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Broadcast twins discourage 'Paying
Peanuts'
27.08.09
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TWIN broadcasters Emma
and Claire Mc Dermott have contrasted
recession-ridden Inishowen with the absolute poverty
they witnessed on a recent trip to Malawi. The
Inishowen Community Radio presenters spent a week in
Lilongwe, Malawi, recording audio material for a
documentary ‘Paying Peanuts’ to be aired on ICRfm
tomorrow. |
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The project was funded
by the Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund and
focuses on MASFA (Mchinji Area Smallholder Farmers
Association) which was established in 2001. MASFA
brings together local groundnut farmers, aiming to
improve market access and prices, share expertise
and give the farmers a collective voice. A key
benefit of membership is a stable market for their
crops, as MASFA buys their groundnuts and soybeans
and rents a warehouse where the goods can be stored
ready for transport. |
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"This was a fantastic
experience. To be able to travel to Malawi and speak
to the farmers themselves was invaluable. It’s such
an amazing country and the people were so
welcoming," explained Emma. |
Claire added: "It was
an experience of a lifetime and I would love to go
back again to help out with a project over there.
The people are absolutely lovely. Malawi is one of
the poorest countries in the world and it really
made me appreciate how good we all have it at home."
MASFA farmers have seen first-hand the benefits of
Fairtrade. |
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With the Fairtrade
premium they receive for their groundnuts, they have
been able to build a guardian shelter at their local
hospital. "I would encourage people to buy Fairtrade
products when they can. It’s a simple thing each and
every one of us can do. I’ve seen the difference the
Fairtrade Premiums make to the lives of not just the
farmers but their whole communities," said Emma. The
twins' documentary will be broadcast as part of
“Voices of Inishowen” tomorrow, Friday, August 28 at
10.30am on 105 or 107.6 fm. You can also listen
online at www.icrfm.ie
to hear ‘Paying Peanuts’. |
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