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