Making money safely during COVID-19

Agriculture

Notes to broadcasters

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For a project in Kenya, FRI produced a drama on making money safely, which is available here.

The questions in this document is designed to help broadcasters conduct interviews with farmers, farming experts, marketers, healthcare experts, and others about how farmers can make money safely during the current COVID-19 pandemic. They take into account the health risks of the coronavirus, and also the kinds of protective measures that governments have put in place—lockdowns, restrictions on mobility, market closures, border closures, and other strategies.

Script

1. How has COVID-19 and the restrictions related to COVID-19 affected farmers’ ability to make money?

a. Follow-up questions:

a.i. How have market closures affected farmers?
a.ii. How have restrictions on movement and gatherings affected farmers?
a.iii. How have disruptions in transport of farm produce affected farmers?
a.iv. How has the interruption of formal education affected farmers?

2. How can markets be made safer during COVID-19 to allow farmers to continue to earn their income safely?

a. Follow-up questions:

a.i. What advice should vendors and customers follow about masks and face coverings and keeping a safe distance at markets?

3. What other sales methods or marketing strategies can farmers use to continue to market their produce during COVID-19?

a. Follow-up questions:

a.i. If market access is limited, where else can farmers sell their produce?
a.ii. What strategies can farmers use to market their produce to new customers?

a.ii.1. How can farmers use online platforms such as WhatsApp groups to market and sell their produce?

a.iii. Can farmers deliver their products directly to consumers or ask consumers to pick up their order at the farm? What are the risks associated with these options and how can they be minimized?
a.iv. How can farmers use free delivery, proper packaging, branding, and pricing to help market their produce?
a.v. How can farmers practice good hygiene to increase the value of their produce?
a.vi. Can farmers take advantage of high prices available for organic or other kinds of premium products during COVID-19?

4. How can crop diversification help farmers continue to earn money safely during COVID-19?

a. Follow-up questions:

a.i. What are the environmental, nutritional, and economic benefits of crop diversification for farmers?
a.ii. How can crop diversification reduce farmers’ vulnerability to climate change?
a.iii. What are the benefits of growing indigenous vegetables?

5. How can rearing livestock help farmers make money safely during COVID-19?

a. Follow-up question:

a.i. Are there particular types of livestock, for example, chickens or small ruminants such as goats and sheep, that are particularly useful during periods of instability such as the pandemic and the restrictions designed to reduce infections?

6. How can farmers diversify their products to make money safely during COVID-19?

a. Follow-up questions:

a.i. What types of value-added goods can farmers produce with minimal capital?
a.ii. How can farmers market these kinds of products?
a.iii. Will producing these kinds of products allow farmers to sell in new markets? If so, what kind of markets?

7. What can farmers do to cope with shortages in farm labour because of COVID-19?

8. How can effective storage methods help farmers make money safely during COVID-19?

a. Follow-up questions:

a.i. What storage methods can local farmers use to help preserve their produce longer during COVID-19?
a.ii. Are warehouse receipt systems available for local farmers?

Acknowledgements

Contributed by: Farm Radio International, Radio Resources team

Reviewed by: Juliet Tunje, Social Inclusion Advisor for the USAID KCDMS Activity

Farm Radio International is working with the Feed the Future Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems Activity (KCDMS) of USAID, implemented by RTI International, to co-create radio content resources aimed at advancing youth entrepreneurship in agribusiness. This activity is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with technical assistance from RTI International. The contents are the responsibility of Farm Radio International and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.