The winners of the Platform for Agricultural Risk Management (PARM) Stories Challenge were sponsored by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to attend the commemoration of the 15th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS), the 20th edition of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform (PP) and the associated Malabo Policy Learning Event (MAPLE) in Harare from 29 October to 1 November 2024 where they shared their perspectives about the initiative.
After the success of the Platform for Agricultural Risk Management (PARM) Art Challenge, the Platform for Agricultural Risk Management (PARM) launched the global campaign “PARM Stories Challenge” with media professionals, as part of the celebration of the #WorldFoodDay and the International #RuralWomenDay.
The challenge consisted of producing a high-quality video story that portrays rural farmers’ self-resilience to agricultural risks and showcases how this could be strengthened to increase their productivity and sustainable agri-food systems, contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals 1, 2, 5, and 15.
The challenge has been organized in partnership with Africa 21, a network bringing together around 700 African journalists from 40 countries with expertise in development topics and a platform for exchange between media practitioners and researchers. Created in 2011, the network works for a better understanding of sustainable development in Africa, in particular from the angle of the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.
Pascal Ishimwe, a filmmaker based in Kigali Rwanda, who won the first prize, said he is passionate about storytelling and filmmaking.
“I would like to thank IFAD for allowing me to attend the 20th CAADP PP and the 15th ADFNS. I work with different organizations to document success stories. I have also worked with international media companies like CNN. I have a particular passion for the agriculture sector where I document the life and challenges of the smallholder farmers to advocate for their sustainable development. I’m also the winner of PARM STORIES CHALLENGE with a short documentary called Nurturing Farms, Growing the Future which highlights the resilience and determination of the smallholder farmers in Rwanda.
“The key success of the farmers is being able to feed their families and the community they live in. They also mentioned that they can make money from their farms which helps them to pay their children’s education costs. However, the farmers still face difficulties in their daily activities. Those challenges are mostly about climate change, price fluctuations, pests, and irrigation issues that affect their productivity,” Ishimwe said.
Dewa Aboubakar, a journalist from Cameroon, expressed pleasure in participating in the international conference organized here in Harare, Zimbabwe.
“Throughout this event, numerous topics were addressed by participants and technical experts from various African countries. It was a moment of intense exchanges, rich in ideas. We learned a great deal from the experts’ contributions, and the discussions allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of certain aspects of agricultural development in Africa.
“As a journalist from Cameroon, I consider this initiative both commendable and deserving of continuity. I was able to participate thanks to the support of PARM and IFAD, particularly through the PARM Stories Challenge, where I won third place. It is an immense joy and recognition that motivates me to work even harder to highlight the initiatives of local communities, small farmers, and producers who face climate and environmental challenges.
“In my region, rainfall is unpredictable, yet, thanks to their resilience, farmers still manage to improve their yields. I hope that, with initiatives like this one, these individuals will gain greater visibility and support. I am committed to producing more stories that showcase the efforts and innovations of these small farmers to better publicize their initiatives,” he said.
Steven Costa Midjola, a journalist from Togo, who was the runner-up for the PARM Stories Challenge, said the CAADP and AFDNS conference was a valuable opportunity to learn about how stakeholders are addressing important issues such as nutrition, healthy diets, and sustainable agricultural practices.
“Conferences and meetings like this can have a significant impact on African populations, as the current situation still does not allow small producers to fully engage in healthy and high-quality agriculture. It is also the responsibility of policymakers to encourage every African to adopt a healthy diet.
“I am also delighted to receive this award, as my role as a journalist is to tell stories, and the PARM Stories Challenge has given me this opportunity. Looking forward, I hope other organizations will draw inspiration from this initiative to shed light on the journeys of the men and women working in the agricultural sector. They need support, often working in the shadows without recognition or financial assistance because funds do not always reach them. However, I am convinced that these videos will raise awareness worldwide about the importance of supporting small producers. They are the ones who feed us, here in Africa and beyond.
“In the future, we must continue to bring agricultural issues to the forefront. As journalists, we have the responsibility to tell the stories of those who feed Africa and who, every day, commit to responsible farming practices. Africa is still a land rich in possibilities, almost “untouched,” and it is up to us, Africans, to write its story,” Midjola said.
