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The Rural Voice, 1981-05, Page 32New radio network directed at Third World farmers The University of Guelph. through the Centre for International Programs. has joined in co-operating in a world wide radio network aimed at helping Third World farmers. Known as the Developing Countries Farm Radio Network (DCFRN), the scheme already claims 91 million listeners in 70 countries. and with the new resource expects to expand further. Up to the present, the material that is prepared by veteran Canadian farm broadcaster George Atkins has been sent out in English only. Now, the University of Guelph provides office space for a translator so that the broadcast material may also be sent in French and Spanish. The DCFRN is sponsored by Massey Ferguson Limited in co-operation with the University of Guelph with support from the Canadian International Develop- ment Agency. Response has been wide- spread, positive and enthusiastic, says Atkins. The objective of the DCFRN is simply to encourage and aid people in the third World to help themselves towards greater self-sufficiency in food supplies. There is now one radio for every 20 people in Africa, and in other parts of the world many countries have at least one radio per family. Among those who broadcast to this vast audience are many farm broadcasters who are known and trusted by their local audience. The broadcasters are an excellent means of extending information to subsistence farmers. Mr. Atkins says that many Third World broadcasters have very few sources of good information directed towards in- creasing food supplies. All information being distributed to broadcasters through the Network has been gathered in the Third World where it has been developed and/or tested and found successful. Thus the Network actually acts as a catalyst in the transfer_ of _appropriate technology from one location to another. The recipient broadcasters have full control of what they use and how they use it. They appreciated this fact, says Mr. Atkins. as nothing related to the project is being imposed on them from "the other side of the world." Conference aims at raising rural women's self-esteem Isolation, loneliness and a lack of self-worth are some of the problems confronting rural women living on farms and in small towns. The feeling that rural women's needs aren't being met by college and universities prompted the University of Western Ontario (UWO) to sponsor The Rural Connection- a confer- ence on learning opportunities for rural women. The conference, held at the UWO campus, London May 8 to 10, will be the first attempt in Canada. perhaps even North America. to deal with the specific educational needs of women in rural Ontario. "Traditionally agricultural colleges put on courses that have to do with strictly technical aspects of farming and univer- sities offer credit courses in academic subjects," says Ann Harley, director of professional and personal development courses at UWO. "But you have to look at the special needs of rural women. One woman told me they don't want courses in dried flower arranging. They want meat and potatoes courses.' The issues confronting rural women include widowhood, the technological PG. 30 THE RURAL VOICE/MAY 1981 revolution on the farm and the isolation 01 rural life. So me women in rural areas are forming their own self-help networks and asking colleges and universities to offer courses on farm safety. credit and loans and family law. Mrs. Harley said even rural wontcn who are full participants in the farming operation often have low self-esteem and see themselves as "just a farmer's wife." Also. younger women moving to the farm from urban centres often find it difficult to adjust to the isolation of rural life. The three day conference will include workshops on topics like persuading colleges and universities to offer specific courses. how to obtain government funding for programs, and how to create networks to share information. Ful/ time farmers use the land best An in-depth study of tenure in East Wawanosh Township in Huron County. was completed by Wayne Caldwell for his degree at the University of Western Ontario. The study was done in 1980 and the conclusions reached can easily be applied to most agricultural communities in Ontario and, indeed. in North America. Caldwell found that fulltimc farmers make the best use of the land. and the intensity of farming declines with de- creasing ties to the land. This held true through eight types of tenure down to the one which is just a house on a lot and no crops. The committed farmer usually builds barns. silos and other farm buildings. and tiles his land. The marginal farmer has more tenden- cy to plant trees or build a new house on his land. What is of some concern to Caldwell is that 23 per cent of thc taxpayers of East Wawanosh arc not committed farmers. even if the latter own or rent 87 percent of the land. Caldwell "...suggests that the overall viability of agriculture is to a certain degree threatened". Also "...not only are the actual operating decisions for some (rented) properties out of the hands of the farm population. but there arc also potential impacts on the properties operated by farmers, such as Minimum Distance Standards in the Code of Practice." Caldwell finds that planning decision difficulties are "...compounded by the number of properties within the town- ship. which arc less than 10 acres in size. and arc not farm operated." His study goes on to show that a homogeneous -looking township like East Wawanosh is not homogeneous at all. • Caldwell urges more research to find out such things as yield per acre for the different types of tenure. Wins scholarship to Britain Heather Boyle. R.R. 3. Ripley in Bruce County was awarded one of four travel scholarships offered to Junior Farmers at the group's annual conference in Toronto recently. The scholarship provides an op- portunity for the Junior Farmers to visit Scotland. England. Wales and Northern Ireland during their eight-week tour. May 8 to July 11. Their hosts will be families of members of organizations for British rural young people. As part of the exchange program, 10 British delegates will visit Ontario during the summer. Other travel scholarships open to Ontario Junior Farmers include trips to Indiana, Michigan. Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and thc annual Rural Youth of U.S.A. Conference.