Abstract
The study examined the role of mass media in agriculture in Adamawa State. Specifically, it focused on the extent to which mass media have been used to communicate agricultural information dissemination, farmers’ media preference, challenges experienced in accessing information through the media and the need to establish community based media. A multistage random sampling technique was adopted in selecting respondents for the study. This involved the random selection of one extension block each, from the four Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) extension zones in the state viz: Gombi, Guyuk, Mayo-belwa and Mubi. Two agricultural extension cells were then selected from each of the extension blocks and 10 farmers in each cell were randomly selected. In all 240 farmers were selected for the study. An interview schedule was used to solicit for data from the respondents. Results indicate that, majority of the farmers (69.17%) affirmed radio as the only means through which they access production information. Also, 50% of the respondents preferred television to other media available for communicating agricultural information. All the variables related to the challenges experienced by farmers in accessing information through the mass media and the perception of the community based media were significant at 5% level, attesting a strong relationship. Pest and disease control had 41.7%, improved crop varieties had 25% and weed control had 16%, these were prominent amongst agricultural information disseminated through mass media to farmers. The study suggested the establishment of a community based television stations targeted on agricultural programmes to farmer as this will go a long way in improving not only the quality of information but also its access.KEY WORDS: Extension, Productivity, Access, Information
Highlights
Experience has shown that, there are no cases of successful development of a major country in which the rise in agricultural productivity did not precede or accompany such development (Abubakar, et al, 2009)
A multistage random sampling technique was adopted in selecting respondents for the study. This involved the random selection of one extension block each, from the four Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) extension zones in the state viz: Gombi, Guyuk, Mayo-belwa and Mubi
Ndaghu et al (2009) revealed that most farmers in the study area were married. As married individuals, such respondents may not be responsible for the upkeep and welfare of themselves alone and of other members of the family, this beholds it on them to take advantage of any productivity enhancing opportunity like the use of mass media to source and access information on improved agricultural practices
Summary
Experience has shown that, there are no cases of successful development of a major country in which the rise in agricultural productivity did not precede or accompany such development (Abubakar, et al, 2009). Reports have shown that, successes of agricultural development programmes in most developing countries largely depend on the nature and extent of use of mass media in mobilization of people for development. Planners in developing countries as well realize that, the development of agriculture could be hastened with effective use of mass media (Purushothaman, et al, 2010). According to Ajayi (2003) and Ani (2007), mass media are channels of communication which can expose large number of people to the same information at the same time within a short space of time. Extension service organizations use mass media because of the high speed and low cost with which information can be communicated over a wide area. The mass media are generally useful as sources of initial information to farmers and veritable tools conveying production information to farmers on new developments and emergencies
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