Media drilled in agriculture governance reporting
Support to Parliament and Media to Strengthen Governance Agriculture team leader Teresa Davis has challenged the media in the North to think outside the box and write stories that will revamp the agriculture sector.
The official made the call on Friday in Mzuzu at the end of a three-day media workshop on evidence-based journalism aimed at equipping journalists with investigative skills that will help them promote European Union (EU)-funded Kutukula Ulimi Malawi (Kulima) programme.
Davis said journalists should provide a watchdog role to policy-makers to protect peasant farmers from unscrupulous agro-dealers.
“If farmers are protected through good policies, they can produce more food that can help reduce malnutrition and at the same time sell the surplus,” she said.
In his presentation, Times Media Group editor-in-chief George Kasakula said journalists should understand farmers and their concerns to address their demands.
“We should advocate for improving agriculture sector, capacity, efficiency and delivery of extension services,” he said.
On his part, Karonga-based Radio Dinosaur journalist Bright Mfune described the workshop as an eye-opener.
“I will provide a platform for farmers in Karonga to voice out their concerns,” he said.
About 74 journalists from various media houses in the Northern Region attended the workshop.
