Thank you to everyone who listened, shared and donated to our BBC Radio 4 Appeal, together you have raised an incredible £20,000. Thanks to your generosity, more than 300 seed producers in Ethiopia will receive support to grow more and earn more from their land.

Last month Self Help Africa were the chosen charity for the BBC Radio 4 Appeal, which was voiced by Sheila Dillon, presenter of The Food Programme on Radio 4, and long-term supporter our work.

In total, funds raised through our BBC Radio 4 Appeal will enable us to fund 307 seed producers, helping more farming families to escape the cycle of hunger and poverty.

Alem, whose story featured in the appeal, is one of 2,000 seed producers working with Self Help Africa in Ethiopia to provide varieties of drought-tolerant seed to the local community;

“I joined a seed producer co-operative two years ago, I have been producing and selling seed since then. The extra income has helped me to provide for my family.

My children are now going to school and one is attending university. We used to live in a thatched hut, but I’ve been able to build a new house for my family.”

The small-scale farmers she supplies with seed have seen their yields increase by at least 50%.

Thank you, Radio 4 listeners, for helping more African farmers to escape the cycle of hunger and poverty and create a brighter future for their families.

If you missed the Appeal you can still listen back online here and if you wish to make a donation, you can do so at any time via the Donation page on our website here.