Community Oriented Radio Program in Fostering Agricultural Development and Food Security in Agrarian Communities of Ogun State

Abstract

The 21st century has witnessed significant advancements in communication technology, reshaping the way societies interact and develop. Among these technologies, radio continues to hold a crucial position as one of the versatile tools for disseminating information and fostering agricultural development. This study examines radio as a tool of agricultural development in addressing food insecurity in Nigeria. The focus was to understand how Agricultural radio programs on Paramount FM 94.5, Abeokuta influence local farmers in Ogun state to be more productive for food security. This study was anchored on Development Media Theory. A sample size of 387 was drawn from the selected population of the study- Abeokuta North, Egbado North, Odeda, and Obafemi-Owode, all located within Ogun State. Utilizing a descriptive survey, with a questionnaire as our key instrument. The result revealed that 79.3% of the respondents had high exposure to agricultural programs. 77.8% were well-informed on agricultural development through radio, 93% benefitted from radio agriculture programs, and 91.2% confirmed that exposure to radio agricultural programs encourage collaboration among farmers for food security and agricultural progress. The study concludes that radio is a formidable instrument of agricultural education and orientation, capable of exposing farmers to modern farming practices to increase food production.