Training Needs of Media Practitioners on Dissemination of Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Information in Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the training need of media practitioners on the dissemination of Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) information in Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 22 print, audio and audio-visual media practitioners in nine states (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Imo, Enugu, Kaduna, Plateau, Abuja and Anambra States) across three geo-political zones (South-West (SW), South East (SE) and Northern Nigeria (NN) of Nigeria to give a total sample size of 198 out of which 192 were sampled. Data were collected through well-structured questionnaire and analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics using Chi- square and Pearsons Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The study revealed that the mean age of respondents was 40.34±12.9 and majority (94.8%) of the respondents had tertiary education. Many of the respondents were print media practitioners (41.7%). The mean years of media experience was 9.48±6.29 and majority (83.3%) of the media practitioners sampled belonged to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). More than half (51%) of the respondents were informed about organic agriculture through electronic media, and majority (75.0%) had high level of awareness about EOA practices with favourable attitude (58.3%) towards EOA information dissemination. Respondents needed further training (65.1%) on benefits of EOA, EOA technologies (64.1%) and certification of organic farms (60.9%). To ensure adequate dissemination of EOA information, there should be regular training of media practitioners on EOA practices to ensure effective dissemination of EOA practices to the general public and more stakeholders should be involved in promoting EOA information dissemination in Nigeria.