ABSTRACT
The primary objective of this study is to examine how television plays a role in promoting agricultural development in Nigeria with specific reference to Enugu State. In carrying out this study, the method in which the researcher used to collect her data was questioner. The target population for the study was media practitioners, development experts, farmers, academicians and the rural dwellers in Enugu metropolis. A sample size of 384 was drawn. The researcher asked research questions and formulated research hypotheses from the research questions for the study, Data were collected, analyzed and interpreted using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Also chi-square (X2) was used to test data generated from the hypotheses. Table and sample percentage were also used to analyze the result. The result of the study revealed the following:
· The television facilitate and enhanced agricultural development in Nigeria.
· That NTA broadcast development information to rural areas in Enugu state.
· Also, most of the research hypotheses were confirmed positively.
Finally the researcher drew conclusion and recommendation for further studies on the topic.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Development has been defined as a process of change which is aimed at achieving self-reliance and improve the living condition of under privilege majority of the population, (Linden 1989: 36).
The role of media in all aspect of development in any given society cannot be over emphasized. Radio and Television are instruments of mass education. They combined their audio-visual impact to maintain an edge over other forms of mass media. Television can be used in a number of ways to educate, inform, entertain, sensitize as well as generally socialize. As a result of these factors stated above, one can say that for effective agricultural and rural development, the role of Television in achieving them cannot be over stressed.
However, this research work is indeed to examine the role which Television plays in promoting agricultural development in Nigeria.
Agricultural is the central occupation for majority of the people in Nigeria.
The prime target of this study is address the information and communication gap that exist in the country between the farmers and the improved farming method. Conversely, Governments who suppose to carry out this task of promoting and developing agriculture by creating adequate awareness through the media has now diverted all programmes in the political and economic oriented programmes. If these abundant political and economic orientated programmes are playing their expected roles on the target audience, then sufficient and adequate agricultural programmes will no doubt play their expected roles on the farmers.
However, in the aspect of agricultural promotion in Nigeria, the need for television in particular and other forms of mass media in general in ensuring agricultural promotion is as vital as other role played by the media in the development and advancement of a nation. Because television is a powerful instrument of development in all ramification. As a result of this, its use in the overall development of rural or urban areas must be given special attention, to development experts. This is because its power to communicate makes it one of the most efficient means of reading rural and urban dwellers in the society. As Baran (1999: 4) states, “Communication is the transmission of a message from a source to a receiver”. This means that, if appropriate channel or device is not used to communicate to rural areas on agricultural related matters they will find it difficult to adopt the necessary agricultural programme prospects and ideas which will encourage them to develop. Through appropriate use of television to transfer message on the agricultural programme prospects and ideas which will encourage them to ventor into agriculture, it becomes very imperative desired goals and objectives of dealing so effective use of television will definitely guarantee effective means of paying attention to the agricultural needs of farmers especially those residing in the rural areas.
Gerbner (180) cited in Griffin (1991: 301) asserts that;