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
Grow Oil Palm Mushrooms the Ghanaian Way
Tropical farmers in many parts of the world are learning about the benefits of growing mushrooms. Mushrooms do not take up much space, they taste good, and they are a good source of protein. Here is a way to grow one type of mushroom: Oil palm mushrooms, also known as paddy straw mushrooms (Volvariella volvacium)…
Trees reduce damage from droughts and floods
Droughts and floods are a regular part of life for many farmers. You cannot stop such disasters by yourself. But you can reduce the damage they cause if you plant and protect trees. In many parts of the world, trees are being cut down faster than they are being replanted. People cut down trees to…
Catch All the Rain that Falls on your Roof
Did you know that your roof can catch a lot of water for you? The first few rains of the season may be all your area will get for the whole year. But if you can catch all the rain that falls on your roof you will have water for your gardens and fields, your…
Grow Food Cheaply by the Roadside
How can you grow food in the city if you do not have any land? All around you there are only houses and buildings, roads and traffic. But take another look at those roads. Is there land beside them? Often there is. And often nobody is using it. Why not grow food beside a road? …
Produce Clean, Safe Milk
Is the milk we get from our animals always safe to drink? The answer, unfortunately, is no. Milk spoils easily. And sometimes milk can carry diseases. There are two steps in making sure the milk you get from your animals is wholesome. One is to keep the milking process absolutely clean. The second way is…
Foliar Fertilizer Strengthens Crops
Many farmers grow healthier crops by using fertilizers. Fertilizers feed plants with nutrients to make them stronger. Usually fertilizers are mixed in with the soil and enter the plant through the roots. But there is another type of fertilizer called “foliar” fertilizer which is applied to the leaves of the plants instead of to the…
Neem Protects Stored Grain
Using neem leaves is a simple, no‑cost way to keep insect pests out of the baskets, sacks, bins and pots where you keep your grain. Farmers in India and other places where neem trees grow have been using neem leaves to protect stored grain for centuries. Put a thin layer, about 1 1/2 centimetres, of…
VITA Volunteers in Technical Assistance: Safe Food Storage Part 2
VITA stands for Volunteers in Technical Assistance. It is a private, U.S. nonprofit organization that supports people working on technical problems in developing countries. With information and other assistance, VITA helps individuals and groups select and implement technologies appropriate to their situations. Today’s topic is safe food storage, and we will be offering listeners information…
VITA Volunteers In Technical Assistance: Safe Food Storage Part 1
VITA stands for Volunteers In Technical Assistance.It is a private, U.S. nonprofit organization that supports people working on technical problems in developing countries. With information and other assistance, VITA helps individuals and groups select and implement technologies appropriate to their situations. Today’s topic is safe food storage, and we will be offering listeners information about…
Save Soil on Sloping Fields
Conserve soil on sloping maize fields by digging ditches along the contours and filling them with maize stalks. The ditches stop soil from washing away and the soil and maize stalks make a compost which improves soil quality. This method also helps control white grubs. Losing soil is a problem for farmers who must plant…