ABSTRACT
The purpose
of this study was to evaluate the impact of AKBC radio programme “the farmer”
on the adoption of innovations in uyo local government area. A total of sixty (60) farmers selected from
various farming professions in Uyo local government areas were used as
respondents in the study. The questionnaire (interview) was employed as
instrument for data collection and data were analyzed using simple percentages
and frequencies. the findings revealed that out of the sixty (60) farmers
actually interviewed on the distribution pattern of farming practice, part time
farmers (58.3%) were more in number than
the full time farmers (41.7%) showing increase in farming practice. The
respondents (96.3%) affirmed ownership of radio set and are regular listeners
to radio farmer programme. The innovations adopted are practiced
by the respondents include fertilizer application (41.7%) need control
(16.7%), animal vaccination (8.3%), pest control (8.3%) and hate planting (8.3%). some reasons were
expressed for not adopting innovations fully. This includes lack of funds
(83.3%) and difficulty to practice (16.7%). It was recommended among others
that AKADEP should encourage more “Radio Farmer” listeners’ group in each
extension block in all the Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Cover page = = = = = = = = = i
Title page = = = = = = = = = = ii
Certification = = = = = = = = = iii
Dedication = = = = = = = = = iv
Acknowledgement = = = = = = = = v
Abstract = = = = = = = = = = vi
Table
of Content = = = = = = = = vii-ix
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study = = = = = = 1-6
1.2 Statement
of the problem = = = = = 6-7
1.3 Objectives
of the Study = = = = = = 7
1.4 Research
Questions = = = = = = = 7-8
1.5 Significance
of the Study = = = = = = 8-9
1.6 Delimitation
= = = = = = = = 9
1.7 Definition of Terms = = = = = = = 10
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Introduction = = = = = = = = 11-12
2.2 Extension and communication = = = = = 12-15
2.3 Extension communication
methods = = = 16
2.3.1 The mass media methods = = = = = = 16-17
2.3.2 Radio as a medium of Communication = = = 18-21
2.3.3 Radio and communication of agricultural innovations = 21-22
2.4 Radio farm programmes = = = = = = 22-24
2.5 AKADEP Agricultural Innovations = = = = 25-27
2.6 Theoretical Framework = = = = = = 27
2.6.1 Diffusion Process = = = = = = = 27-31
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODS
3.1 Introduction = = = = = = = = 32
3.2 Area of the Study = = = = = = = 33
3.3 Research Design = = = = = = = 33
3.4 Population of the study = = = = = = 33-34
3.5 Description of data gathering instrument = = = 34-35
3.6 Validation Test = = = = = = = = 35
3.7 Method of data Collection = = = = = = 35
3.8 Method of Data Analysis = = = = = = 35
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF
FINDING
4.1 Introduction = = = = = = = = 36
4.2 Data presentation = = = = = = = 36-45
4.3 Discussion of findings = = = = = = 46-49
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction = = = = = = = = 50
5.2 Summary of findings = = = = = = = 50-51
5.3 Conclusion = = = = = = = = 51
5.4 Recommendations = = = = = = = 51-52
References
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
The Problem
And Its Setting
In Nigeria, nearly
seventy percent of the population depends on agriculture for a living
(Emenyeonu 1995:225). Conscious of the important role agriculture plays in our
Economy, concerted effort have been made by Federal, State and Local Government
to ensure the promotion of agricultural development.
Agricultural
development have centred on the adoption of improved seeds, improved breeds of
livestock, fertilizer usage, use of crop protestants, simple machines and
equipment. Others are soil conservation measures, better processing and storage
methods and efficient marketing system by farmers. These innovations are aimed
at improving remarkable the output ratio of farmers and their overall well
being.
Nothing is
more important today in Nigeria then increased agricultural production and this
is the key to better life.
Yusuf
(1996:61) says greater production can be achieved [through popularizing of
improved agricultural practices. This is accomplished by influencing farmers to
adopt new ideas and practices through effective communication. One of the
recognized strategies for improving agriculture is the development of informed
farming population as well as effective extension (Obibuaku 1983:95). Extension
involves the conscious use of communication to pass on these innovations to
farmers and help them make good decisions. One of the basic objectives of
agricultural extension is to teach farmers improved methods and persuade them
to adopt innovations with a view to increasing their production and income.
Agricultural
extension therefore is a service or system for assisting farm people through
information in improving farming methods or techniques for the purpose of
increasing production efficiency and income, gettering levels of living and
lifting the social and educational standard of rural life (Etuk 1990:205). As a
matter of fact dissemination of innovations through extension programmes has
been widely accepted as a solution to backwardness or low productivity in
agricultural production (Ukhedebah 1997:22). Modernization of agriculture
means, adoption of modern innovations. Diffusion of innovations, in this
regards, is of fundamental importance because it transfers research based
information from knowledge creation centres to areas where the information is
unknown and could be put to productive use (Atala and Abdullahi, 1989:361).
However,
agricultural policy makers and change agents have come to realized that the
mass media can and do play a pivotal role in assisting extension programmes.
The media particularly radio has certain advantages which make it suitable for
communicating innovations to farmers. With the invention of transistor radio in
1947, million of villagers have been receiving information of all kinds.
The messages
get to audience faster and chapter regardless of their literacy level, distance
and geographical barriers. Radio seems to have an edge over the other media of
mass communication as its acceptance among the rural populace is far greater
due to the fact that radio lends itself to the predominant oral culture of the
people.
Radio waves
take the message to the people, they do not depend on a good network of roads,
fuel supplies or a serviceable transport, nor do they demand high level of
literacy in order to reach the farmers in the remote areas with timely
information, for the programme has to be
broadcast in English and native language. (Etuk 1990:206) Radio is a poplar
medium for transmitting knowledge, ideas and information to the masses.
Nzeneri
(1996:209) noted that, almost every home in developing countries has a radio.
And most of the community members like to carry their radio to places of work
like farms, offices, or workshop. Whichever method used, the key indices of
extension activity are the number of persons who adopt them even if eventually
on only a small portion of their farm.
Extension
agencies in developing countries including Nigeria make use of variety of mass
media methods of communication to bring about desirable changes in attitude and
behaviour of clientele.
Despite the
growing for increase agricultural product to feed the teeming population in the
state, farmers in Umunneochi Local Government Area who are mostly peasant
farmers are still indulging in their crude and traditional methods of
agricultural practices. They produce only a small scale year out to satisfy the
needs of their families.
Being aware
of this agricultural backwardness by farmers in the state, the media unit of
the Akwa Ibom State Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP) has been
producing programme on relevant agriculture innovations using the Akwa Ibom
State radio to air the programme to the farmer. This programme has the
following air time schedules in radio: Monday’s 4:45pm (English) and Fridays
6:30pm- 7.00pm (vernacular)
1.2
Statement of
the Problem
The threat
of starvation due to inadequate production of food stuff has necessitated wide
spread concern for mass education on agriculture in Nigeria.
The main
problem facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector today is not the lack of
technologies and ideas on how to bring about changes but taking these
innovations and ideas to the ultimate user. This demands a suitable and
effective communication medium.
The Akwa
Ibom State Agricultural Programme, (AKADEP) recognizing this fact has
instituted a radio programme, “the farmer” in AKBC radio to help disseminate
information on innovations in the field. Though this radio programme has been
on air for quite a long time now, it appears not to have a wider impact on
farmers in Uyo Local Government Area. What then is the impact of the programme
on farmers in Uyo Local Government Area?
1.3
Objectives
of Study
The
objectives of this research work were:
i To determine
whether the programme is a major source for communicating innovations to
farmers among other sources.
ii To determine those
innovations communicated through the programme and the level of adoption of
those innovations by farmers in Uyo Local Government Area.
iii To determine the
problems which hinders access to the programme and the non adoption of innovations
communicated through it.
1.4
Research
Questions
i Is the programme a
major source for communicating innovations to farmers in Uyo L.G.A. among other
sources?
ii What are the
innovations communicated through this programme and the level of adoption of
those innovations by farmers in Uyo L.G.A.?
iii Is there any problem
which hinders access to the programme and the adoption of innovations
communicated through its programme by farmers in Uyo L.G.A.?
1.5
Significance
of the Study
It is
assumed that the AKBC radio programme “the farmer” has been an effective
channel of communicating innovations to farmers in the state and thus it key to
improve farming methods in state.
This
research is important because it will help us to know the level of
accessibility and acceptability of this programme by farmers in the state.
Also it
would help to reveal the level at which this programme has contributed to the
discarding of the crude agricultural practices by farmers. It will enable us to
assess the level of diffusion of innovations through the modern mass medium.
1.6
Delimitation
The Akwa
Ibom State Agricultural Programme (AKADEP) has been using the AKBC Radio and
Television to disseminate information on agricultural innovations to farmers in
the state. For proper and accurate fact-finding, the research focused
specifically on the “Radio farmer”.
The AKBC
radio programme “The Farmer”, is a programme that disseminates information on
new ideas and practices in agricultural sector in Akwa Ibom State but for
accurate investigation and evaluation, the research is limited to farmers in
Uyo L.G.A. and their agricultural practices.
1.7
Definition
of Terms
Impact: The degree to which farmers in Uyo adopt innovations communicated
through the programme and the improvement they
have witness there from.
Adoption: The process by which farmers in Uyo accept and practice
agricultural innovations communicated to them through
the programme.
Innovations: New and improved ideas and methods on agricultural practices
communicated to farmers in Uyo through the
programme.
Programme: A broadcast item on agriculture sponsored by AKADEP.
AKADEP: Akwa Ibom State Agricultural Development Programme.
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