The food shortage resulting from this year’s drought is not uncommon in Kenya, although this year it is particularly severe. For decades, Kenya has suffered frequent acute food shortages. Paradoxically, it is believed that close to 80 percent of the population engages in farming. While Kenya’s food shortages are caused by a complex set of circumstances – drought, high global food prices, and political instability -- the poor farming techniques practiced by Kenya’s majority small holder farmers have been singled out as a major factor.

To remedy this problem, some radio stations in Kenya are broadcasting programs to educate farmers about successful agricultural techniques. The goal is to promote food security for the region by helping small holder farmers increase their yield.
At the same time that its population is growing, Kenya’s agricultural production and performance has been declining, according to the Sustainable Agriculture Center for Research and Development in Africa (SACRED). Some of this drop in output is due to financial constraints that keep farmers from using higher yield seeds and fertilizer http://audiencescapes.org/m-pesa-helps-farmers-get-insurance-claims-615.

Yet the lack of up-to-date knowledge about farming methods is considered a significant obstacle to success for small holder farmers. This stems in part from the government’s decision to stop hiring agricultural extension specialists, a valuable source of agricultural expertise. SACRED points out that farmers are missing out on the advice these specialists dispense, like where to find suppliers of certified seeds, techniques for applying chemicals, how to deal with pesticides and crop diseases, and which are the right crops or animals to keep.

Leveraging the popularity and accessibility of radio, radio programs have sprouted up around the country that combine both research and extension services. Projects like the Farmers Voice Radio (FVR) Initiative are delivering farming advice in Swahili, English, and several vernacular languages through national and community radio stations.