With Our Feet in the Soil

Inclusive Media and Community Action: Connecting Farmers to Sustainable Farming Solutions

Topic: Sustainable food systems
Location: Central America

With Our Feet in the Soil: Family drama about new farming techniques sparks intrigue among old and new generation.

Central America faces critical challenges in agricultural sustainability, with soil degradation threatening food security and livelihoods.

Storytelling that Drives Sustainable Agriculture through Radio

In 2020, Rising Impact launched With Our Feet in the Soil to improve farmers’ access to evidence-based sustainable farming techniques in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

The radio drama combines sustainable farming practices— like improving soil and managing water—with engaging storytelling about the Rodríguez family, set in a fictional agricultural village.

Complementing the radio drama is expert guidance and live call-in shows provide practical advice to help farmers apply sustainable practices in their own fields.

Through this program, I’ve learned how to use cover crops to improve soil fertility. My yields have increased, and my family has more to eat.

— Maria*, smallholder farmer and listener, Guatemala
*Name changed for privacy

Content

Radio Drama
Radio Spots
Original Music

Conversation

Call-in Shows
WhatsApp, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), and Text Messages

Action

Farmers Markets Fairs
Virtual Classroom Launch Events

Positive Impact on Sustainable Farming and Community Capacity

IMPACT

95%

of listeners learned something new

4.2

million listeners

85%

of listeners adopted sustainable farming practices

Network and Skill Development

We developed local radio producers’ skills to facilitate conversations that promote sustainable farming.

As more small farmers learn sustainable techniques, more communities build climate resilience and sustainable food sources.

Rising Impact is empowering farmers across Central America to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and build resilient communities through programs such as, “With Our Feet in the Soil.”

“With Our Feet in the Soil” is funded and co-created with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and their Agua y Suelo (ASA) program. Thanks to the Nielsen Foundation and generous donors, we’re expanding the program to better reach women farmers in Central America, who are most affected by the climate crisis and face barriers to economic inclusion.