Utilization of Selected Electronic Mass Media as Sources of Agricultural Information by Farmers in Northern Taraba State, Nigeria

This study was on utilization of selected electronic mass media as sources of agricultural information by farmers in Northern part of Taraba state of Nigeria. The study considered among others the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents (farmers), the different electronic mass media utilized by the respondents and the major constraints associated with the utilization of electronic mass media in agricultural information delivery. Simple random sampling method was used in selecting 120 farmer respondents for this study. Questionnaires/interview schedules were administered to them. Similarly, questionnaires were administered to the programme managers of electronic mass media outfits studied. Percentages, frequencies and regression analysis were used to analyse the data. The major findings among others include that among the electronic mass media studied, radio was the most utilized by the respondents, and that farm income, age, educational level and farming experience of the respondents had positive coefficients and significant relationship with the utilization of electronic mass media organs. It is suggested among others that there should be provisions of digital electronics gadgets to meet with the recent development in technologies in agricultural information dissemination.

Key words: Agricultural information; Farmers; Northern Taraba state; Technology; Utilization electronic mass

DOI: 10.4038/tare.v12i1.1979

Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 12(1):2009 17-22