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.