You are looking at scripts about Soil health
Agroecological agriculture: What’s it all about?
Here is our theme pack for January, this time about agroecological agriculture. Agroecological agriculture is the application of ecological principles to the management of agricultural and food systems, and integrates social, biological, and agricultural science with traditional knowledge. Agroecological approaches to farming often use practices such as crop rotation and intercropping, and use biological solutions…
Benefits of crop companion planting and mutualism
Introduction Why is this subject important to listeners? Because small-scale farmers should know: How growing certain crops together (mixed cropping) can increase their yields. Which crops that can be grown together without interfering with each other’s growth and maturity, for example maize and legume crops. There is also a mutualism between maize and legumes…
The 4R approach to fertilizer application, identifying nutrient deficiencies, and crop scouting
Introduction Fertilizers are synthetic or organic materials added to soil to increase its fertility. They provide at least one of the essential nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) plants need for healthy growth and good yields. There are different types of fertilizers and different methods for applying them. The two main types of fertilizers are organic…
Soil fertility and soil health
Here is our theme pack of FRI resources for May, which includes resources on soil fertility and soil health. This month’s theme pack contains eight items from our Resource Packs: three backgrounders, two interview scripts, one series of spots, one two-host discussion, and one narrative. It also includes six Farmer stories. Backgrounders Organic fertilizers Using…
4R approach to applying fertilizer
Spot #1: The four R’s NARRATOR: Farmers! If you want your crops to yield their best, remember the four R’s of applying fertilizer. Apply fertilizer from the right Source, at the right Rate, at the right Time, and in the right Place. If you follow the 4Rs, your yields will improve. Spot #2: Fertilizer recommendations…
Organic fertilizers
This backgrounder discusses the nature and benefits of organic fertilizers and lists a variety of organic fertilizers that farmers may choose to use. What is soil? Soil fertility is strongly related to the organic matter content of the soil. The higher the organic matter content of a soil, the more potentially fertile it is. It…
Fires deliberately set for agriculture, their impacts and alternatives
Introduction Today, soil degradation is occurring in most parts of Africa. This manifests in the impoverishment of agricultural land, the destruction of forests, soil erosion, and other impacts. Human activities have played a part in this. For example, certain agricultural practices such as deliberately-set fires have a negative impact on soils and the general…
Senegalese farmers struggle to find solutions to soil salinity
SPEAKERS FARMER 1: Ousseynou Sokoma, farmer, co-owner of the farm, Les jumeaux (The twins) FARMER 2: Assane Sokoma, co-owner of the farm, Les Jumeaux FARMER 3: Moustapha Cissé, Chairman of the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives SPECIALIST: Yacine Badiane, Director of the National Crop Production Research Laboratory, Senegalese Agricultural Research Institute HOST: Soils in many…
Desertification & drought
Here is our theme pack of FRI resources for June. This month, to mark the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought on June 17, we focus on resources related to desertification, drought, and growing food crops in dry lands. The theme pack includes 10 items from our Resource Packs: seven interview scripts, two dramas,…
The benefits of conservation agriculture
SIGNATURE TUNE HOST A: Hello! Welcome to your farmer program! Today’s topic is all about conservation agriculture and the benefits of minimum tillage. Farmers in Ethiopia tend to till their land repeatedly as they are sure it increases yield. They believe that reduced tillage stops them from taking full advantage of their farmland. In fact,…