Shujaaz wins International Digital Emmy...

April 2012

In 2011 DFID granted RIU an extension (to June 2012) to allow key activities more time to generate additional knowledge outputs and provide greater and more in depth evidence of impact.

One of the projects we chose to focus on during this extension phase was Shujaaz: we provided a package of additional support to ensure that agricultural extension stories would continue to appear in Shujaaz until June 2012, when RIU comes to an end.

A chicken and pen story...

15 April 2010

Rob Burnet
ShujaazFM

Rob Burnet writes...

I thought that you might like to see some of the feedback we get to the agricultural stories featured in the comics and on the radio. ShujaazFM interacts with young people very effectively - especially through Facebook which is completely free to use in Kenya.

Aqua Shop partners sharing knowledge

11 October 2010

William Leschen
The University of Stirling

Aqua Shops may be one of the newest members of the RIU family but through our partnerships we have become very effective at networking and sharing knowledge.

ShujaazFM - Sophie’s Choice

04 October 2010

At RIU we are always on the lookout for mutually beneficial collaborations and partnerships. Duncan Sones from the RIU Communications Team also works on an unrelated programme which nurtures emerging leaders in the North East of England. Each of the potential leaders was encouraged to look at international best practice in their field of interest and then go on a related visit.

Shujaaz – growing while shrinking some reflections from Keith Sones, head of communications at RIU

27 July 2010

Keith Sones

When I saw Chapta 4 of monthly Shujaaz comic - published at the end of May 2010, it had shrunk to a new format. It is now A5 size, having previously been A4, and thanks to a new printer it is now has a very crisp, clear print quality. But it has more stories and information than ever.

FIPS-Africa - 1.5 million seed packets with advice to 180,000 farmers

17 July 2010

Andy Ward

It was great to a catch up with FIPS-Africa and see how things are progressing on this RIU Best Bet project.

FIPS-Africa works through a network of village based agriculture advisors. Advisors have been established in seven districts in Kenya and Tanzania. They currently have 186 village based agricultural advisors in Kenya (funded by RIU and other programmes). Each of these advisors has a target of reaching 1000 farmers. RIU Best Bets supported the addition of the advisors in the following districts.

Farm Input Promotions Africa (FIPS-Africa)

30 May 2010

Paul Seward, FIPS-Africa

On this small plot, Dinah Kinyua (left), a small-holder farmer in Keriko Village, Kibirichia division, Meru Central district is experimenting with 7 improved crop varieties of her favoured staple food crops (maize, beans, irish potatoes, and cowpea).

Farm Input Promotions Africa (FIPS-Africa)

10 April 2010

Paul Seward, FIPS-Africa

FIPS-Africa proves that selling 1g seed packs in rural areas can be profitable

In Tanzania, there is a poorly developed infrastructure for farm input supply. Stockists are present in the larger towns, which means that farmers may have to travel for up to 100km to buy seed, fertizers and other farm inputs.

Comic book hero

18 March 2010

Rob Burnet

As part of our support from RIU, we were introduced to British comic book legend and Beano contributor, Hunt Emerson.

Hunt has been over twice now to offer us technical support and creative input. With the first issue on the streets, we had the opportunity, briefly, to reflect on the success of the issue - but more importantly to plan the next 12. Planning is important; the messages are embedded into the stories of the lives of 4 characters based on archetypal young Kenyans and also, in the case of agricultural issues, to ensure they are seasonally relevant.

Shujaaz: Pink chicks and hungry hawks

18 March 2010

Rob Burnet

Making our daily radio show involves us phoning and interviewing people who send interesting texts. The reports of people taking action based on the comic are really exciting. Yesterday a man in Malindi explained how, after reading Shujaaz, he cautiously dyed two of his chicks with GV (gentian violet) as instructed by Charlie Pele in the comic.

He quickly realised that they were protected from the hawks (which take between 50-80% of rural chicks) and he's now dyed all the rest of his chicks. And now he's seen his neighbours following suit.