Adoption of organic agricultural technologies: implications for radio farmer agricultural extension programmes in Imo State, Nigeria

    Collection:
    Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
    Contributers:
    Treinen, Sophie (author)
    Format:
    Conference paper
    Publication Date:
    2010
    URL:
    http://iaald2010.agropolis.fr/T2-Targeted-information-products-and-services.html
    Published:
    The International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAALD)
    Location:
    Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 102 Document Number: D10917
    Subject Term:
    adoption, broadcasting, communication methods, extension, extension communication, farmers, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), organic farming, radio programs, United Nations (UN), Nigeria (Africa, Western), and information communication technology
    Notes:
    14 pages., via IAALD website., The study determined farmers’ adoption of Organic agricultural technologies disseminated via radio farmer agricultural Extension programme in Imo state, Nigeria. An interview schedule was used to collect data from a sample of 200 farmers. Results show that radio farmer broadcast and co-farmers were the major sources of information to greater proportion of the farmers. Data on relevance of the organic agricultural technologies disseminated showed that almost all the technologies were perceived to be relevant except the use of biological pest control farming. The radio farmer agricultural programme enhanced the extent of adoption of organic agricultural technologies namely; crop rotation practice, planting of indigenous varieties, application of compost, mulching of crops, intercropping, mixed cropping, crop residues, animal manuring, planting of legumes, green manure, off farm organic waste, minimum tillage and alley cropping. Nevertheless, the adoptions of the technologies were generally low. Age, farming experience and social participation significantly influenced adoption of organic agricultural technologies disseminated via radio farm agricultural Extension programme. Major constraints identified include short duration of programme, inappropriate scheduling of programme, inability to ask relevant questions and get feed back from the radio presenter. The study recommends among other things the rescheduling of the radio programme to very late in the evenings when the farmers will be opportune to listen to the programme.

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