughly. The grains should be dry enough so that when you bite them, they make a sharp cracking sound. If they…
Improve Manure to Make Better Fertilizer
If you are a farmer then you already know that by adding fertilizer to your soil you can increase yields and improve the quality of your crops. You can buy fertilizers that are made from chemicals. But you can also use things that you have around your home or farm to make your own fertilizer.…
Sunchokes Provide Food for People and Animals
Here’s news about a low work, perennial vegetable called a sunchoke (Helianthus tuberosus). That’s right, this is a perennial vegetable. That means that you don’t have to replant it every year – it seeds itself again and again. And it doesn’t need much care while it’s growing. All you have to do is reap the…