Effectiveness of Radio Agricultural Programmes in Scaling Up Farming Activities of Smallholder Farmers in Bushenyi District

Abstract

The study was about effectiveness of radio agricultural programmes in scaling up farming activities of smallholder farmers in Bushenyi district. The specific objectives were to; (i) assess the coverage and listenership of Agricultural Extension Radio Programmes; (ii) investigate the effectiveness of Agricultural Radio extension programmes on smallholder farming activities and (iii) determine the factors associated with radio listenership and application of the knowledge gained through agricultural radio messages. The study was a descriptive-cross sectional survey employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches to data collection. Data was gathered from a sample of 360 respondents across 18 listener groups of agricultural extension programs using questionnaire and interview guide. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 to generate both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found out that the coverage and listenership to agricultural extension radio programmes is relatively high in rural settings compared to urban areas. The most listened to program was Obuhingi n’oburisa that aired on different radio stations. The study found out that agricultural extension radio programmes were effective on smallholder farming activities by enhancing of different production practices including crop husbandry and management, animal health and production management. The study further discovered that age bracket (39 – 48), radio ownership, place of residence, negative attitudes and perceptions, limited agricultural spaces, media exposure and investment capital were some of the factors associated with radio listenership and application of the knowledge gained through agricultural radio messages in the area. The study concluded that agricultural extension radio programmes have a wider coverage and have been so pertinent to smallholder farmer’s activities, however listenership and application of the knowledge gained through agricultural radio messages is still hampered by certain impendiments that call for argent address. This study therefore recommends that the programme should be changed to evening when most farmers are available in their houses. Radio formats should be designed to reinforce massages in order to bring change among farmers to adopt new farming techniques for improved productivity. Radio producers and program hosts should do this through programme planning which informs the selection of topics, presentation of the topics on radio with interviews from selected experts and farmers.