Abstract

Social media have increased the availability of information on agriculture related activities to a good number of people who may be millions of miles away from each other. Their abilities to elicit immediate feedback speak volumes of their usefulness especially in disseminating agricultural information. This study explores the gains of using social media in communicating agricultural information to farmers in Plateau State, with particular emphasis on agricultural extension workers who actively promote agricultural activities for the overall development of the sector. Using the survey research design, the study was anchored on Diffusion of Innovations and Uses and Gratifications Theory. Questionnaire was administered on 40 purposively selected extension workers in four agricultural institutions in Plateau State. Findings show that social media have helped improve agricultural development. This is because 82% of respondents affirmed that they use social media such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to disseminate agricultural information, pictures and live-feeds among themselves and to farmers who are available on these social networking sites. The study concludes that social media are potent tools in diffusion of agricultural innovations and recommends a policy enforcing their use in communicating agricultural information to farmers and the general public. This will enhance collaboration and interaction between agricultural extension workers, farmers and by extension the public on issues relating to agricultural development and bring about greater productivity in the sector.

Keywords: Social Media, Agriculture, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

^JCMRJournal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 5, No. 1, April 2013, 27 – 39 

©Delmas Communications Ltd.

About the authors

*Babatunde Kolade Adeyeye is with the National Orientation Agency, Akure and the Department of Mass Communication, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.

**Innocent Oche Audu is with the Department of Mass Communication, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.

***Ibe Ben Onoja is with the Department of Mass Communication, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria.

****Comfort Ajuma Ogwo is with the Department of Mass Communication, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria.

*****Emmanuel Unekwu Ojih is with the Department of Mass Communication, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria.

Full Article

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