ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF RADIO IN DISSEMINATION OF AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION TO FISH FARMERS IN OKRIKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF RIVERS STATE

Abstract

This research assess the use of radio in dissemination of agricultural information to fish farmers in Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State. The specific objectives were to: determine the socio – economic characteristics of fish farmers in the study area; identify the radio stations that are made available to the fish farmers, ascertain the perceived effectiveness of using radio as a means of communication; identifying the agricultural technologies that are made available to the fish farmers though radio and identifying problems associated with dissemination of agricultural information on the study area. Primary source of data were collected using questionnaire, administered to 100 respondents. Finding revealed that most of the fish farmers (30%/27.5%) were within the age range of 21 – 30 and 31 – 40 years respectively while another 17.5% reported being below 20years, those above 41 and 50 – 51 years of age falls within 10 and 15% respectively. Most fish farmers in the study area are vibrant youths and adults. On the gender of the respondents, it was revealed that majority of the fish farmers 51.25% are males while 48.75% are female. Male fish farmers do not differ significantly in number from their female counterparts. It was revealed further that 48% of the fish farmers are married while 13% are single with 18% divorced and 8% widowed. This indicates that most of the fish farmers are married and probably doing fish farming as a family business. On their educational qualification, it was revealed that most of the fish farmers are married and probably doing fish farming as a family business. On holders while 48% are primary school certificate holders. It was also revealed that only 6% of fish farmers are tertiary degree holders while the other 6% have no former education. This finding indicates that most of the fish farmers are poorly educated as it could be seen from the findings work that most of the fish farmers with secondary and primary qualifications could not even read fluently. Some factors that influenced the dissemination of agricultural information were costs of radio sets, erratic power supply, language barrier, high cost of feeds, improper market place. The study recommended that the governments should assist fish farmers by disseminating agricultural information to them through specific radio stations.