Launching of the Awareness Campaign for the International Year of Family Farming: AMARC and FAO join forces

In the context of the 2014 International Year of Family Farming (IYFF), the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) has joined forces with the FAO to launch an awareness campaign targeted at farmers’ organizations and the rural population. The main objective is to use community radio as a platform to share information with the farming community and involve them further in the discussion regarding the key role family farming plays in economic and social development. The campaign starts today and is set to continue throughout the entire 2014. It will consist of a series of radio programmes produced in connection with consultations, policy dialogues and events organized by FAO and AMARC in different regions.

The programmes, which last a total of 60 minutes, are accessible to local radios through AMARC’s regional web platforms and website. Audio tracks are easily downloadable together with additional documentation regarding the IYFF. The spots have been recorded in English, Spanish and French. We encourage AMARC’s members to produce and broadcast in local languages depending on their requirements. The programmes will be broadcast through AMARC’s network and the campaign will continue during all the IYFF in close collaboration with our regional offices in Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe as well as the regional platforms: Onda Rural, ComDev Asia and Kenkasa Africa.

The campaign’s main messages include:

1. The IYFF and the contribution of family farming to the eradication of hunger.
2. The role of communication and community media in family farming and as drivers for social change in rural areas.
3. Results of family farming Regional Dialogues highlighting the importance of partnerships to end hunger.

This information campaign is part of the initiative “Communication and community media in family farming and food security”, which aims, among other things, to facilitate dialogue between stakeholders and to promote communication for development guaranteeing the communication rights of the rural population.
We hope you will help us broadcast the audio coverage, as well as the other activities that are part of this initiative, and we thank all those who wish to collaborate.