Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. perception
    • ex. The survey studied customers’ perception of the brand.
  2. plague
    • ex. Farmers are often plagued by pests that damage their crops.
  3. democratize
    • ex. The internet has helped democratize access to information.
  4. agri-
    • ex. The government supports agri-business to improve food production.
  5. profitable
    • ex. Selling products online can be more profitable than opening a shop.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Many farmers in Senegal are using social media to sell crops and share farming ideas. Farmer Pape Fall first used TikTok to watch videos, but he sells most of his cucumbers there. In one video, he shows a pile of cucumbers and writes that 1,500 kg will be available. Experts say many farmers in West Africa are using social media to change the perception of farming and show that agriculture can be modern and successful.

However, the region still faces serious problems. Hunger and poverty continue to plague many communities. Researchers say the average farm income in Senegal is $1,000 (more than ¥159,000) a year, although some successful farmers earn much more. Experts say social media can democratize information by giving farmers easier access to new ideas, research, and markets.

Some online farming influencers now teach others about agri-business and modern farming methods. One example is Nogaye Sene, who manages farmland and posts educational videos online. She believes farming can be profitable if people use technology and marketing. Still, experts warn that many farmers lack smartphones or less expensive internet, which may limit how widely these tools can help.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Photo Credits: The Associated Press

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Influence of Social Media on Agri-business

  • Which do you think is better, buying crops from farmers’ markets or buying them through social media? Why? Discuss.
  • What challenges might farmers face when using social media to grow their business? Discuss.
  • Imagine you are a farmer. Would you follow an influencer to gather new knowledge and skills in farming? Why or why not? Discuss.

Farming as a Career

  • What do you think about farming as a career? Discuss.
  • What is the common perception of farming in your country (ex. allows people to stay with their families and run a family business)? Discuss.
  • How important is farming and agri-business in your country? Discuss.