Community Radio Station: Sustainable Farming Through Broadcasting

The first of its kind in the community, and the second community radio station in India, the station is run by Development Alternatives. Radio Bundelkhand plays an essential role in bringing social long-term improvements in the Bundelkhand region. Since the beginning, the radio station has aimed to give a voice to the people in the region. It has broadcasted for women, youth, farmers, and disadvantaged groups and reaches more than 120 communities within a 15-kilometer radius. The radio station is a popular, cost-effective communication medium that uses a participatory and collaborative strategy to empower and promote action for change.

The community of Bundlekhand, where the radio station is located, is in one of the poorest regions in India. Large areas of the land are not cultivable due to lack of water, poor soil quality, and soil erosion, which means that farming activities in the region are highly vulnerable. The area has low literacy rates, which makes it difficult for knowledge about climate change risk to be shared with the local community.

This case study explores the power of radio climate change communication campaigns to offer climate solutions to marginalized rural agricultural communities.