ISSN 2360-7971
Abstract
The study assessed the coverage of agricultural news on radio among rice farmers in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The objectives were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of respondents; identify the extent of agricultural news coverage by radio stations; determine the frequency of agricultural news broadcasts; assess the nature and accessibility of agricultural content; identify challenges faced by broadcasters; and test the relationship between broadcast frequency and farmers’ access to agricultural information. Data were collected from 110 respondents using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, means, percentages) and logistic regression. Findings revealed that the majority (65.5%) of respondents were male, with a mean age of 44.5 years, average farming experience of 15.6 years, and moderate-income levels. The extent of agricultural news coverage was relatively high (mean coverage = 69.3%), with programs focusing on production, market prices, and government interventions. Agricultural programs were broadcast mostly weekly (42.7%) and daily (29.1%), with an overall mean frequency of 2.09. Respondents generally perceived the nature and content of agricultural news as relevant, practical, and understandable (grand mean = 3.20), while accessibility was enhanced through local language broadcasting (89.1%) and interactive sessions (75.5%). Major challenges identified included poor signal coverage, inadequate funding, limited airtime, and weak collaboration with extension agents. It recommends increased funding, improved broadcast frequency, participatory program design, and stronger collaboration between radio broadcasters and extension services to promote effective agricultural communication and improved productivity in the study area.
Keywords: Assessment, Radio Coverage, Agricultural News, Agricultural Information, Farmers