NIAMEY DEPARTMENT RURAL DEVELOPMENT

THESE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (6830205.01). 1)FARMER LITERACY PROGRAM: THE ADULT LITERACY SERVICE OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION WILL EXPAND THEIR PROGRAM TO COVER ALL OF THE NIAMEY DEPARTMENT. 84 INSTRUCTORS (2 FROM EACH COOPERATIVE) WILL RECEIVE ONE MONTH OF RUDIMENTARY TEACHING TRAINING. EACH INSTRUCTOR WILL THEN SERVE VILLAGERS FROM 2 TO 3 VILLAGES. READING MANUALS WILL BE PRODUCED IN LOCAL LANGUAGES AND INCLUDE INFORMATION ON AGRICULTURE, HEALTH, AND LIVESTOCK. AN OFFICE WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN EACH OF THE 3 ARRONDISSEMENTS FOR THE ARRONDISSEMENT DIRECTORS. BY THE END OF THE PROJECT, OVER 3000 VILLAGERS, MEN AND WOMEN, WILL HAVE BECOME FUNCTIONALLY LITERATE. 2)VILLAGE RADIO/DISCUSSION CLUBS: NIGER"S NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RADIO CLUBS (ARCN) WILL PRODUCE 24 HALF-HOUR RADIO-CASSETTE PROGRAMS ON TOPICS RELATING TO AREA DEVELOPMENT PLANS, INCLUDING: ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTION OF LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS (FARMER MUTUALS) AND CO-OPS, CURRENT CROP CAMPAIGNS, IMPROVING MILLET YIELDS, INFORMATION ON PRICES AND MARKETING OF CEREALS, PLANT PROTECTION, TREE NURSERIES, SOIL FERTILITY, ANIMAL TRACTION, INTRODUCTION OF VILLAGE MILLS FOR GRINDING CEREAL, NUTRITION AND HEALTH, AND THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT. A MEMBER FROM EACH CO-OP (OFTEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE) WILL BE TRAINED AT ARCN AS A RADIO CLUB ANIMATOR/MONITER. HE WILL ORGANIZE THE PRESENTATION AND VILLAGE DISCUSSION OF THE CASSETTE PROGRAMS. EACH OF THE 42 CO-OPS ESTABLISHED UNDER 6830205.01 WILL ORGANIZE A RADIO CLUB. THUS, NEARLY THE ENTIRE ADULT POPULATION WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SERIES OF RADIO-CASSETTE PRESENTATIONS.