Radio Kissan @ 90.8 FM

Contact Person: Mr. Pradeepta Kumar Dutta

Broadcasting Language: Odia

Genesis: Radio Kissan was established on 20th January, 2012. The region in which the CRS is situated faces many problems like frequent natural disasters, unemployment, migration of people in search of work, no or negligible involvement of women in livelihood and income generation activities, etc. Radio Kissan focuses on mobilising local resources, harnessing the best of the community’s skills, consulting with the community on various matters, and empowering the local community to connect with the local governance, 

Thematic Focus: The primary focus areas of Radio Kissan are women empowerment, agriculture, health, education, livelihood, and art and culture. The CRS’ efforts are focussed on educating and empowering the local community in areas that need attention and are critical to their overall development. 

Sustainable Development Goals: Radio Kissan focuses on achieving the following SDGs:

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 15: Life on Land

Primetime Programmes:  The primetime programmes of Radio Kissan are Asa Chasa Kariba (Let Us Farm), Eei Ama Adhikar (It Is Our Right), Ame Apanka Sathire (We Are With You), Ama Gosthi Ama Pragati (Our Community, Our Success), Ama Kala Ama Sanskriti (Our Art, Our Culture), and Eei Amar Gaan (This Is Our Village). 

These programmes cover many areas and aspects that are related to the community. Radio Kissan is committed to preserving the local arts and culture by making them a part of the CRS’ programmes.

Innovations in format or any other way: Kathahat is a unique programme to involve the community members as volunteers in different activities organised by the CRS. It focuses on interacting with the community, discussing their problems, and creating programmes in their voices. 

Core Team: The core team of Radio Kissan has eight members who are responsible for overseeing different activities at the station and ensuring its smooth operation. In addition to the staff, the CRS also has a dedicated group of community volunteers who enthusiastically participate in and promote the activities of the CRS.

Major Projects Undertaken: Radio Kissan has been a key part of several regional and national projects with leading organisations and agencies in different areas related to agriculture, health, disaster management, climate change, women empowerment, culture, digital literacy, youth and adolescents, and skill development and capacity building.

The key collaborators of the CRS include MAGE (Bhubaneshwar),  SMART, CEMCA, CRA, BBC Media Action, OneWorld Foundation, NSDC, UNESCO, ATMA, Development Alternative, and Ideosync Media Combine.

Sustainable Strategies: Radio Kissan generates revenue through different paid collaborative ventures with different agencies and organisations and also through the means of advertisements. 

Number of listeners and Potential Outreach: Radio Kissan has an active listener base of nearly 30,000 listeners. 

Major concerns in the Community: Frequent natural disasters affect the region and the community. The region has been subject to a vast ecological change that has disturbed the environmental equilibrium. Traditional and organic practices are disappearing, and it has a negative impact on the community.