Agricultural Radio Programmes in Indigenous Languages and Agricultural Productivity in North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of agricultural radio programmes in indigenous languages on farmers’ productivity and their implications for agricultural productivity in North-Central Nigeria. It specifically explored how farmers’ knowledge of agricultural radio programmes produced in indigenous languages influences their productivity; how farmers’ acceptance of agricultural radio programmes produced in indigenous languages influences productivity; and whether behavioural changes result from agricultural radio programmes aired in indigenous languages affect farmers’ productivity. Data were gathered through a survey of 663 farmers selected through the three states’ multi-stage sampling technique (Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau). The hypotheses were tested using regression analysis and structural equation modelling. They revealed that the R value was 0.677, suggesting a highly significant relationship between farmers’ knowledge of agricultural radio programmes in indigenous languages and farmers’ productivity. Results also revealed that farmers’ behavioural changes resulting from agricultural radio programmes in indigenous languages greatly influence farmers’ productivity (F value was 558.358 at the 0.000 significant level). The study concludes that farmers’ knowledge, acceptance and behavioural change towards agricultural radio programmes in indigenous languages significantly influence farmers’ productivity in agriculture. Thus, farmers should be encouraged to continue participating in agricultural radio programmes in indigenous languages to be kept abreast of happenings in the field.

Health belief model and behavioural practice of urban poor towards COVID-19 in Nigeria

“…Given our determined sample size as 405 and a random selection of five wards, a total of 81 respondents were selected from each of the ward (i.e 81∗5 = 405). However, since each ward has an average of 400–500 households ( Adekola et al., 2019 ; Adesina et al., 2018 ; Adeyeye et al., 2021 ), our sampling interval becomes 400/81(using the minimum number of household i.e 400). This resulted into a sampling interval of approximately five houses.…”

Nexus among indigenous languages, agricultural radio programmes and behavioural change towards agricultural practices in Nigeria

“…Face-to-face interactions and strategies for mass mediation are all examples of this type of communication. Considering this, employing indigenous languages to communicate with agricultural communities through the media, mainly radio, fosters a sense of community among listeners [ 11 , 12 ]. Studies have shown that using the native language in radio broadcasts is the most effective way to spread mass messages since it does more with less effort than other media and is understood by the audience [ 9 , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] ].…”

Access to Dry Season Agricultural Content in the Broadcast Media and Dry Season Irrigation Farming among Smallholder Farmers in Nigeria

“…insecurity in Nigeria is still a huge problem (see Figure 1), irrespective of previous ag cultural policies aimed at increasing food productivity and reducing hunger in the cou try. Various researchers opine that the inefficient farming models adopted by the sma holder farmers who constitute the largest population of farmers in Nigeria are a maj cause of perennial food insecurity [5][6][7]. Most smallholder farmers in Nigeria have be restrained to rainfed cultivation irrespective of abundant irrigable water resources sprea across a variety of agroecological zones [8,9].…”

“…To achieve this, the federal government launched the Agricultural Transformation Agenda in 2014 to re-engage key stakeholders in crop production of food with the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) assistance through the N20 billion-naira Anchor Borrowers' Programme support for dry season irrigation farming [14][15][16], to ensure the availability of food all year round, which is a significant factor for the actualization of the Sustainable Development Goals 1 (Zero poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), and 3 good health and wellbeing [7,17]. Thus, food security is intertwined with other SDGs.…”