UTILIZATION OF MASS MEDIA AS A SOURCE OF AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION AMONG FARMERS

Abstract

The Study aims at examining the adoption of mass media as means of sourcing agricultural information among farmers. The study reviewed various literatures on agriculture, agricultural information and mass media. The study viewed agricultural information as a long term strategy that would address food insecurity, poverty and unemployment. It was identifies that agricultural information is transmitted through adequate mass media. Mass media refers to a diverse array of media technology that reached a large audience via mass communication. However, the nature and extent of the use of mass media in the mobilization of people for agricultural determine the degree of success of agriculture. The major mass media sources of farmers’ information include the broadcast, film, internet, podcast, video games, audio recording and reproduction, magazines, newspapers. Inadequate finance, irregular power supply, low literacy level among others pose as constraints to the effective utilization of mass media by farmers. The study recommends among others that more awareness to the farmers on the use of mass media in sourcing for agricultural information, the power sector should endeavour the regular power supply to enhance access to agricultural information through the electronic mass media, that agricultural information should be based on current agricultural realities.