Community Radios and Climate Change Communication: Mapping Grassroots Experiences of the ‘Shubh Kal’ Project in Bundelkhand, Central India

The 'Shubh Kal' pilot project tested a communication model in Bundelkhand, Central India, using community radio to connect vulnerable farmers with scientific and government experts. By training 35 radio reporters in climate change journalism, the project produced 12 radio shows per station using an 'infotainment' approach in local dialects. Findings indicate that the project improved reporters' technical knowledge and confidence, increased farmer awareness of adaptation measures like organic composting and rainwater harvesting, and provided scientists with insights into traditional farming knowledge. The project concluded that community radio can effectively facilitate two-way communication to support climate-resilient development.

• The 'Shubh Kal' project successfully improved the climate change knowledge of community radio reporters; while 44.78% were initially unaware or had only partial understanding, post-project surveys showed 64.2% could correctly identify the main causes of climate change and the links to industrialisation and vehicular emissions.
• The use of an 'infotainment' approach—incorporating radio dramas, jingles, folk songs, and interviews in local dialects—was highly effective in maintaining community interest and making complex scientific information accessible to farmers.
• Community radio reporters acted as effective intermediaries, facilitating the adoption of specific climate adaptation measures among farmers, such as organic composting, field bunding, and the use of government subsidies for farm ponds and biogas plants.
• The project enabled a two-way flow of knowledge, allowing scientists to learn about and validate traditional adaptation practices, such as the use of 'amrit mitti' (organic compost) by local farmers.
• Narrowcasting—playing radio programmes for small listener groups in villages outside of broadcast times—was particularly successful in reaching farmers who missed broadcasts and in motivating behavior change through face-to-face dialogue.
• The initiative increased the visibility and credibility of government extension services, such as the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and the 'Kisan Call Centre' toll-free service, among rural populations.
• The project fostered long-term institutional links, resulting in partnership letters between the four participating radio stations and district agriculture departments and KVKs to continue extension services.

APA

Bisht, H., & Ahluwalia, N. (n.d.). Community Radios and Climate Change Communication: Mapping Grassroots Experiences of the ‘Shubh Kal’ Project in Bundelkhand, Central India. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Manuscript-Community-radios-and-climate-change-communication-Mapping-grassroots-experiences.pdf

Chicago

Bisht, Harshita, and Neelam Ahluwalia. Community Radios and Climate Change Communication: Mapping Grassroots Experiences of the ‘Shubh Kal’ Project in Bundelkhand, Central India. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, n.d. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Manuscript-Community-radios-and-climate-change-communication-Mapping-grassroots-experiences.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bisht |first1=Harshita |last2=Ahluwalia |first2=Neelam |title=Community Radios and Climate Change Communication: Mapping Grassroots Experiences of the ‘Shubh Kal’ Project in Bundelkhand, Central India |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Manuscript-Community-radios-and-climate-change-communication-Mapping-grassroots-experiences.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bishtndcommunity, author = {Bisht, Harshita and Ahluwalia, Neelam}, title = {{Community Radios and Climate Change Communication: Mapping Grassroots Experiences of the ‘Shubh Kal’ Project in Bundelkhand, Central India}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Manuscript-Community-radios-and-climate-change-communication-Mapping-grassroots-experiences.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }