VOA标准英语2012--Reality TV Show Helps Farmers Improve Livelihoods
时间：2019-01-14 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2012年(十月)
Reality TV Show Helps Farmers Improve Livelihoods 1
Entertaining, educating audiences
David Campbell has lived in Kenya since 1979, using the mass media to teach farmers how to improve their techniques. As director of the company Mediae, Campbell aims to both educate and entertain his audiences.
After learning that 70 percent of the viewers for his popular TV drama "Makutano Junction 2" came from rural areas, Campbell created a farm makeover show, called "Shamba Shape-Up." He says that while research projects and development programs may help a small group of farmers, his unique programming has a much wider impact.
“Here, we have a TV show that can reach seven or eight million people in the region, who are in the cash economy, who can participate in this kind of work. And they’re not being reached. And that’s why the underscore of this whole thing is that we need to reach people because development will happen when people know what they can do and how they can participate,” stated Campbell.
True to life TV
Each episode begins with a farmer explaining his or her agricultural problems to the program’s presenters 4 and experts. The team provides advice and assists the farmer with planting, harvesting, pest eradication 5, livestock 6 care, and even financial literacy. At the end of the show, viewers can send a text message to receive a leaflet about the information discussed during the episode.
Presenter 3 Tony Njuguna says the show is providing valuable expertise 7 to rural East Africans. And he says that's evident when his team returns to see how things have been going.
“We find that most of them have developed. They are no longer wherever they used to be. They have moved up and it’s quite impressive,” said Njuguna.
George Karawe Mungai participated in the first season of "Shamba Shape-Up" and is now doing a follow-up episode. He says the show has allowed him to increase his farm’s productivity.
Mungai has even become a bit of a celebrity 8. He says when he travels around, people address him as “Shamba Shape-Up.” And he says his neighbors are also benefiting from the show.
“I’ve become almost a teacher to the society that is surrounding. They come here, they ask me questions, I am able to teach them on how to do things,” added Mungai.
"Shamba Shape-Up" highlights approximately 13 farms each series. It is broadcast weekly in English and Kiswahili throughout Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
- First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
- With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。
- There's a bridge at the junction of the two rivers.两河的汇合处有座桥。
- You must give way when you come to this junction.你到了这个路口必须让路。
- Most people think being a television presenter is exciting.很多人认为当电视节目主持人是一件刺激的事情。
- The programme dispensed with its most popular presenter.这个节目最受欢迎的主持人被换掉了。
- Each week presenters would put the case for their favourite candidate. 每个星期主持人推出他们最喜欢的候选人。 来自互联网
- Karaoke was set up to allowed presenters to sing on the stage. 宴会设有歌唱舞台，可让出席者大演唱功。 来自互联网
- The eradication of an established infestation is not easy. 根除昆虫蔓延是不容易的。
- This is often required for intelligent control and eradication. 这经常需要灵巧的控制与消除。
- Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
- The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。
- We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
- You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。