Linking farmers’ access to rural radio, gender and livelihoods: case study of rice processors in Benin

As most of sub-Saharan Africa countries, Benin has noted a growth of rural radio stations
over the past few decades as part of a broader process of democratisation. This paper
examines the level of farmers’ access to rural radio in relation to gender and livelihood
assets. The study was conducted in the north and south of Benin with 18 rural radio
stations and 240 rice processors selected at random in 12 villages. We used the
Sustainable Livelihoods (SL) framework with 120 rice processors randomly selected
among the 240 surveyed rice processors. About 67% of the women rice processors had
their own radio set compared to 87% of the men. Although the study did not allow to draw
conclusions on causal relationships, rice processors who often listened to agricultural
broadcasts had better social, financial and human capital stocks compared to those who
didn’t listen to agricultural broadcasts. Despite the applaudable efforts of 72% of the radio
stations to link up with extension services, half of the rice processors rarely or never
listened to agricultural broadcasts, because the timing of the broadcasts was
inappropriate. Interactive radio sessions with farmers that involve government officials will
need to address this if they are to become more effective.