The donkey radio shows: helping producers care for draught animals |
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| Design of radio messages and programmes to improve donkey use, welfare and environment for transport and tillage in rural communities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In Kenya, weekly radio programmes have helped listeners to keep their precious donkeys healthy. Donkeys are a useful source of draught power, and poor families need to learn how to ensure that they stay healthy and have long working lives. Broadcasting to isolated rural communities also gave listeners the opportunity to ask specific questions about their own animals. And, recording the shows on CD-ROM provided a useful set of information that is being used around the world. The project outputs are already benefiting users in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya. And to ensure that this very useful exercise can be reproduced in other countries, the project has produced a booklet explaining how to set up a radio show that will improve animal welfare. Project Ref: LPP11:
Research Programmes: Livestock Production Programme Other sources of funding:
Relevant Research Projects: The project number was ZC0235 Institutional Partners
1. Recordings of Animal Welfare Experiences from end-users
2. Web based messages of localised animal welfare situations and experiences
3. Records of listeners real life experiences and feedback on animal welfare
4. Radio messaging for happy working equines: A Manual for Implementing a Radio Programme to Improve Equine Welfare
The main output commodity was a Media based information network for donkey welfare. Radio messaging and even advancing to other electronic and print media, retaining the all-important innovative feedback system from users can be applied to the welfare of other animals, be they work, companion or food animals.
Radio messaging is a powerful tool for rural development often reaching 99% of the rural population in developing countries. Due to their government heritage (most pioneer radio stations are state run corporations) radio enjoys high credibility status. Outputs needing advanced and innovative information exchange with technology end-users can cluster with this output. Animal welfare is a subject of increasing concern in livestock use and marketing destinations worldwide. In recent days OIE has placed emphasis on handling of food animals in transport, (humane) slaughter etc. or marketing their products will be an uphill battle. There are various ways of adding value to the radio messaging already initiated and continuing under The Brooke sponsorship:
How the outputs were validated: Following the support by NRIL/LPP and SPANA support to the KENDAT radio-messaging project, the project's success saw the Brooke Hospital for Animals continue to support the programme to-date. The fact that the project is 100% (52 weeks a year) supported by The Brooke today is a clear indication of its reported success.
Where the Outputs were Validated:
Who are the Users? Outputs are currently used by KENDAT to mainly improve on the radio programming through soliciting for views and opinions from the end users. End users often request past recordings to help them understand better or teach groups that they belong to. Society for Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA), a UK animal welfare trust ahs received copies of the translated recording and the (Ochieng and Kaumbutho 2006) Extension Approaches to Improving the Welfare of Working Equines manual for use in their upcoming radio programme for Mali in West Africa. Brooke equine welfare countries of Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Egypt and Guatemala have also received the manual. India is at an advanced stage of starting their own radio programme after their CEO has visited KENDAT several times and with keen interest on learning how the radio programme is consucted. As mentioned above some sessions have been translated and uploaded on the website, making them available for the world to access and learn from. All broadcasts are regularly copied on CD-Rom. The recordings are then passed on to the Schools and Donkey User Clubs programme components, to use in their own club activities. Where the Outputs have been Used: Outputs are currently being used in the entire nation of Kenya with evidence of use cutting across all climatic zones from the Humid Coast to the dry Northern and North Eastern parts of the country. Their use cuts through the rich agricultural farmlands of Western, Rift Valley and Central Kenya. End-users tend to ask questions that relate directly to problems unique to their prevailing climatic conditions, donkey illnesses (like pneumonia in cold areas, over-grown hooves in wetter areas etc.). Other problems are such as , injuries caused by special rubber whips or by localised (area-specific) poor harnesses etc. The same end-users tend to validate the outputs against their traditional beliefs and mythology. In Tanzania, end users have responded from Tanga and Mafia Rwanda users have validated from Musandavia. Scale of Current Use:
Policy and Institutional Structures, and Key Components for Success: Various nationally established platforms have assisted the radio messaging process. The presence of Kenya Society for Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA) has helped despite using a punitive approach to engaging work, farm and companion animal abusers. The independent media houses like Kenya Television Network, East African Standard and KBC (Channel 1) Television, and Nation TV have on their own initiatives brought to focus the need to take care of animals, transport them and treat them humanely. These platforms have addressed a different social grouping, namely, animal traders and transporters. While these persons cannot be classified as poor, they directly influence how the poor work with and handle their animals. In terms of policy, there is a legal framework in place under Cap 360 of Kenyan laws. Despite being based on the punitive rather than animal welfare approach, both citizens and law enforcement agencies have had a basis to consider animal welfare. Cap 360 in currently under review and radio messaging is a key approach to introducing change about animal welfare. The World Animal Health Organization (OIE) is currently addressing how trade animals are handled and the Western World will soon refuse to purchase animal products (meat, fish, poultry, eggs etc.) coming form animals that have been treated inhumanely in transport, slaughter etc. Radio messaging has been backed by the well established KENDAT animal welfare schools and community donkey user activities. Furtherance of these structures to reach numerous other locations in Kenya and East Africa will strengthen the acceptance of the outputs described here. In the Strategy for Revitalising Agriculture (SRA - 2004-2014), an off-shoot of the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation (ERS - 2003-2007) of the current administration of the Kenya Government states under:
A key existing platform for enhanced use of radio messaging is increased access to print and electronic media at local and even village level. Localised newspapers and FM radio stations, broadcasting in local dialects are on the increase. Key facts of success: Farmers need to engage with the private sector from a more winning position: Informed farmers will make more direct demands on agro-industry and input and information suppliers. Enhanced radio-messaging, assistance and training: Radio is an excellent means to pass on new approaches and best practices for modern agriculture. Farmers believe in radio messages as gospel truth. Their participation needs to be made an attractive venture through their innovative engagement and fun-learning. The role of the good practice scout: who roves the country incognito rewarding and scolding animal users on welfare issues. This mystery person who is well known to radio listeners has propelled the adoption of outputs because of the reward system associated with the scouting process. In strengthening the current capacity, establishing radio fan-clubs, other forms of feedback provision e.g. text messaging (SMS) and emailing are being exploited as a way of reaching those communities where our current schools programmes and community activities are yet to reach. Lessons Learned and Uptake Pathways Promotion of Outputs: Active promotion is currently taking place in Kenya where:
Potential Barriers Preventing Adoption of Outputs: Social: The most outstanding barrier slowing the adoption of the output is behaviour change in a people who are cultured to accept old-age wisdom passed down generations, orally and by practice. This is the way information has "always" been passed. This method creates a lot of room for myths to crop up. On donkey welfare particularly, myths are many and varied ranging from donkeys will die if not worked to that their dung causes Tetanus. Myths and taboos associated with the donkey are strong barriers that we need to be urgently removed through provision of correct information. Policy: needs to be comprehensive to cover work, farm and companion animals (and even wildlife) in all aspects e.g. their work, health care, disease outbreak control, human animal conflict, zoonotics etc. etc. Infrastructure: This is better in some areas than in others for example in obtaining feedback, listeners in areas around Nairobi (the capital city of Kenya) takes at most 3 days to send in their feedback while others from farther localities can take as long as three weeks to arrive. This is because of slow postal service mail process in the rural areas that do not have good road or other infrastructural networks. Marketing: While radio is the best single medium, it excludes those who may not be near a radio during the prime evening slot which was carefully selected based on best-broadcast-time feedback from listeners. It also excludes many of the extremely poor that cannot afford batteries for the radio. A multi-pronged approach is best, especially that which includes posters and billboards. One that also uses below the line support activities like fan clubs, regional scouts, community clubs etc. Information: Wider reach touching other media channels. Price: Radio as a media for disseminating information is expensive to project administrators and sponsors. Radio programmes are faced with inappropriate policies where both public and private radios stations are highly expensive. Local FM stations will eventually bring the price in the currently booming and competitive radio business venture. Currently, government, different companies and NGOs are telling farmers the same messages in different ways and with different degrees of creativity. How to Overcome Barriers to Adoption of Outputs: Social: Radio-messaging needs to be sustained and to address issues of more animal and general rural and agricultural development. Repetition is any teacher's best weapon. Repetition helps bring conviction and hopefully sustained change of attitude that can lead to change of behaviour. Policy: Working with all stakeholders to bring into being a suitable policy. The recently formed partnership - Animal Welfare Action Kenya (AWAKE) will fast-track this endeavour. Infrastructure: Provide alternative means of message feedback hat overrides the weaknesses in infrastructure e.g. e-mails and mobile phone, text messages. Marketing: Multi pronged approach that goes as far as "personal selling" of the radio messages, facilitating access to simple equipment like donkey harnesses, hoof trimming gear etc. Information: Excerpts of the radio programmes can be summarised in the highly informative Draught Animal News newsletter which has circulated in the region from Edinburgh University for the last 7 years or more. Price: Policy changes are needed to enable not-for profit organization disseminate messages to the public without exorbitant prices. Partnership and collaboration between NGOs, Government and private sector would ensure cost effective broadcasting - by concerted efforts into issue-based broadcasting. Lessons Learned:
Poverty Impact Studies: No formal studies have been conducted in this area. However, informal interviews and direct feedback from listeners (see APPENDIX One) with users reveals a rise in daily income when they use their animals properly. Some users attribute a rise in standard of living to the work they have carried out with donkeys. Some of them confess with a degree of emotion that their "wealth" is purely attributed to the business services of the donkey. Observations in KENDAT operational areas also indicate more homesteads owning a donkey than earlier years. Numbers of foals seen at KENDAT field days and donkey clinic camps is a good indicator of additional and real progress made. Direct and Indirect Environmental Benefits: Animal welfare radio messaging quickly translates to work animals that are not only receiving better care but also some that are healthier and live longer. Healthy animals have more working hours and efficiency and their use can be diversified to include matters of environment protection such as conservation agriculture. Conservation Agriculture refers to farming with minimal soils disturbance, permanent soils cover and appropriate crop mixes in rotations that increase biomass and in situ soil life (fauna) enhancement and biodiversity. Donkey power passes the test and qualifies for categorisation as a "Green Energy" and a "Smokeless Technology". Farm animals themselves depend on renewable energy. Draught animals produce manure that can add to soil fertility and productivity. Radio messaging on welfare needs to be diversified to touch on the broad range of subjects including the environment. DAP and the recently introduced equipment for Direct Seeding hence environmental benefits of reduced greenhouse gas emission.
Adverse Environmental Impacts: No adverse environmental impacts are foreseen. There is a chance that where animals have improved welfare and they are better fed as encouraged by radio messages. Grazing the animals more intensely can lead to a compromised environment. However the same radio messaging can be used to ensure the environment is protected. Coping with the Effects of Climate Change, or Risk from Natural Disasters: The outputs increase the capacity of poor people to build-up economic resilience. This can only lead to enhanced preparedness to protect the environment and cope with the effects of climatic change if and when disaster strikes. With appropriate environmental conservation and management information as brought through radio, poor people are able reduce the effects of climate change; they are able to plant more trees, conserve soils and practice better farming methods to produce more food, conserve and manage water to avoid effects of floods and drought. List of Key Abbreviations
Relevant Research Projects,
with links to the
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For relevant research projects, with links to further information 
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