Effectiveness of Radio in Disseminating Agricultural Information among Smallholder Farmers

Abstract

This study assesses the effectiveness of radio in disseminating agricultural information among smallholder
farmers in Suru Local Government, Kebbi State, Nigeria. Utilizing a multistage sampling procedure, data
were collected from 81 farmers via questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings
reveal that radio is a highly accessible, widely used, and positively perceived medium, well-suited to a
farming population characterized by basic education and a preference for verbal communication. However,
its effectiveness is constrained by the cost of acquiring radios and, more critically, by content-related issues
such as a lack of in-depth information, irrelevant topics, and unsuitable scheduling. The study concludes that
while radio remains a vital information source, its potential is not fully realized. It recommends enhancing
program content with interactive, local-language formats, strategically rescheduling broadcasts, subsidizing
radio costs, and integrating radio into a broader communication strategy that includes extension services and
mobile technologies to improve agricultural knowledge dissemination.