The use of radio media in farmers' education and training

Tian Jing
Central Agricultural Broadcasting and Television School
Beijing, China

The Central Agricultural Broadcasting and Television School (CABTS) is a specialist institution that delivers distance education and training to farmers via a multimedia approach which includes radio, television and networks. Radio media were the means adopted by CABTS at its earliest stage, with features such as extensive coverage, fixed broadcast times, authentic content and rich programme resources. It has played an important role in popularizing agricultural policies and farming technologies, and has helped farmers to increase their incomes. Along with the the development of modern agriculture, the education and training of farmers are related not only to the improvement of their competencies, but also to the issue of food security in China or even the world.

This paper presents the important role played by radio media — the advantageous edge of the CABTS system — in farmers' education and training. It also analyses the need for the system to continue to make better use of radio media in view of the new situation/tasks in agriculture and rural areas. In addition, the paper elaborates on how to produce targeted and attractive programmes centring on the needs of agriculture and farmers' development. In association with training programmes at the national and local levels, such as the Sunshine Programme, CABTS will try to produce thematic programmes; establish a rural radio information service platform; and provide services such as VOD, uploading and downloading of local agricultural broadcasting and television schools. CABTS will strengthen and consolidate its medias network and mobile phones for broadcast media and information dissemination channels. Further, is is discussing the paths, countermeasures and recommendations for a better use of radio media to deliver education and training to farmersat at the next stage.