Personal stories work best when they help readers see what’s possible in their own world
Many of you have been contributing success stories to this blog — sharing inspiring examples of individuals or families working in agroecology and organic farming. While we’ve expanded the types of stories we publish to include for example “how-to-guides” and other kinds of formats that are strategically important, personal success stories will always remain centre stage.
To make these stories resonate with readers, it’s key to remember that even though you are writing about a person, the story is ultimately for the reader. Good storytelling is not just about creating suspense or drama — it’s about making the audience see themselves in the story, or making them curious enough to imagine what they could learn or adopt from it.
But motivation alone is not taking your reader all the way. Once you’ve helped him or her imagine themselves in the shoes of the person you feature, you also need to show them how that success was built — the routine, the small steps, and the discipline behind it. It’s easy to be inspired; it’s much harder to turn that inspiration into action. That’s why a strong success story doesn’t stop at motivation — it delivers practical proof that the journey is possible, showing readers the daily efforts, habits, and decisions that made the success real.
Stories are about the reader, not just the person you feature
Even if you write about yourself, a neighbor, or someone you know in the community, the key is to connect the story to what the reader cares about. It’s not enough to assume that just because the featured farmer and the reader share a background — for example, they’re both farmers, or from the same region — the story will automatically connect. You need to highlight elements that resonate and feel relevant to the reader.
Importantly, this applies not just to farmers, but to a much wider audience. Someone working in a ministry, an NGO, or a research center may find value in the story because of a detail you include about policy, local regulations, or community organizing. For example, imagine an agriculture policy person in another country’s ministry reading your story and recognizing a useful idea or reform. Don’t underestimate the reach your story can have beyond the farm level itself.
Include relatable and replicable details — for all audiences
Readers want to know: could I do this too, or can I apply this insight to my own work? This means including practical details that help others see what they can learn — whether they are farmers, policymakers, extension workers, or development practitioners.
For example:
Land details: size of the land, soil conditions, slope, water access, rainfall patterns.
Farm setup: crops, mixed farming, organic inputs, irrigation methods.
Working time: hours per day or week, family or hired help, how many.
Production volume: harvest quantities, seasonal benchmarks.
But also:
Policy, regulatory or institutional factors: was there a government program or policy change that shaped the farm’s success?
Local networks and support systems: did cooperatives, NGOs, insurances, or community groups play a role?
Market environment: did improvements in local infrastructure, such as roads or access to markets, help?
Highlight the business and policy side, not only the farming
Personal stories become much more powerful when they cover the full environment in which success happened. Readers want to understand how success was possible.
Consider:
Access to finance: savings, loans, microcredit, cooperative funds.
Markets and sales: customers, contracts, niche markets like eco-tourism or organic restaurants.
Pricing and negotiation: price setting, special deals, overcoming middlemen barriers.
Policy impacts: changes in land tenure, subsidies, retirement rules, or trade policy that made a difference.
For instance, I once heard a German rural development professor explain at a conference that in the 1960s, a policy was passed in Germany requiring farmers to transfer farm ownership to their heirs in order to qualify for retirement payments. According to him, this unlocked innovation, because the next generation could make bolder decisions without being held back by the older generation. This shows that sometimes, background factors like regulation can have a massive impact — and mentioning these in your stories can make them relevant to readers far beyond the farming world.
Explain the social and family context
Success is often shaped not just by land and money, but by people and relationships. Be sure to describe:
Family dynamics: who’s involved, how is the work shared?
Community involvement: local support, resistance, learning from neighbors.
Mentorship or knowledge exchange: training, workshops, peer learning.
Describe the journey over time
Show readers the steps and timeline, not just the happy outcome. Include:
Timeframe: months or years invested.
Turning points: key decisions or events that shifted the course.
Challenges and adaptations: what setbacks happened, and how were they overcome?
Include what’s special, surprising or counterintuitive
Help readers understand what’s out of the ordinary:
Innovative practices: new techniques, overlooked crops, water-saving methods.
Unexpected customers or opportunities like a resort hotel for travellers who prefer organic foods.
About the Organic Farming Africa Blog
Welcome to The Organic Farming Africa Blog, your dedicated source for sustainable farming practices and organic solutions tailored for African farmers. We understand the unique challenges you face – from soil health, crop protection, water conservation and much more.
Our blog is designed to address these problems, offering practical, tested strategies and insights to enhance your farming practices sustainably. If you cannot find a solution to a specific issue within our articles, we’re here to help. Please reach out to us and we’ll connect you with the answers and support you need. Join us in our journey towards a greener, more sustainable future for African agriculture. The articles are authored by KCOA’s multipliers and edited by our Knowledge Promotion Team.
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Help us to educate and spread awareness. If you find Euphorbia tirucalli effective and our article usefull, consider sharing your knowledge and experience with other farmers and agriculturalists. Raising awareness can help promote more sustainable organic pest management practices. Maybe you want to consider writing an article for our Organic Farming Africa Blog and join the multiplier community. To learn about the benefits, contact KCOA.
Author: Pascal Corbé
Pascal is a communications for development all-rounder with 25+ years of experience in multicultural settings and cooperative network environments, ten of which in Africa.
