Utilization of Information from Farmers’ Forum on Diamond FM Radio, University of Ibadan by Arable Crop farmers in Ibadan Peri-Urban, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study assessed the utilization of entrepreneurial information provided through agricultural radio programme on Diamond FM Radio, University of Ibadan for arable crop farmers in Ibadan Peri-Urban. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 120 respondents from a list of programme feedback/contact farmers. Most of the respondents (56.7%) were between the age range of 49-56 years, 82.5% were male, 86.7% were married, 52.5% had secondary school education, with an average household size of x̄=7.58, years of experience x̄=24.7, with average land area cultivated ( x̄= 4.75 hectares). Entrepreneurial information mostly accessed were on sustainable land preparation practices ( x̄= 0.99) and exploring early season of farming ( x̄=0.98). Market information was perceived as most relevant entrepreneurial information to their enterprise, with radio talk ( x̄=1.99) being the most preferred format for programme delivery. Respondents were mostly constrained by inadequate finance to purchase farm inputs ( x̄=1.99) in a bid to utilize entrepreneurial information. Entrepreneurial information utilized most were those on market information, soil conservation practices and mitigating the effects of climate change ( x̄=1.99). Significant relationship existed between membership of farmers’ association (χ² = 5.091), household size (r=-0.186), relevance of entrepreneurial information to enterprise (r=0.801), format of programme delivery preferred (r=0.816), constraints to utilizing entrepreneurial information (r=0.374) and utilization of entrepreneurial information by arable crop farmers. Radio programme is thus an effective means of disseminating entrepreneurial information and its effective utilization is thus advocated.

Key words: Arable crop farmers, entrepreneurial information, farmers’ forum, programme format, radio programme.