A week- long training of trainer’s workshop for Radio Broadcasters in Agriculture began at the Hatso Farm Radio International Research Institute in Accra on Monday.

It attracted broadcasters drawn from seven community radio stations in Accra and Bolgatanga.

Mr. David Monbray, General Manager for Training and Standards from Farm Radio International Canada, said the programme was designed to prepare the participants to inform and engage smallholder farmers to adopt improved agricultural practices.

It would also engage the broadcasters in an interactive and entertaining participatory radio campaign, which could attract wider listeners.

Mr Monbray said through African Farm Radio Research Initiative, Farm Radio International often developed and evaluated an effective approach to help smallholder farmers in Africa to learn, discuss, evaluate, and adopt a range of agricultural practices that would lead to improvement in their livelihood.

The outlet is using radio to help African smallholder farmers for the past three decades in the improvement of food security on 370,000 radio stations across 39 countries.

Farm Radio International can help other organisations achieve their objective in communicating effectively with farmers using the medium of radio by adapting and delivering training programmes to agricultural broadcasters, Mr. Monbray said.

He noted that the media also run specialised participatory radio campaigns that aimed at giving farmers a voice in their own development.

Most of the programmes of the station are being sponsored by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation of Canada.**