Celebrating the Work of Farm Radio International

Hon. Ratna Omidvar: I am delighted to stand up today to shine the light on an outstanding and somewhat, I think, unknown Canadian charity, which is Farm Radio International. This may be an organization that you have not heard about, but I certainly hope that my comments today will lead you to same conclusion as I have, which is: It might be small, but it is really mighty.

As the name suggests, Farm Radio International works with farmers, but more specifically with farmers in over 40 countries in Africa. It reaches them in places as far away as Rwanda and Burkina Faso and Somalia, and it does so by using air waves. Working with over 800 radio stations across the continent of Africa and local journalists, it informs, educates and supports small-scale subsistence farmers with essential information on subjects such as seeding, irrigation, soil management, animal handling and so on. As you can imagine, this is a low-cost strategy. It doesn’t cost too much money but it reaches so many farmers, improving the quality of their lives and contributing to the sustainability of local food systems.

One of its secrets is its creativity about its programming. It impact goes well beyond the dos and don’ts of farming. Let me give you an example. Our honourable colleague Stan Kutcher was part of a Farm Radio International team that developed a radio soap opera called Bahati . This was a 30-episode radio soap opera that touched on mental health issues like depression, suicide and drug abuse. I think we all appreciate that mental health is everywhere, and through this effort the radio audience is better able to recognize how to detect signs and how to deal with and assist members in their communities.

Last month, Kevin Perkins, the Executive Director, appeared before our charities committee and outlined his organization’s challenges with precarious funding from government and from the charities regime. It is my hope that our work here in the Senate can allow organizations like Farm Radio, not only to simply exist, but to thrive and to succeed. I look forward to issuing our final report from the charities committee. In the meantime, please join me in applauding this fantastic work they do on behalf not just of Canadians, but all global citizens. Thank you.