FIT developed a commercially sustainable ICT led interactive media framework that targets and responds to business and market access issues of smallholder farmers. These are farmers involved in Sweet potato, passion fruit and pineapple production in Suna East and Kasipul Kabondo areas of western Kenya. These are value chains being developed by the Anglican Development Services wing of the Anglican Church in Nyanza. The media interventions included a development of a sustainable radio programme broadcast over Radio NamLolwe FM kisumu (Lake Victoria Region), and reaching over 200,000 farmers, with support from ADS, M-Farm Ltd and other partnerships.

Description of Actual Services Provided by FIT:

• Training of ADS in collection of content for media.
• Training of production staff of the stations in providing Business Development services.
• Infrastructure support in terms of recording and editing equipment, and devising a feedback system for the station (Frontline SMS).
• Linking the station with strategic partners to support content provision
• Training and linking radio station staff to advertisers,
• Backstopping and technical advise to radio station
• Support in the development of content for the weekly programmes and marketing

Output of the project:

Fit Resources and Radio Namlolwe were able to develop and launch an agribusiness program called “PUR MARIEK”

The radio programme is intended to support farmers in the Kasipul, Kabondo and Suna East divisions of Homa Bay County, Western Kenya who are engaged in sweet potato, pineapple and passion fruit farming.

 The key content provider for Pur Mariek is the Anglican Development Services (ADS) who provides extension services to farmers in the target area. Through this collaboration, Radio Namlolwe is able to get access to current and needs based information for farmers.

More information about the project can be found here: http://apf-kenya.ning.com/events/fit-resources-launch-of-radio