Media Resources Availability and Utilisation for Effective Publication Output by Agricultural Researchers in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The study examines media resource utilisation and effective publication output by agricultural researchers in Southwestern Nigeria. The respondents consisted of agricultural researchers in agricultural research institutes in Southwest Nigeria. The descriptive survey of correlational type was used. Four hundred and sixty two copies of the questionnaire were distributed using total enumeration technique, 334 were returned representing 72.3 return rate. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistic of frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation while Pearson product moment correlation and multiple regressions were used to test the hypothesis. The result of the finding showed that the internet ([Formula: see text]), Email ([Formula: see text]), and laptops ([Formula: see text]) were the frequently used media resources. Agricultural databases were scantly used. The result also revealed that Email and the internet were the most available media resources while AGORA, LanTEEAL and FAO publications were the most available agricultural databases. Also, some researchers (0.6%) and others (62.3%) had below four local publications while on international publications, 3% researchers had above 16 international publications and 50.6% researchers had below 6 international publications. The study further revealed that there was a positive and significant relationship between media resources utilisation and publication output of researchers ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). A significant relationship also exists between media resource availability and publication output and a joint relationship existed among media resource availability, media resource utilisation and publication output. The study identified poor funding, irregular electricity and inadequate electronic media resources as constraint to electronic media usage in Nigeria. Finally, the study recommends constant electricity, more funding for purchase of media and training for researchers.