| dc.description.abstract | Radio has formed a key component in improving farm production by creating awareness among farmers about agricultural information and the availability of markets for their produce. This is expected to lead to food security, improved livelihoods, and national economies (Gomez, 1970). However, local farmers’ access to agricultural information has for long time remained very poor at various phases of the rural development as a result of the language radio uses to reach them (Nakabugu, 1999). This has prevented local farmers from participating in issues that concern them. The use of vernacular radio stations to reach local farmers with the information they need has therefore, provided the opportunity for improving farm production. The study sought to inquire if Radio Nam Lolwe has had any significant role in enhancing farm production of its listeners in Kakelo Location through its daily agricultural programs. The study was guided by the conviction that vernacular radio broadcasting has the potential of enhancing farm production and that audience adoption and participation is a key to this. The overarching main objective was to out what ways vernacular broadcasting contributes in the improvement of farm productivity of its audience. Specific objectives were tailored to identify topics on farm program presented by the radio station; the level of access of households to the radio farm program; farmers’ perception of the content of the agricultural program; and the level of adoption of the agricultural information received. This study attempted a descriptive research design. Farmers from Kakelo Location were sampled using Multistage sampling method based on better farming and radio listenership habits. This was to enable the researcher assess if by listening agricultural program aired on radio, farmers could improve their farm production. Quantitative data was collected from respondents by administering questionnaires using structured questions. The total sample size of the household heads was 60. Qualitative data was collected through unstructured key informant interviews using an interview guide to keep the interview in line with the research objectives. A purposive sampling which is non-probability technique was used to sample 6 key informants for this study. Non-participant observation was also used by the researcher to collect observational data. This was done using an observation check list. The raw data was processed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics were used to present data Findings from the study revealed that Radio Nam Lolwe has six segments of topics relevant to the needs of its audiences. Radio Nam Lolwe represented an ideal case study for this matter in respect to its agribusiness interactive program that promotes farming as a commercial enterprise and increases farmers’ access to information relating to markets, products, inputs and more efficient production methods in the agricultural sector. The study also revealed that poor reception of other radio stations was one of the reasons why majority of farmers preferred using only radio Nam Lolwe to access agricultural information. The study also found that other sources of farm information before the introduction of vernacular broadcasting included agricultural officers, NGO, parents and neighbors. However, none of the respondents were found to be still using agricultural officers and parents to access information because of their inaccessibility and old methods of farming respectively, where as information from the local NGO and neighbors were found to be still relevant to farmers’ needs. Farmers’ reaction towards radio farm topics was also found to be generally positive. However, only less than ten percent (8%) of farmers felt dissatisfied with the information on types of seeds to be planted. This could be explained by the fact that many soils had not been tested and therefore farmers did not know the type of seeds that could match their soils. Also many a times farmers were duped by being sold seeds of low standards that later lead to low yields. Acceptance of change and willingness to take risk by trying out new ideas on farming methods was shown to have a direct relationship with the respondent’s level of income and education, as well as quality of farm content aired on radio. The study concluded that while vernacular radio stations are the ideal platforms on which local farmers can access information that in turn shape their farm productivity agenda, it ends with some recommendations on how best the radio stations can bring out the extension service by organizing agricultural field days accompanied by experts in various fields of profession to demonstrate practically complex issues to farmers; linking rural farmers to market, manufactures of farm inputs, and other agricultural information for easier access; formation of farmer organization groups such as farm groups that would play a significant role in farm information adoption; and radio stations to design their programs to match the agricultural microclimates and an extension program of feedback to be incorporated in the production process | en_US |
