INFLUENCE OF COMMUNITY RADIO IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In every society we find ourselves, the need for the rules to reach out improve the standard of the ruled is imperative. The system must rely upon a regular two-way flow of information between the government and the citizens of the country, we have seen subsequent administration, be it military or civilian coming out with one programme or the other aimed at improving the standard of life that are found in the rural or communities areas, who obviously form the bulk of the Nigerian population.

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness that no nation can develop without deliberately undertaking the development of its community such development or transformation is however, possible only when the community population is various areas are participate in activities directed at their own development as well as the development of the nation, by the government.

The significant role of information in policy formulation cannot be over emphasized. This is because well cor-ordinated system of information dissemination brings about significant change in the society. There is no doubt that communication is as old as man himself is. It was through the effective nature of communication for example, Oputa J.S.C September, 20 1993 agreed with this when he said that “There is no doubt the mass media the press the radio and all these have a tremendous influence of our behavior modern man will readily agree that many of his attitudes, judgments and stance on various social or political issue are heavily influenced or even shaped by his exposure to ideas and suggestions, feed in him by the mass media”

To achieve the above task, the radio programmes instrument to the transformation of the general life of the people. The programmes must reflect the problems and aspirations of the society they serve.

Further more, the programmes which are intended to enhance the social awareness of the individual and faster national unity, cultural integration, must also make the individual an because “we see the mass media of communication as possessing that magical awareness, creating innovative, knowledge imparting empathy raising and knowledge and skill multiplying.

It is a well know fact that radio seeks to informs, stimulate, educate, entertain and mobilize the citizen for development and to cultivated responsible outlook on community and national activities. Radio has been recognized as having the potentials to effect human enhancement and develop a viable society, Radio is considered as a powerful medium of communication. It appeals to the two senses of hearing and sight. It promotes openness, accountability and transparency, the qualities which are essentials to social effectiveness both economic and political development. On the other hand, radio has been referred as a „theatre of the mind where imagination is activated by second voice and sound effect‟. To a larger section of the society, radio is the leading medium of mass communication people in community areas can receive radio messages from their sets. It is comparatively cheap when compared with other media of mass communication it is also portable and timely.

It is against this background that this work wants to find out the influence of Caritas Radio 98.7fm.

1.2. STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

This study is  an enquiry into the contributions  of Radio to community agricultural development. The aim is to investigate the prevailing belief that the Radio is used as a means of introducing social change through dissemination of development and social change programmes but rather serve merely. It is a well known fact that radio seeks to informs, stimulates, educate, entertain and mobilize the citizen for development and to cultivated responsible outlook on community and national activities. Radio has been recognized as having the potentials to effect human enhancement and develop a viable society, radio is considered as a powerful medium of communication. It appeals to the senses of hearing and sight. It promotes openness. Accountability and transparency, the qualities which are essentials to social effectiveness both economic and political development.

1.3. Objectives of the Study

The objectives of study include the following :

a.     To find out if the living standard of people are largely uneducated and based in the communities.

b.     To find out whether Caritas 98.7fm has influenced agricultural Development.

c.      To determine the benefits derived from programmes aired by Caritas 98.7fm

1.4. Research Questions

The following research questions were relevant:

a)     To what extent is the living standard of the people are largely uneducated in the community

b)     To what extent has radio influenced Agricultural Development of its community?

c)     How do they derived their benefits from programmes aired by Caritas 98.7fm.

1.5. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study influence community Radio on  Agricultural Development  in Enugu State on Caritas 98.7fm.

1.6. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This  study will  vestate,  emphasize  and  demonstrate  the  need  for  more development oriented programmes in the radio to enhance community Agricultural Development. The most interesting aspect of this study is that, it will be the first of its kind on caritas 98.7fm since its establishment. Besides the work promises to be of immense, value students and teachers and institutions of higher learning who may wish to embark on as similar research work.

As a result, it will serve as reference materials upon which further research works can be based.

1.7. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

The definitions of the terms were operationally defined:

Community: Refers to a place of a large or small group geographical location, having low-density population and lacks infrastructural amenities such as good roads, electricity and pipe borne water. They can be isolated because of their poverty, physical, weakness and some people at the hierarchy design their lives.

A community operates little or no say in his social political and economic well-being.

Community Radio: Can be defined as a type of radio service that caters to the interests of certain area broadcasting content that is popular to a local audience but which may often be over looked by commercial; or mass as a small radio were the community can listen and also to educate them, it can be informed, entertained and motivated.

Agricultural Developments: This is to improve the standard of living for farmers for their extension. In a community agricultural has always been a highly knowledge intensive sector requiring continuous information.

Agriculture has improved different sectors such as farmers, fishermen, traders during cropping season specific advice is refereed on the full range of crops being grown locally timed to coincide the various stages of land preparation.

Development: The concept of integrated development has to day received general acceptance and the word itself has come to connote different things to different people.