The Media and Impact of Government Agricultural Programmes on Farmers in Taraba State: A Study of Donga Local Government Area

Abstract

This study is an evaluation of farmers' perception on government agricultural programmes in Taraba State. The study focuses on farmers in Donga Local Government Area where 399 farmers were sampled for the study. The survey research design was used and questionnaire was administered on respondents sampled from 10 council wards of the local government. However, only 380 copies of questionnaire were valid or usable. Data were collected and analyzed in the order of the four research questions raised by the study. The major findings showed that popular government agricultural programmes available to Donga farmers include, Rice value chain, green house agro project, distribution of fertilizers and herbicides, improved cassava stem and improved seedlings. Government agricultural programmes are found to be highly significant and important to Donga farmers as they help boost their farming profession and increase their income yearly. The study also found several challenges affecting farmers which include; poor road network facilities connecting farmers to farms and markets, embezzlement of fund made for agricultural purposes, inadequate farm implements and irregular irrigation system as well as pest invasion. It, therefore, concludes that since agriculture is the main stay of the Nigerian nation, government programmes need to be revamped to intensify modern farming system, The study, amongst others, recommends that the government intensify efforts in initiating other programmes of action to draw youths attention to farming; and that government owned media should be at the top of reporting and disseminating all available information in the farming world to farmers.