The purpose of this paper is to analyze the communication approaches used by development actors t... more The purpose of this paper is to analyze the communication approaches used by development actors to communicate with farmers in Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia. Communication is essential for local and agricultural development, and the appropriate use of communication approaches promotes development. Two types of data were used: the providers of extension services (state extension, research institutions, and nongovernment organizations) and the clients of extension services (a sample of 364 farm households and three focus group discussions with progressive farmers). The results found the state extension communicated with farmers using top-down approaches. The communication approaches used by state agricultural extension services were not in line with government policy. Agricultural technologies generated by research institutions were diffused to farmers in a one-way approach. However, non-government organizations used more integrated situation-based two-way communication approaches. The use of communication approach that promotes farmers’ participation was recommended as a way to improve extension service delivery.
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the communication approaches used by development actors t... more The purpose of this paper is to analyze the communication approaches used by development actors to communicate with farmers in Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia. Communication is essential for local and agricultural development, and the appropriate use of communication approaches promotes development. Two types of data were used: the providers of extension services (state extension, research institutions, and nongovernment organizations) and the clients of extension services (a sample of 364 farm households and three focus group discussions with progressive farmers). The results found the state extension communicated with farmers using top-down approaches. The communication approaches used by state agricultural extension services were not in line with government policy. Agricultural technologies generated by research institutions were diffused to farmers in a one-way approach. However, non-government organizations used more integrated situation-based two-way communication approaches. The use of communication approach that promotes farmers’ participation was recommended as a way to improve extension service delivery.
Farmers' Acces to and Utilzation of Mass Media Channels for Agricultural Information in Southern Ethiopia, 2023
ass media serves as a veritable instrument for information dissemination in agriculture. This pap... more ass media serves as a veritable instrument for information dissemination in agriculture. This paper investigated farmers' access to mass media channels and their usage for receiving agricultural information. This study applied mixed research methods. The study involved a proportionate sample of 364 farm households selected using a systematic random sampling technique. A semi-structured interview schedule was administered during June and July of 2020. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were employed for the data analysis. Three focus group discussions with model farmers were held, and the data was thematically analysed. The results indicated that mobile phones, radio, television, and print media were accessed by farmers to receive agricultural information. However, mass media methods have not been extensively used by farmers. The low ownership of media devices, lack of communication infrastructure, low coverage of agricultural programmes, and high levels of illiteracy were attributed to the low access and utilisation of mass media. This study therefore recommends that farmers be encouraged to own mass media outlets such as radio and mobile phones, and that the state extension system (government) and other development organisations work together to improv e communication infrastructure such as power supply. The mass media channels should be promoted to increase the number of agricultural programmes they transmit per week and make them more suitable for local contexts. 1. Introducti on In agricultural development schemes, information is regarded as one of the most valuable resources, and mass me dia channels play an essential role in disseminating the information to the rural community (Kaske, 2020). Empirical evidence proved that the majority of rural dwellers in Sub-Saharan Africa continue to live in extreme poverty as a result of the failure to make significant agricultural advances (Castañeda et al., 2018; Bjornlund et al., 2020; Phuong and Ibrahim, 2020). Agricultural development, therefore, becomes a top priority for feeding a rapidly growing population and developing the national economies o f the developing states (
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