India’s agricultural system, the largest in the world caters to the technology needs of >100 million farm families. Its normal task of transferring and  disseminating appropriate technologies and agronomic practices would not be sufficient for the empowerment of farming community. In this regard, Community radio (CR) caters to location specific need of farming community. Defined as the radio owned by community and airs programs designed and produced by it for its own developmental needs. CR is a significant departure from the primary centralized radio broadcasting paradigm that India has been following for decades

Potentialities of Community Radio

It is expected that ICT will be in agriculture sector, together with traditional inputs & interventions farmers. Radio plays a vital role in passing on information to farming community as quickly as possible. Among various modes of radio broadcasting, Community Radio (CR) is a powerful medium for education and development. CR is 'characterized as a mouthpiece for socially, economically, politically and culturally marginalized people & as a tool for development of society improved input for agriculture, education and would encourage members of the community to associate together to design, produce and air programmes' (Srivastava, 2007).The experience of a number of developing countries in using community radio for such purposes has clearly demonstrated its tremendous potential for strengthening grass-roots democracy.

Expectations of Community Radio

Ø  Enhancing participation of people in the development process.

Ø  Capacity- building, especially in rural areas, through education.

Ø  Providing opportunities to people to upgrade their skills and enhance their creative talents.

Ø  Preserving and promoting traditional wisdom, knowledge and skills, thereby helping to promote and project the local languages, arts, crafts, culture and traditions.

Ø  Bringing within easy reach of the rural population, topical information in areas of agriculture, social welfare, education, health and environment.

Ø  Creating rural networks for cottage and village industries.

Ø  Strengthening Panchayat Raj Institutions