Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) attempt to make best use of the most widely available but least explored communication technology, the radio. Of approximately 589 rural districts in India, 550 districts have KVKs.[1] KVKs offer radio broadcast services for farming communities, encourage farmers to listen and to provide their feedback on the agriculture broadcast. This helps KVKs to improve their services further based on the needs of the farmer communities.  

A Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Sangaria, Rajasthan

Source: http://gvsangaria.com/IMG/dep_pics/kvk.gif

Community Radio (CR) reaches out to various people simultaneously and in diverse locations such as farms, while fishing out in the sea, at local shops, public places, as long as radio is within the reception range. The end user just needs to have an FM radio to listen to the broadcast. Farmers and other representatives of the community can also participate in program production. CR can thus play an immense role as an information and communication technology for development (ICT4D), especially in rural India where other ICTs have limitations. However, policy changes and guidelines in favor of KVK are very important the success of CR projects, as KVK on its own has very limited powers and must constantly work within the guidelines stipulated by ICAR. For example, a KVK cannot employ dedicated staff for the CR project or conduct training in CR without prior permission from ICAR.

Agriculture is one area in which Community Radio can be very useful. A CR operated by KVK for farmer community will benefit both in terms of addressing agriculture issues by radio. It is necessary to formulate a separate guideline for agriculture broadcast in terms of operations, training, management, funding and sustenance. This must take into consideration interests of farmers, who would be the primary beneficiaries. At the micro level a common guideline for the entire country will aid farmers to make best use of CR despite differences in language, culture, geography and local farming practices adopted by them. At a planning level, the guideline will help a KVK or an NGO engaged in agriculture activities to effectively implement the project.

Licensing and Guidelines for Implementing CR

A few KVKs across states have already applied for licenses and letters of intent have been issued by the government.[2] But without adequate ground work, research and training, the project may not achieve what was originally planned. Before a KVK applies for a license it should take into consideration:

• Availability of physical infrastructure such as space for the studio from which the broadcast would be done;

• Staff that has been trained in program production and handling of equipment; and

• Support from Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), the parent body of KVK.

Process of implementing CR

1. Applying for a license from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is the first step. Under the single window clearance scheme, ICAR/KVK obtains the approval from the secretary of MI&B on behalf of the applicant.

2. Issue of Letter of Intent (LoI) by the MI&B to the applicant.

3. Allocation of radio frequency by the Wire Planning Commission of Ministry of Communication and IT.

4. Signing of Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) after getting clearance on frequency allocation from the Standing Advisory Committee of Ministry of Communication and IT.

5. Upon confirmation of LoI, equipment should be purchased and trainees should be short listed for training in radio program production. For development of skills in CR management and production, training workshops should ideally be conducted in the area where the CR is proposed to be established.

6. After training and evaluation, a final date for the broadcast of programs can be decided.

Since the KVK provides a single window clearance for obtaining a CR license, it is quicker to obtain it from the KVK than from other voluntary organizations that take about six to eight months to grant a license. But for over 500 KVKs to obtain a license from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MI&B), it would take years as several official procedures need to be completed before a KVK is issued a license. This delay can be overcome if the ICAR applies for multiple licenses to MI&B for its entire network of KVKs across India. A model of multiple licenses issued by the ministry to an educational organization for its student community across India is Gyan Vani, an educational FM radio channel run by Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi. This model can be easily replicated for the KVKs.

The CR guideline states that 50 per cent of the content (of radio programs) shall be generated with the participation of the local community for which the station has been set up. This criterion is met by KVK as most farmers participate in the skill and knowledge oriented trainings conducted by KVK. During the training programs and workshops conducted by KVK for farmers, radio can be used as a training tool and experiences of farmers recorded for broadcast on a later day. For the back stage operations of CR, a KVK would need at least three full-time dedicated staff plus field radio reporters and producers.[3] Reporters and producers can be farmers, teachers, students from agriculture universities, and subject matter experts from the local community.

During capacity building and program production training workshops conducted by the author in Karnataka and Uttaranchal, it was observed that some of the trainees were farmers. When the group went into the field for their recording assignment, most of them recorded programs related to agriculture. This reflects that there is immense scope for addressing issues on low external input and sustainable agriculture, farmer-scientist discussion, animal husbandry, crop production, environment, fisheries, food processing and storage, livestock and beekeeping, pest management, rain water harvesting, soil conservation, soil fertilization trees and forestry, water management and so forth by radio broadcast.

Technology and Infrastructure for CR

Radio addresses the need for a two-way human interaction that is necessary for benefiting the end user. Both at production and broadcast level, CR is people friendly as it is ‘skill based’ rather then qualification based. The CR technology is very simple to operate and does not need expensive furniture, equipment or studio for its set up. The cost of equipment for recording, editing and transmission typically ranges from Rs 1 million to a maximum of 2.5 million. Also, there are various options available such as using traditional analog equipment (e.g. magnetic tape recorders, mixers, editors) or digital equipment (e.g. digital audio recorders, editing on a computer, portable digital editing and mixing unit that can be taken into the field). Studio design and furniture for CR can be decided on the basis of the available budget. Most CR stations in other countries run on very low budget. The CR station could also operate from the KVK office for operational and logistical advantage.

Recording, editing and transmission equipment

1. Recording equipment comprises of microphone, portable field recorders and recorders in the studio. A microphone is required for recording a uni/bi-directional interview while an omni directional/flat mike is used for recording a discussion/music or song. Other equipment includes portable tape recorders for outdoor recording, double sided audio cassette player, preferably with a compact disc CD recording for play back. A computer can also be used for recording programs in studio

2. Editing equipment such as studio console/mixer and or multimedia computers.

3. Transmission equipment comprises FM transmitters with two transmitters, so that can serve as backup in case of breakdown.

Recording room and recording in progress

 

Radio Programs

Agriculture is a very vast field. KVKs handle multiple projects at the same time in different geographical locations and culture. One of the greatest advantages of radio is that radio programs can be produced in the local language of the people that will make the radio station even more popular to the advantage of KVK. A single issue can be broadcast in different formats and depending on the subject, one or more formats can be used for the same subject. Some such program formats are:

• Drama - Combines education and entertainment of a specific topic e.g. a case study of a new way to cultivate crop. The duration of the program can be 15 to 20 minutes.

• Features - Are short programs with a focus on factual themes such as pest control, Government policy, crop rotation etc. The duration of program could be of five to ten minutes.

• Interviews - Includes a dialogue between the host and a guest expert. The expert could be a local farmer with specialized knowledge of traditional practices or an agriculture scientist from the university.

• Panels and discussions - These are perhaps the most interesting of all the radio programs, as they demonstrate different perspectives on an issue or question.

• Documentary - Is an issue-based program that may or may not involve testimony of people on an issue. It walks the listener through an issue that is well researched before broadcast.

• Editorial - Is a broadcast that presents the opinion of the owner or manager or anyone who wants to share a point on subject.

• Vox Populi – Means ‘Voice of people’ and features a popular opinion. It is different from an editorial in the sense that its recording is done outdoors.

Radio as an affordable and sustainable ICT technology will not only supplement the information dissemination processes of KVK, but will also offer a platform of ‘accessible’ media to the farmer community who can share their experiences with a wider audience on all agriculture related issues. Community participation, volunteerism and part management of the station by the community are the contributing factors for the success of Community Radio.