Abstract

The study looks at challenges farmers face in the adoption of the agricultural innovations aired by radio stations in Kaduna and Kano States with the sole objective of finding out the challenges farmers face in the adoption of the agricultural innovations aired by radio stations in Kaduna, and Kano States. The study adopted a quantitative (survey) method using a questionnaire to generate responses on adopting agricultural radio programmes on matters and innovations aired concerning their farming attitudes. The study found that those with higher income are less likely to adopt agricultural matters and innovations through radio because they hardly listen to the radio. Also, gender has a negative coefficient, namely, that a change in listenership from female to male reduces adoption, implying that females are likely to adopt more agricultural matters and innovation on radio than their male counterparts because they listen more to radio than male in the study area. Therefore, the study concludes that stations management be funding the Agricultural programme production to be generating up to date content, which impeded regular broadcast. The study recommends that the government to adopt the use of radio to complement the shortage of extension agents and recruit more agricultural extension agents to facilitate adoption of agricultural innovations in the study area effectively hence, there is low listenership among male respondents due to lack of regular up to date information on innovations. The agricultural development agencies and Non-governmental organisations involved in agricultural development utilised radio to encourage more women to participate in agriculture because they listen more to radio than their male counterparts. 

Key Words: Farmers, Farmers’ Challenges, Adoption of Innovations, Agricultural Innovations, Radio.

About the Authors

*Abdul-Aziz Haruna, an Extension Specialist, is the Head of Department, Agricultural Media Department of the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Kaduna, Nigeria and Adjunct lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. His area of research is in Broadcast Media, Information and Communication Technology’s and Development Communication.

**Cosmos Ikechukwu Eze, Ph.D. is a Professor of Development and Strategic Communication in the Department of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. He has interests in health communication, behavior change communication, strategic communication and crisis communication.

^JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 16, No. 2, October 2024, pp. 194-202

© Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).

Article Citation

Haruna, A. & Eze, C. I. (2024). Challenges faced by farmers in adopting agricultural innovations transmitted by radio stations in Kaduna and Kano States, Nigeria. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 16 (2): 194-202.

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