PERCEIVED EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PROGRAMME OF RADIO NIGER ON CROP PRODUCTION BY RURAL FARMER OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the perceived effect of agricultural extension programmes (AEP) of radio Niger on crop production by rural farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 124 rural farmers. Primary data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire complemented with an interview schedule, while data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result revealed that the majority (81.5%) of the respondent were males, 75.0% were married and 84.7% acquired formal education. Mean age, household size, farming experience and farm size of the respondents was 45 years, 8 people, 8.3 years and 3 hectares, respectively. Moreover, majority (91.9%) of the respondents owned and listened to AEP through radio station. There was high awareness of radio as a source of agricultural information (X ̅ = 2.27) as well as various AEP of radio Niger (X ̅ = 2.24) ranked 1st and 2nd, respectively in order of awareness. The main AEP usually disseminated through radio on crop production were Noma – tshonciniki (96.0%), Noma – fadama (60.5%) and Enunuci (55.6%). Majority (78.2%) benefited from few programmes, while only 7.3% benefited from all the programmes. The respondents perceived that information on pest and disease eradication (X ̅ = 2.31), information on timely planting (X ̅ = 2.30), information on improved crop varieties (X ̅ = 2.18) among others are the most effective AEP of radio Niger. The severe constraints in accessing AEP by the rural farmers are inadequate time for programmes transmission (X ̅ = 2.55) and poor radio signal (X ̅ = 2.35). It could be concluded that there was high awareness of various AEP in which Noman – tshoncinki and Noma – fadama was the most benefited one, while the programmes were perceived to be effective in enhancing crop production. It was recommended that, more AEP should be transmitted through radio stations, while extension agents should create awareness about time and content of the AEP.