FARMERS’ PERCEPTION OF “LATOJU OJA” RADIO PROGRAMME IN IDDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Radio is noted to be one of the most important sources of reaching farmers in many developing countries because of its cheapness and wide coverage. The study assessed farmers’ perception of “Latoju Oja†radio programme of Radio Nigeria in Iddo Local Government of Oyo State Nigeria. Three major towns were purposively selected because of their high commercial and farming activities. From each town thirty-five respondents were selected using the snowball technique to make one hundred and five respondents for the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency counts, percentages and chi-square analysis were used in analyzing the data obtained. The study revealed that 60% of the respondents were 40 years and above, 95% were male, 88% were married while majority (68.8%) of the respondents indicated that they had completed secondary school education, with very few (5%) attending tertiary institutions. The programme listened to “regularly†by the respondents on radio were news (75.2%), religious issues (51.2%) and agricultural issues (48.7%). On respondents’ frequency of listening to “Latoju Oja†programme, 57.5% listen regularly while 35% listen occasionally. The study revealed that the respondents are positively disposed to “Latoju Oja†radio programme.  Chi-square analysis showed that there were no significant associations between sex, religion, marital status and respondents’ perception, while age and educational level showed significant associations with farmers’ perception. In addition, Chi-square analysis showed that no significant association exists between the respondents’ listening frequency and perception of “Latoju Oja†Programme. The study concluded that more markets should be included in the radio programme, since farmers have positive disposition to the programme to enable farmers have a more detailed knowledge of commodities prices in more markets in the area.