First I was introduced to the division of Agricultural information and Public Relations staff, and I have say, they were very happy to have an overseas student working with them.
I was also happy by the welcome I received into the Ministry from both my superiors and my work mates.
From there was introduced to the different section under Information and Public Relations, which includes Campaigns, Photography, Graphics, Broadcasting, Audio Visuals, Publications and the Library.
I was surprised to learn that, all the agricultural programmes aired on national radio stations (RB 1 & RB 2) and television (BTV) are recorded and edited in the ministry of agriculture and they are later given to the radios and television ready for broadcasting.
This programmes, broadcast PR related issues, and they are there to disseminate information from the ministry to the general public and farmers.
The Ministry also runs two magazines, there is the monthly edition called AgriNews (English version) and there is the quarterly magazine, Iketleetse, this one is written in national language, Setswana. They also cover PR related issues.
Now, where do I work? I was placed under the CAMPAIGNS SECTION in the division of Agricultural information and Public Relations. Where I was told our main duty is to take ministry’s policies to the people, by any means. Since we were supposed to be always out in workshops, seminars and meetings, we were also expected to write some reports to the management and articles to be published on the two magazines I have talked about earlier.
Have a productive day; more articles about exactly what we were doing are coming….
Bakang Pesi Pesi_LUCT
9 comments:
I can tell you had fun at the ministry of agriculture, so are there any other branches around the country and if so how do they ensure that that their pr campaigns are targeting all farmers, looking at the larger picture of farming in Botswana.
Good question,the Ministry runs campaigns by a section called CAMPAIGNS, it takes policies to the people around the country. they always educate people about what the government has in store to help the farmers. again there are extension agents in rural area to help the farmers with any information, if there is any problem they always take it to the ministry headquarters.
It was a good thing that you were placed at under the campaign department which i think was helping you to learn a lot on campaigns as one of the most big thing in the Public relations industry..As someone who have listened to the agricultural progammes in the RB1/2 and BTV, i think the campaign department is doing a great work... I hope you have learned a lot.
i learnt a lot Thabang, the ministry is doing a great job when it comes to disseminate information. we were working hand in hand with the broadcasting section, audio visuals, publications and the photography section.. all those programmes on radios and television are recorded and edited in the ministry. there are also officers called extension agents who are placed at rural areas to help the farmers out there..but i think they should introduce the use of social media to target youth, to teach them about their youth policies..
Wow thats sound interesting for the organization to have production in house.At Department of Road Transport and Safety (where i was doing my internship) production is done out side and is quite challenging.I always saw your Department magazine(ArigNews),thats my Dad's favorite magazine even your program called 'Temo Thuo', my dad love it so much ,they are very informative.I will say the Department is doing quite well,its like the Public Relation Unit at Botswana Police,they also do their production in-house,they are responsible for that program name 'Itshireletse' and also they publish their own magazine.Our Department is considering to have its production in-house since they have Limkokwing students working with them now,they trust and believe that they can do a better job.
Thank you Florance, the ministry of agriculture has done a lot in terms of giving out information.The only thing which i think they should introduce is the use of social media to get youths attention to join the agricultural sector and change the youth mentality or perception of seeing agriculture as a dirty job..Other government ministries and departments should also do the same.
Indeed it was a great experience, Ministry of Agriculture used effective communication methods including televisions, national radio stations and for the magazines i could say making both English and Setswana(national language) was very crucial. Looking at the fact that most people who are interested in Agricultural projects (farmers) are our elders, it is impressing that they catered for all- both literate and illiterate individuals.
Apart from broadcasting and other publications as you mentioned earlier, the use of graphics and photographs thus creating another distinctive way of communication. People who cannot read or write but still interested in knowing more about other Agricultural projects, they can still be informed through all these, specifically the illiterate " A picture is worth a thousand words".
It is a good strategy to disseminate information to the public.
So now they should involve the youths, they need motivation to join these kind of fields...
well said Olebogeng, i like the way you have addressed it. Ministry should now start using social media, facebook, twitter and others to reach the youth.
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