Evaluation of Communication Support Materials Used For Agricultural Development Projects in Selected States in North Central Nigeria (Published)
Food is indispensable for the survival of every human being and for Nigeria to move away from an oil dependent economy we need to invest in agriculture. One of the ways to boost food production and other agricultural products is through Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs). ADPs Extension agents in selected North Central States effectively used communication support materials to disseminate information to less schooled adult farmers on how to improve their farming techniques. Did the farmers understand them? How effective were these materials and of what value? It is based on this premise that the researcher evaluated communication support materials used for farmers in selected states in North Central Nigeria. The researcher adopted a survey design. The study population included all the states in North Central Nigeria: Benue, Kwara, Niger, Nassarawa, Plateau and Kogi. From these six states Benue, Nassarawa and Kwara States were selected through purposive sampling technique because they are the most agriculturally endowed states. The sample size of 1500 farmers were selected from the 973,380 farmers through a combination of systematic and proportional sampling techniques from the list of the registered farmers from the states. The breakdown is as follows: Benue State– 478,060, Kwara State – 313,983, and Nassarawa State – 180,433. The major instrument used was questionnaire. The questionnaire was validated through a pilot test on 20 people in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria while the reliability of the questionnaire was established through Cronbach Alpha Analysis. The score ranged from 0.70-0.772. The data was analyzed using frequency distribution, Cross tabulation, ANOVA and Linear regressing using SPSS Software version 20.0. The linear regression analysis of the hypothesis depicts that there is no significant effect between farmers lifestyle and usage of communication and support materials among respondents (P>.0.05). Findings revealed that, majority of respondents received extension training through leaflets. The result shows that out of 1356 respondents, 1116 (86.1%) agreed that extension agents attended training very often. The study concluded that majority of farmers in selected North Central States received extension training through communication support material. On the basis of the findings, it was recommended that, extension agents should continue to use communication support materials for training farmers. However, they should ensure that these communication support materials are attractive, persuasive, easy to understand and acceptable by farmers. Furthermore, the State governments in North Central States should as a matter of priority inject more funds to the Agricultural Development Projects so as to enable the ADPs achieve their mandate of improving agricultural productivity and raising the income of small-scale farmers.
Keywords: Agricultural Development, Farmers, communication, extension
Agricultural Extension Services Using a Participatory Approach in Vegetable Growing Areas in Suriname (Published)
Extension Officers from the Agricultural Extension Service in Suriname, charged with communication, face difficulties in transferring information to farmers. Therefore, a mixed method study was carried out to explore possibilities to improve communication strategies and to facilitate the introduction of novelties and good practices. From August 1, 2016-February 15, 2017 388 small-scale vegetable farmers participated in a survey gauging their knowledge and practices. In addition, a participatory farmers’ experiment was conducted with 15 farmers to convey information about the application of Biochar, an innovative soil-improving compound. Results revealed that extension officers lack relevant specific agricultural knowledge. Important information on sustainable agriculture did not reach most farmers, although the participatory approach provided the means for information exchange and allowed conveying the needed information. The experiment showed that practical sessions on a regular basis with bi-directional information interchange with farmers as conducted in this research can be an effective method to introduce novelties and good practices.
Keywords: Agricultural Innovation, Biochar, Small-scale Farmers, Sustainability, communication, extension
THE DYNAMICS OF COMMUNICATION IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. THE CASE OF THE SOUTH-EASTERN STATES OF NIGERIA (Published)
The poor and deplorable condition of Agricultural development in the South Eastern Nigeria has become a regional concern, especially with the notion that agriculture is an occupation for the poor, illiterate and the old. The work investigated the role of the media in agricultural development as well as the level of audience awareness of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) agricultural development programme as strategies and effective tools for dissemination of agricultural development programme in the South Eastern Nigeria. Methodologically, the work adopted a survey method of data collection to elicit information needed. The findings revealed that most rural agriculturists do not have access to NTA stations and programmes. This is principally due to poverty and lack of infrastructural development. The subsistent farmers are found at the lowest rung of development, and so were cut off from modern information that can better their lots. The work stressed the need for upgrading the NTA to be responsive and grassroots oriented by using local content features like language, time, message and scene to transmit agricultural development programmes. The work is a clarion call on the government to be proactive in the development of infrastructural facilities like electricity in the villages, good road networks, as the establishment of weekend viewing centres for watching agricultural development news, commentaries and programmes transmitted in the form of drama and discussion. This will act as a panacea for development of agriculture at the grassroots
Keywords: Agricultural Development, Nigeria, South-Eastern States, communication