MEDIA BROADCAST OF VOICE OF PLANTAIN FARMERS IN OBUBRA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

¹Adinya I.B., ¹Adie U.B. and ²Obio, E.A.

¹Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Cross River University of Technology, Obubra Campus

²Department of Agronomy, Cross River University of Technology, Obubra Campus

Email: dradinyaignatius@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

This study examined media broadcast of voice of plantain farmers in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Data were collected from ninety six respondents in the study area using random sampling technique. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study found that majority of the respondents (90.63%) disclosed that they received information on agricultural programme on Radio. While 9.37% of them revealed that they did not. The study also found that 70.83% of the respondents disclosed that they adopted improved plantain suckers. While 20.83%, 1.04% and 7.29% of them disclosed that they adopted recommended plantain distance, fertilizer and herbicide application respectively. The study revealed that several constraints militated against the use of mass media to promote the transfer of innovations to plantain farmers. Based on the findings of the study it was recommended that government should provide improved plantain suckers at subsidized rate to farmers at the right time. Credit facilities should be given to plantain farmers and farmers who do not have collateral should form cooperative to enable them obtain loans from banks at low interest rate. Government should construct roads to interior areas where plantains  were produced in large quantities in the study area to enable farmers carry their products to market where they can sell at a better price. 

Keywords: Multi-media, Plantain, Innovation, Communication, Adoption