Combating climate change through development communication: the Agricola multipurpose experience

Abstract

The need to educate farmers through the use of development communication (DC) techniques in ensuring food security necessitated this study. Climate change affects farmers who depend on natural rain-fed farming and agriculture. During such change, crops, seedlings, stored food, farming implements as well as storage facilities/infrastructures are damaged, leading to food insecurity. The work is hinged on the t Technology Determinism Theory (TDT) attributed to the American sociologist, Thorstein Veblen, which insists that technology, technological development, communications technology and media are pivotal to any social change in society. This is because, changes in society is propelled by the advent of new technology, development of innovation leading to a new order. The primary data for the study was obtained through the use of Development Communication technique of disseminating vital information to Agricola Multipurpose  Farmers’ Cooperative Society through the social media. Focused Group Discussion of social media messages was used for the data analysis. The study concludes that proper information dissemination to farmers will in no small measure assist in the management of climate change leading to food security. The study recommends the use of the new media for the dissemination of information to not only farmers but to the general public for the sustenance of agriculture and food security.