“Picture a world where farmers have the power to report on the issues that matter most to them without any interference. By sharing their thoughts and concerns in the form of videos, under FTJ, farmers have finally got their voices heard and their concerns addressed, allowing them to reach out to authorities and millions of people across social media. High time for the farming community to take charge and speak out about everything which has been bottled up since times immemorial. No longer can their voices be silenced!” promises MC Dominic, Founder of Indian agricultural publication Krishi Jagran.
Krishi Jagran’s ‘Farmer the Journalist’ program is a revolutionary initiative that empowers farmers to become reporters, using their smartphones to highlight the issues that matter to them. From pests and low yields to poor roads and fraudulent products, this program gives a voice to those who have been silenced for too long. By training farmers, particularly the younger generation, to capture videos of their experiences and challenges, the FTJ program is helping to bridge the gap between the farming community and the media sector. “We have been amazed by the countless success stories that have emerged from remote villages, all made possible by this incredible platform,” shares MC Dominic, the Editor-in-Chief of Krishi Jagran and the name behind FTJ.
It is a well-known fact that the hardworking farming community has been subjected to exploitation for far too long. However, thanks to the creation of this platform, farmers are now able to voice their concerns about the challenges they face on a daily basis. Krishi Jagran is committed to championing these issues and working with the relevant authorities to ensure that swift action is taken to address them.
The program was launched in response to a shortage of trained individuals in the farming community who could effectively communicate their thoughts and feelings to the wider world. Thanks to this FTJ program, farmers can now speak up for themselves and share their stories with the world. “We’re using the power of social media to add might to the voice of our farming community. In fact, the community is also becoming increasingly aware and vigilant about the prevalence of counterfeit products in the market,” shares Dominic, who firmly believes that raising awareness is the key to effectively combatting most types of malevolence.
Krishi Jagran’s media team regularly arranges online FTJ training sessions under the program. In these sessions, experts interact with farmers from different states across the country and provide detailed information on various topics. The aim is to help farmers not only create videos but also earn from their very first video, if posted. Some of the topics covered are:
- How to make use of phones and make video content?
- What are the guidelines for shooting FTJ video content?
- What type of content to make?
- What topics to cover by FTJs?
- How to interview farmers and scientists?
Perks of Being a Member of FTJ
- RESPECT: Farmers receive a letter from Krishi Jagran after they become a member of the ‘Farmer The Journalist’ program. The letter permits them to enter their nearest farming-related government institutions.
- RECOGNITION: Farmers who share their success stories and agriculture-related issues with Krishi Jagran get the opportunity to get their issues addressed after being shared with the right authorities in the ministry.
- ECONOMIC GROWTH: Farmers receive a monetary reward per video that gets published on the Krishi Jagran platform.
The FTJ experts have trained over 1500 farmers and enabled them to earn a sustainable income. This initiative has received appreciation from government officials, including Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying. The plan is to expand globally and unite the farming community to make their voice heard. “Let’s wait and watch,” sums up enthusiastic Dominic.
In fact, it’s a matter of pride for Krishi Jagran to share that some of our FTJs are also esteemed members of the ‘Agriculture Journalist Association of India (AJAI)’.
Supplied by Krishi Jagan
MC Dominic developed the “Farmer the Journalist” program to help farmers share their stories with the world.