Empowering marginalised communities through participatory communication — WDF provides end-to-end community radio solutions for agricultural extension, rural education, health awareness, and livelihood generation across India, Africa, and Asia.
A participatory, community-owned medium that empowers the voiceless — bridging knowledge gaps in agriculture, health, education, and governance.
Community Radio is a low-cost, participatory broadcasting medium owned and managed by the community it serves. Unlike commercial or public radio, CRS content is produced by and for local communities — in their language, on their terms, and addressing their specific needs. The Government of India first permitted recognised universities, KVKs, colleges, and NGOs to set up community radio stations under the CRS guidelines shaped by Dr. H. O. Srivastava, who drafted India's first CRS policy and chose the technology framework.
WDF's President, Dr. H. O. Srivastava (former Additional Director General of All India Radio), was instrumental in enacting the Government of India Act for Community Radio establishment in 2002 and has since pioneered CRS deployments across India, Nepal, and Ethiopia.
Dr. H. O. Srivastava, President WDF, on the history of Community Radio in India
Two decades of pioneering work in policy, technology, and global deployment of community radio for development.
Dr. H. O. Srivastava drafts India's first Community Radio Station policy and determines the technology framework for CRS in the country.
World Development Foundation established in New Delhi with a mission to use broadcasting and ICT for poverty alleviation and community empowerment.
Signed MOU with Ministry of Communication & IT (MCIT) for R&D project on Community Radio in India. Signed MOU with Rajendra Agricultural University (RAU) Pusa for establishing 4 CRS for KVKs.
Community e-Radio launched at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, by Deputy Chief Minister M. K. Stalin — established by WDF in partnership with Media Lab Asia.
Signed MOU for Agriculture Knowledge Dissemination System in Bihar. Signed MOU with Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) for joint project implementation.
Signed agreement with Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to supply, install, and commission seven 700 W Community Radio Stations. Chief Minister of Bihar inaugurated CRS at Vaishali, established by WDF.
Successfully commissioned seven solar-powered CRS across Ethiopia's remote regions (Oromia, Amhara, Debub Omo, Borana, Illubabor, etc.) — covering over 500,000 farmers weekly.
Established Cloud/Internet Radio for Cooch Behar University. Launched WDF University for SDG 2030. Published research on community radio for socio-economic transformation and climate resilience.
End-to-end community radio solutions — from policy advisory and licensing to studio construction, transmitter installation, content production, and training.
In partnership with Media Lab Asia (Ministry of Communication & IT), WDF established five CRS at agricultural universities: NDUAT Faizabad, TNAU Coimbatore, BAU Ranchi, IGKV Raipur, CCS HAU Hissar. Also commissioned CRS for Allahabad Agriculture Institute, Abid Ali Trust Hyderabad, and others.
Won a global bid from MCIT, Federal Republic of Ethiopia, for supply, installation, and commissioning of seven 700 W CRS in the most remote regions. Sourced transmitters from DB/DM Broadcast (Italy), acoustic panels from India, and completed installation within 12 months.
Integrated Knowledge Agriculture® with community radio — broadcasting climate-smart practices, pest management advisories, market prices, and expert call-in shows. The Agriculture Knowledge Dissemination System (ANDS) in Bihar connects EMPC to remote villages through video and radio.
WDF runs extensive training programmes in Radio Jockey, A/V editing, station management, and content production. Recent training for Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University (West Bengal, Jan 2021) and ongoing programmes across India.
WDF Community Radio Programme — Agricultural Extension
CRS Broadcast Automation & Transmission System
Measurable outcomes in agricultural productivity, climate resilience, women's empowerment, and community participation across continents.
WDF partnered with Media Lab Asia to establish five community radio stations at agricultural universities across Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana. These stations broadcast locally relevant content on farming: seed selection, pest control, weather advisories, and market linkages — in regional languages.
Outcome: Yield improvements of 15–30% reported among regular listeners. Radio became a trusted platform for expert–farmer interaction, replacing costly and infrequent extension visits.
WDF deployed solar-powered, 700 W community radio stations in Ethiopia's most remote regions (Oromia, Amhara, Debub Omo, Borana, Illubabor, Harari, Semera). Broadcasting in indigenous languages, programmes feature agronomists, meteorologists, and farmer call-ins focusing on climate-smart agriculture.
Outcome: Over 500,000 farmers reached weekly. Early warnings reduced crop losses during erratic rainfall. Adoption of drought-resistant crops and staggered planting schedules increased significantly.
WDF's CRS programming dedicates airtime to women's health, self-help groups, female farmer networks, and girls' education. Studies confirm that community radio — with content in local languages — is one of the most effective ICT tools for reaching rural women (MSSRF, MEAS Evaluation 2014).
Outcome: Increased participation of women in agricultural decision-making. Listener groups and SHGs use radio as a platform to share experiences, access micro-credit information, and advocate for community needs.
WDF's landmark deployment of seven 700 W community radio stations for the Ministry of Communication & IT, Federal Republic of Ethiopia — completed in 2015.
WDF's research and publications on community radio as a tool for development, agricultural extension, and participatory communication.
Explores how community radio revives oral traditions to empower marginalised communities — drawing on WDF's Indian and Ethiopian deployments. Demonstrates that radio-based participatory communication yields measurable socio-economic outcomes.
Examines WDF's video-cloud and community radio interventions, showing that ICT-mediated agricultural extension — particularly community radio — improves knowledge retention and adoption rates among farmers with low literacy.
Ethnographic study of a rural CRS in South India arguing that community radio amplifies existing farmer-to-farmer knowledge systems and sits at the intersection of diffusion and participatory communication paradigms.
WDF's trademarked framework integrating IoT, AI, UAVs, and community radio for precision agriculture. The upcoming book details the convergence of modern technology with indigenous farming knowledge for global food security.
Policy paper outlining the role of cloud radio, video cloud, and community media in achieving the UN SDGs. Presented at the National Conference on ICT and Mass Media (2019) with AARDO participation.
Comparative analysis of video-assisted extension in Bihar vs. community radio in Ethiopia. Provides a blueprint for hyper-local communication ecosystems that scale Knowledge Agriculture® globally.
UGC-recognised vocational programmes and online modules covering all aspects of community radio — from operations to content production.
Voice modulation, scripting, show planning, live broadcasting. Conducted across India at partner universities including NDUAT Faizabad, CCS HAU Hissar, and BAU Ranchi.
Learn more →Digital post-production using industry-standard tools. Career track for radio, TV, film, and event management.
Learn more →Station operations, programme production, engineering management, advertising, and revenue generation.
Learn more →Online module on smart farming using IoT, drones, sensors, AI-based DSS, and sustainable post-harvest management.
Access online →Self-assessment on CRS regulations, agricultural best practices, ICT tools, and SDG 2030 targets.
Take a quiz →Online university offering courses in agriculture, media, robotics, and skill development. Free education for global outreach.
Visit WDF Universe →Training programme conducted by WDF for Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University, West Bengal (Jan 2021)
WDF collaborates with government agencies, universities, international bodies, and technology partners to deliver community radio solutions worldwide.
Partner with us to establish a community radio station, sponsor a CRS in underserved areas, or volunteer your expertise. Become a partner →
