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Use of radio as a tool for promoting integrated pest management among farmers in Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria IJJMC Use of radio as a tool for promoting integrated pest management among farmers in Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria *Israel Oguche *Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria Email: [email protected], Tel.: +2348069222599 This study took a look at the place of radio in the improvement of farming practices among the farmers in Shika community in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The focus of the study was the use of radio for sensitizing farmers on integrated pest management. The objectives of the study were; examining the importance of radio as a source of agricultural information to farmers in Shika, ascertaining the level of farmers’ awareness of chemical pest control and determining how Radio can be used as a communication channel for promoting chemical pest control among farmers in Shika. Survey research method was used for the study, while copies of structured questionnaire were administered to 60 respondents purposively selected and descriptive data analysis technique was used to present and analyze the data. The findings included the fact that people of Shika do not have requisite agricultural information needed for pest control hence, there is high rate of pest attacks on their farms, the radio stations in the area rarely broadcast issues related to pest control, while there is low extension attention to the community. Improved access to agricultural information on Radio, through the Hausa language could lead to pest control needed for improved agricultural productivity in Shika community. Keywords: Radio, agriculture, integrated pest management, Information, agricultural information, farmers. INTRODUCTION Over the years, radio has been at the forefront of farmer sensitization and enlightenment ranging from human capital development to improvement of agriculture in the rural areas. This development is not uncommon in the developing countries, where the majority of the population depend on radio for information in virtually all spheres of human endeavour (Nworgu, 2006). Part of the many roles of radio in the Nigerian society is the sensitization of farmers on pest control, fertilizer application, use of chemicals and the extent to which the chemicals can be used. Also, radio helps to alleviate the sufferings of farmers, who are considered information poor in the society. The extent of radio function, in this regards, is determined by the massive usage by the farmers. In other words, radio programmes are organized to include the farmers, in order to foster their relationship with other sectors of the economy (Feenstra, Jabbar, Masih and Janghir, 2000). The problem always faced by the farmers could be in the form of lack of access to basic information on the appropriate way to carry out a farming system. It should be noted that most Nigerian farmers live in the rural areas and as such, lack access to the other types of media channels. This has made agricultural and development experts to come up with the necessary tools for making their intentions known to the farmers. Radio becomes the best option. For decades now, radio has been a dominant source of information for farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Although International Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication Vol. 2(1), pp. 011-017, March, 2016. © www.premierpublishers.org. ISSN: 2143-2686 Research Article

Use of radio as a tool for promoting integrated pest management among farmers in Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria

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Page 1: Use of radio as a tool for promoting integrated pest management among farmers in Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Use of radio as a tool for promoting integrated pest management among farmers in Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria

IJJMC

Use of radio as a tool for promoting integrated pest management among farmers in Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria

*Israel Oguche *Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria Email: [email protected], Tel.: +2348069222599

This study took a look at the place of radio in the improvement of farming practices among the farmers in Shika community in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The focus of the study was the use of radio for sensitizing farmers on integrated pest management. The objectives of the study were; examining the importance of radio as a source of agricultural information to farmers in Shika, ascertaining the level of farmers’ awareness of chemical pest control and determining how Radio can be used as a communication channel for promoting chemical pest control among farmers in Shika. Survey research method was used for the study, while copies of structured questionnaire were administered to 60 respondents purposively selected and descriptive data analysis technique was used to present and analyze the data. The findings included the fact that people of Shika do not have requisite agricultural information needed for pest control hence, there is high rate of pest attacks on their farms, the radio stations in the area rarely broadcast issues related to pest control, while there is low extension attention to the community. Improved access to agricultural information on Radio, through the Hausa language could lead to pest control needed for improved agricultural productivity in Shika community.

Keywords: Radio, agriculture, integrated pest management, Information, agricultural information, farmers. INTRODUCTION Over the years, radio has been at the forefront of farmer sensitization and enlightenment ranging from human capital development to improvement of agriculture in the rural areas. This development is not uncommon in the developing countries, where the majority of the population depend on radio for information in virtually all spheres of human endeavour (Nworgu, 2006). Part of the many roles of radio in the Nigerian society is the sensitization of farmers on pest control, fertilizer application, use of chemicals and the extent to which the chemicals can be used. Also, radio helps to alleviate the sufferings of farmers, who are considered information poor in the society. The extent of radio function, in this regards, is determined by the massive usage by the farmers.

In other words, radio programmes are organized to include the farmers, in order to foster their relationship with other sectors of the economy (Feenstra, Jabbar, Masih and Janghir, 2000). The problem always faced by the farmers could be in the form of lack of access to basic information on the appropriate way to carry out a farming system. It should be noted that most Nigerian farmers live in the rural areas and as such, lack access to the other types of media channels. This has made agricultural and development experts to come up with the necessary tools for making their intentions known to the farmers. Radio becomes the best option. For decades now, radio has been a dominant source of information for farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Although

International Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication Vol. 2(1), pp. 011-017, March, 2016. © www.premierpublishers.org. ISSN: 2143-2686

Research Article

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Use of radio as a tool for promoting integrated pest management among farmers in Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Oguche I 011 the reach of radio varies from country to country, it is estimated that between 80 and 90 percent of households in Africa have access to a functional radio (Odame, 2008). In addition, various studies conducted about sources of information for farmers (Chizari and Dinpanah, 2005; Arokoyo, 2003; Escalada et al, 2009; Ekoja, 2013; Maddox et al, 2013; Annerose, 2003; Saadi, 2008; Prakasha, 2012; Stevens, 2011; Benor et al, 2014; Shahbazi, 2013; Nouri, 2010 and Turral et al, 2012) explain the place of radio as a major transformer in bahaviour and attitude change among farmers towards improved farm yields. While Rogers (1995) defined the message source as an individual or institution that originates the message, others explained that the message source can be different in each country. Marra (2001) and Ekoja (2013) showed that extension agents, neighbors, other farmers, opinion leaders and organized groups can be sources of information for farmers in Nigeria. Integrated Pest Management is defined as a planned programme, incorporating continuous monitoring, education, record-keeping, and communication to prevent pests and disease vectors from causing unacceptable damage to operations, people, property, materiel, or the environment. IPM uses targeted, sustainable (effective, economical, environmentally sound) methods including habitat modification, biological control, genetic control, cultural control, mechanical control, physical control, regulatory control, and where necessary, the judicious use of least-hazardous pesticides (DoD Instruction, 2008). As a planned programme, IPM creates opportunities for farmers to imbibe the culture of pest control on their farms. To achieve this fit, the place of radio becomes necessary through provision of liberal access to agriculture information. Hence, radio can be described as a liberal medium, since it is available to the audience at a particular point in time. Further, the liberalization of radio has led to the liberalization of regulatory environments in a number of countries and has further increased the number of radio broadcasting over the airwaves, thereby providing more access to agricultural information. Given the fact that adult literacy rates in sub-Saharan Africa are just over 60 percent and that electricity in many rural communities is non-existent, battery-powered radios are often the most affordable and practical way for rural farmers to access information (Odame, 2008). Radio continues to be the best way to reach sizeable portions of rural smallholder farmers in Africa (Ozowa, 2005). Furthermore, advances in information and communication technologies (ICT) have made it significantly easier and more affordable to engage and interact with listeners over the radio. By using new technologies, it is possible to enhance the potential of radio as a powerful distribution channel beyond what had

ever been possible. Radio stations and development organizations working with farmers now have a number of options available to them for converting traditional broadcast-only radio into what has become known as interactive radio. Radio encourages rural dwellers to participate actively in the development process or even better to take their own initiative to improve the living conditions in their communities. Since most farmers have not been to school, radio acts as a substitute for formal education. Radio enables communities to articulate their experiences and to critically examine issues and policies affecting their lives for example a community can use the radio to highlight new agricultural policies. These policies can be debated upon and discussed using the radio and immediate feedback can be given for relevant authorities to take action. Integrated Pest Management is a preventative, long-term, low toxicity means of controlling pests. According to Conroy (2003), Integrated Pest Management could also be defined as an approach to enhancing crop and livestock production, based on an understanding of ecological principles, that empowers farmers to promote the health of crops and animals within a well-balanced agro-ecosystem, making full use of available technologies, especially host resistance, biological control and cultural control methods. Chemical pesticides are used only when the above measures fail to keep pests below acceptable levels, and when assessment of associated risks and benefits (considering effects on human and environmental health, as well as profitability) indicates that the benefits of their use outweigh the costs. All interventions are need-based and are applied in ways that minimize undesirable side-effects. For optimal use, it involves a thorough knowledge of the pest-biology and its relationship to its environment to determine its most vulnerable points (Asiabaka, 2005). Radio is still the most popular, economic and accessible means of communication for rural population (FAO, 2000). In Africa, the number of radio sets per head is superior by far to the number of television sets or telephone lines. In places with high rate of literacy, as well as where electricity, phone – or worse still access to internet are lacking, radio plays a key role in daily local life. Rural, local and community radio informs population in local languages on vital subjects such as agriculture. Established by and for the community, radio involves the population in the programmes, so that they may actively participate in development (Anderson, Sweeny and Williams, 2003). In this breath, radio has over time stood out as a major dialogue initiator, temperament respondent and untiring arbitrator (Anderson, Sweeny and Williams, 2003). The

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Use of radio as a tool for promoting integrated pest management among farmers in Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Int. J. J. Mass Commun. 012 link therefore between radio, the rural community, agriculture and development cannot be over emphasized. The nature of life in most rural communities is that of a subsistence manner. The communities need basic life necessities like food, shelter, clothing, all mainly got from agriculture. It is therefore important that the agricultural sector is developed, in order to develop the rural areas. The pivotal role of rural broadcasting therefore becomes handy. Radio could be used for alleviation of farmers’ sufferings in order to ensure bumper harvest at the end of farming season. One of the ways this is done, is through the radio. Hence, there is need for pest control mechanisms. Most of the farmers do not have the basic access to pest control measures (Madukwe, Okoli and Eze, 2002). Hence, radio help in sensitizing them on the prescriptions for use of pesticide, the dosage of the chemicals to be applied, the period of application and the preventive measures against danger. Radio has become the most undisputable mass communication tool in the developing world, providing a veritable option for production and dissemination of proven agricultural technologies to end users (Arokoyo, 1996). In addition, radio could be used to enlighten farmers in the preservation methods for agricultural produce. This means that the farmers can be informed the necessary ways to preserve their products from spoilage. It also helps to inform them on the measures of storage of the agricultural produce. This will prevent their crops from damage and thereby saving it for sale and industrial use. Farmers in Nigeria face several challenges in their quests to produce food, including limited access to information, necessary for increase in yields. Worse still, most of these farmers tend to eke out a living, due to lack of adequate information, needed to carry out their farm works. In addition, farmers in Nigeria are not carried along in issues that concern their welfare, such that the relationship between them and the facilitators or extension workers is that of top-bottom approach (Arokoyo, 1996). This has kept many rural farmers incommunicado, even in the issues that concerns them. In order to control pests attacks on crops, farmers are exposed to use of pesticides, such that they can apply them to their crops to prevent pest attacks, in order to increase crop yields. However, many farmers lack the requisite orientation on the proper use of these chemicals. This leads to improper application- causing harm to the crops and also not taking proper precautions in their use. Worse still, many more are resistance to change, hence they have not adopted the use of chemicals for pest control. The place of radio in dissemination of information to rural farmers cannot be overemphasized. This is because radio bridges the gap between the rural dwellers and the city dwellers. It also acts as an intermediary between

development facilitators and the beneficiaries. This study, among other things, is geared towards examining the use of radio to carry out this sensitization among rural farmers in Shika community of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Also the study examines farmers awareness to agricultural information through radio for pest control and the applications of radio to achieve this aim. Research Questions The following questions were used as guiding principles in this study: 1. To what extent can radio be used as a source of Agricultural Information for rural farmers in Shika? 2. What is the level of farmers’ Awareness of chemical pest control in Shika? 3. How can radio be used as a communication channel for promoting chemical pest control among rural farmers in Shika? METHODOLOGY Research Design The survey research design was used for this study. This is because the survey method presents the universe of the study by appropriating or reducing it to provide the opportunity to check on the incident, distributions and interrelation of variables (Wimmer and Dominick, 2003). Also, survey design aid this study in getting access to the primary data from the respondents, getting their opinion and give options for their divergent views on the focus of the study. According to Cohen and Manion (1980) and Trochim, (2000), a descriptive survey design is appropriate for obtaining people’s perceptions on social issues and social facts concerning the current status of phenomena and/or for describing the nature of existing conditions in a situation. Thus, a descriptive survey design was selected in this study because the primary goal is to ascertain the level of awareness of farmers on the use of pesticides and the use of the radio in this regards. Population and Sampling The population of this study comprises all the crop farmers in Shika community, in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, North-West Nigeria. The purposive sampling technique was used for this study, to this end, 60 farmers were purposively selected for the study from the entire population of farmers in Shika. According to Best and Kahn (2006), purposive sampling is used when the members of the population are located in a scattered form and can be accessed using peculiar characteristics, such that they can be selected using equality of numbers. Therefore, the purposive sampling technique used in this

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Use of radio as a tool for promoting integrated pest management among farmers in Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Oguche I 013 study gives a chance for representation of the entire population of farmers in Shika community. The reason for the choice of purposive sampling is to enable the researcher access the farmers who have varied times of farming and may be on their farms at the time of the research. The 60 respondents were selected using simple random sampling technique. This cuts across three groups of farmers’ specialization namely farmers of grains, tubers and fruits. Instruments of Data Collection A structured questionnaire was used to collect the necessary data from the respondents. The questions contained in the questionnaire were 16 – for both close-ended and open-ended questions. The section A part of the questionnaire bothers on the demographic characteristics of the respondents, while the section B comprises the research questions. The descriptive data analysis was used to analyze the data collected from the field. This involves the presentation of data in tables followed by interpretation of the figures in the tables. DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS From the table 1, it could be understood that the highest age-bracket in farming is 45 and above(33%), followed by 26 -35 age bracket (30%), while 16-25 and 36-45 age brackets have 17% and 20% respectively. The essence of these reactions by the respondents may be because most of the youngsters do not take part in agricultural practices, unlike the elders. It should be noted, however, that many people of different categories participate in farming, and this cut across the entire age brackets. Table 1. Age of Respondents

Age Bracket Response Percentage

16 – 25 10 17 26 -35 18 30 36 – 45 12 20 45 and above 20 33 Total 60 100

Table 2 shows the sex distribution of the respondents. The essence of the significant difference between the number of male farmers (70%) and female farmers (30%) is that in Shika community, most of the farmers are males, hence only a few females engage themselves in farming practices. Table 2. Sex Distribution of the Respondents

Sex Response Percentage

Male 42 70 Female 18 30 Total 60 100

The table 3 shows the choice of media available to the respondents. Here, the radio was chosen highest (80%), followed by television (17%), while print media had 3%. These figures show that the radio is the respondents’ best medium needed for agricultural information. However, it should be noted that some respondents might have access to all these media at varying degrees, depending on their choice of medium at a time and the gratifications needed from such medium. Table 3. Choice of Media by the Respondents

Media Response Percentage

Radio 48 80 Television 10 17 Newspaper/Magazine 2 3 Total 60 100

From the table 4, 93% of the respondents listen to radio on daily basis, while 7% do same on weekly basis. This is because, many of the respondents have access to radio due to affordability and ubiquity of the radio compared with other media. Table 4. Frequency of Respondents’ Listenership to Radio

Listenership to Radio Response Percentage

Daily 56 93 Weekly 4 7 Monthly 0 0 Not at all 0 0 Total 60 100

The table 5 shows the type of information got from the radio by the respondents. Agriculture rated 13%, followed by health (7%) and sports (5%). However, most of the respondents (75%) chose all of the above option. This may be as a result of the rate of respondents’ exposure to radio, such that they listen to different programmes to know the one that meet their gratifications. Table 5. Type of Information got by the Respondents from the Radio

Information Response Percentage

Agriculture 8 13 Sports and business 3 5 Health 4 7 All of the above 45 75 Total 60 100

According to table 6, 50% of the respondents strongly disagreed concerning the use of pesticide. This if contrary to those who strongly agreed to its usage (25%). 10% agreed while 8% disagreed. This mean that most of the respondents do not uses pesticides on their farms, in ordre to protect their crops. The essence of this choice by the respondents may be as a result of the low rate of information been passed across to them, such that they are not well sensitized on its usage.

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Use of radio as a tool for promoting integrated pest management among farmers in Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Int. J. J. Mass Commun. 014 Table 6. Respondents Reaction on the use of pesticides on their farm

Use of pesticides Response Percentage

Strongly Agreed 15 25 Agreed 10 17 Disagreed 5 8 Strongly Disagreed 30 50 Total 60 100

From the table 7, 50% do not use pesticides for fear of been poisoned by it. This shows that many of the respondents are not aware of how to use pesticides, instead, they prefer their traditional farming system. This is also the same position of some respondents who never use it at all (20%). This is to say that 70% of the respondents do not use pesticides, while only 30% use it at intervals of one to two years. The reason for this might not be far from the peoples’ conservative nature, such that they are not sensitized about the use of pesticides. Table 7. Frequency of use of pesticides by the Respondents

Use of Pesticides frequency Response Percentage

Every Farming Season 13 22 Once in two years 5 8 Not at all 12 20 Don’t use for fear of poisoning 30 50 Total 60 100

From the table 8, it could be understood that 67% of the respondents listen to FRCN Kaduna Hausa Service, while 25% listen to ABU Samaru FM and only 5% claim to listen to the BBC Hausa Service. These reactions by the respondents may be as a result of their nearness to FRCN Kaduna and Samaru FM. However, many of the respondents may also be regular listeners to the BBC Hausa service, at different times apart from what they have stated here. In any case, FRCN Hausa Service remains the popular station in the North because it covers a wide range of areas in the North and transmits in the Hausa language, the general language spoken in Northern Nigeria. Samaru FM may have also been chosen because of the nearness to Shika community. Hence, these stations go a long way in meeting the gratifications of the rural people. Table 8. Choice of Radio channels listened to by the respondents

Radio Channels Response Percentage

FRCN Kaduna Hausa Service 40 67 ABU Samaru Fm 15 25 BBC Hausa Service 5 8 Total 60 100

From the table 9, it could be seen that 67% of the respondents chose the yes option for radio to be used to sensitize farmers on use of chemicals to control pests in

Shika, while 15% disagreed to this. However, only five percent had no idea of the question. Table 9. Views of the Respondents on whether Radio can be used to sensitize farmers on use of chemicals to control pests

Use of Chemicals Response Percentage

Yes 40 67 No 15 25 No idea 5 8 Total 60 100

Views of the Respondents on ways to Sensitize farmers, through Radio on Pest Management in Shika The respondents here suggested divergent views on how radio could be used for the control of pests by farmers in Shika. While some suggested that there should be agricultural programmes dedicated to such activity, others suggest that the extension agents should be taken as guests on such radio programmes to ensure that their expertise should be brought to bear, towards sensitizing the farmers. Another dominant view of the respondents is the use of Hausa language to communicate most of the agricultural programmes on radio. This will go along way in improving awareness rate among the local farmers, who are predominantly illiterates. DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS Research Question 1: To what extent can radio be used to sensitize farmers in Shika on pest control? From the analysis it could be understood that the people of Shika community have more males in farming practices than females (table 1), hence, the males hustle to provide for the families. In addition, most of the farmers are subsistent, such that their produce is specifically for personal consumption. It was discovered that radio could be a veritable tool to transforming the agricultural “informativeness” of the people of Shika. The available radio stations namely, FRCN Hausa Service, BBC Hausa Service and Samaru FM (Table 8), all could be used to increase their level of awareness of pest control mechanisms. The reason for the access to the FRCN Hausa Service than any other station may not be unconnected with the fact that it transmits only in Hausa, the major language of Northern Nigeria, including Shika community. This findings is in line with Zamana (2014) Radio station if duties are well discharged, would affect behavioural change of mankind and also improve decision making. Such sensitization can be in the form of how to apply pesticides and the various means to afford them, using the various guidelines. Radio has often been used to

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Use of radio as a tool for promoting integrated pest management among farmers in Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Oguche I 015 complement the efforts of the extension workers. For better sensitization of farmers towards pest control, some suggestions were adduced by Madukwe, Okoli and Eze (2002), as guidelines for use of pesticides among rural farmers. Firstly, farmers handling pesticides should know how to give first aid to pesticide poisoning patients. In such situations, they caution that the contaminated clothing should be removed immediately and washed thoroughly preferably with soap and plenty of water. Also, the patient should be kept quite, preferably in a sheltered airy place. Secondly, besides common insect pests, farmers should acquire knowledge about sporadic insect pests as well as their control measures. This could be done through the extension agents and use of radio to create the awareness among farmers. Thirdly, personal conduct during use of pesticides should be imbibed by farmers. For example, farmers should not smoke, chew, or eat anything during spray of pesticides. In addition to that, farmers should read or let other people read the information on labels on pesticides bottles/containers before use. They should also wear protective clothing, hand gloves, shoes, and goggles while spraying and/or handling with pesticides. Here, it should be noted that just wearing a strip of cloth on face is not sufficient because pesticide can penetrate human body through different routes (Feenstra, Jabbar, Masih and Janghir, 2000). The use of radio for sensitization on agricultural practices such as pest control, could be done through frequency of use of pesticides as suggested in table seven. In other words, the promotion of this habit could help in dissemination of information towards improved farm practices by the farmers. Research Question 2: What are the communication strategies available to farmers in Shika on the control of pests? Based on the analysis, the communication strategies available to farmers in Shika include that of both print and broadcast media including radio (table 3). However, radio was chosen to be the highest of all among the farmers because of its ubiquity and affordability. Most of the respondents are ardent listeners of radio, while only a few are exposed to other media. This position by the respondents came despite the fact that some may be exposed to different radio networks at different times, depending on their gratification sought. IPM techniques cannot be proposed as a blanket recommendation (Dilts and Hate, 2006). IPM is based on a mix of local knowledge and modern scientific approach (Dreves, 2012). This requires a location-specific approach, such as the Farmer Field Schools (FFS)

promoted in the last decades by FAO. Farmers are involved in data gathering, discussions, analysis, and experimentation of solution. Obviously, this approach requires that field level personnel be properly trained in the subject matter, especially on how radio could be used for IPM purposes. This is in line with the views of Lagnaoui, Santi, and Santucci (2013) that implementation of IPM techniques requires several years of experiments, trials, repetitions and validations. It is an applied research procedure, which needs time in order to be validated in a given area for each given crop or cropping system. Research Question 3: How can radio be used as a communication channel for promoting chemical pest control among rural farmers in Shika? In the open-ended reactions by the respondents, it could be deduced that the respondents reactions were based on the level of information got through radio. This led to the suggestions that the Hausa language should be used to communicate issues of pest management on radio to farmers, while extension agents should engage in massive enlightenment campaign through the use of radio, to sensitize farmers on the need to imbibe the knowledge, attitude and practice of pest management. Radio gives farmers an opportunity to interact with each other and other relevant authorities for example extension workers, crop and animal experts through formats like live talk shows, phone-in programmes and on location broadcasts. Radio demystifies the scientific jargon. It is able to explain the research in simpler and ordinary language that people understand (Nweke, 2013). Access to information is more crucial and lack of it more critical in agriculture than in other areas of human endeavour (Baah, 2009). Radio, being the most ubiquitous medium, has broad appeal and reaches a large audience quickly and remains the most important medium for communicating with rural populations of developing countries (Odame and Kassam, 2002; Kenny, 2002). The limitation that it was a one-way communication channel has been overcome in Ghana through massive improvement in telecommunication which enables the audience to respond via telephone to radio broadcasts (Baah, 2006). The purpose of the radio sensitization activity is to reach to a larger proportion of the cocoa farming populace and other stakeholders simultaneously. Not all farmers have access to all mass media, but many will have access to radio at home. There must be a review of previous broadcasts to access impact and the outcome built into subsequent programmes. These issues must be addressed if the radio is to be an effective platform for interactive communication with farmers. The findings in this study shows that the farmers in Shika community lack the requisite information on the use of

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Use of radio as a tool for promoting integrated pest management among farmers in Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Int. J. J. Mass Commun. 016 pesticides for improved agricultural productivity. Hence, knowledge of pest control is also lacking due to this ugly trend. Access to radio creates more information to the farmers on the ways to control pests on their farms. This means that radio messages on agricultural information can be a veritable tool for sensitization of farmers towards producing more food crops on their farms. Most of the farmers in Shika community have radio as the major source of agricultural information. To this end, radio could be used to create more awareness on pest control measures. In addition, there is high level of illiteracy among the farmers, such that there are resilient to change and innovation, even when facilitators are ready to communicate such to them. It should be noted that literacy level of the audience affects the rate at which mass media message can influence such audience for audience change of attitude and practice. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The problem of pests ravaging agriculture in Nigeria generally could be surmounted if all the stakeholders, come together and cooperate towards achieving this objective. The government, the people of Shika community can be relieved of their fears of pests and accept the change, if the extension experts take this message to the people through participation, advocacy and campaign against pests. This will foster knowledge, attitude and practice among the farmers in the area. This problem is also applicable to most of the farmers across the country and this could be surmounted through extension communication and the use of peoples’ medium- the radio. The government also needs a great deal of good planning and implementation of policies in order to create more opportunities for farmers’ participation in their own matters. This is a sure-bet for agricultural improvement across the country. To solve the problems of pest attacks on the farmlands in Shika community, there should be a public enlightenment campaign, spearheaded by extension agents, who would use the popular Hausa language in order to carry them along and to foster equal participation. Also, based on the fact that radio is the major source of agricultural information to farmers in Shika, it is important to recommend that it should be used as a tool for sensitization of farmers towards pests control. The FRCN Kaduna Hausa Service could be used in this regards. This is because it communicates only in Hausa language, the major language used in Northern Nigeria and Shika in particular. In addition, conscious and organized efforts should be made by extension workers to broaden the minds of thee local farmers to accept the change initiatives introduced. This could be done by ensuring that the people participate in their own matters. Through this,

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Accepted 18 January, 2016. Citation: Oguche I (2016). Use of radio as a tool for promoting integrated pest management among farmers in Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria. International Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication. 2(1): 011-017.

Copyright: © 2016 Oguche I. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are cited