Effectiveness of Radio Agricultural Programs in Scaling up Farming Activities of Smallholder Farmers in Kasese District

Abstract

Agricultural radio programs have long been recognised as a powerful tool for disseminating agricultural knowledge, especially among rural smallholder farmers. However, despite their potential, the effectiveness of these programs in scaling up farming activities has not been thoroughly examined in the context of Kasese District. The study addressed this gap by exploring the role of radio agricultural programs in enhancing the agricultural activities of smallholder farmers. The specific objectives were to: (i) assess the coverage, listenership, satisfaction, and implementation of acquired knowledge through agricultural extension radio programs; (ii) investigate the effectiveness of the programs on smallholder farming activities; and (iii) determine the factors associated with radio listenership and application of knowledge gained through agricultural radio messages. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey, utilising quantitative and qualitative approaches for data collection and analysis. Data was gathered from a sample of 360 respondents across 18 radio listener groups using questionnaires and interview guides. SPSS version 20.0 was used to analyse the data, generating descriptive and inferential statistics. The study established that coverage and listenership of agricultural radio programs were relatively high at 89.2% and 98.3% respectively, mostly in rural areas compared to urban settings. The Farmers’ Corner Program (52.5%) was the most popular radio program listened to. Farmers are implementing the knowledge gained through radio programs in various areas, including crop husbandry 27.3%, soil and water conservation 17.1%, animal health management 15.2%, and enterprise selection 12.8%. The programs were effective in supporting smallholder farmers’ decision-making processes as well as enhancing production practices. Evening hours were reported by 46.4% of the respondents as the most appropriate time for broadcasting radio programs, with farmers expressing a preference for interactive and participatory formats, which prioritised local languages 24.2% and indigenous knowledge 16.7%. Age (39-48 years) (p=0.002), radio ownership (p=0.000), place of residence (p=0.001), attitudes (p=0.003), limited agricultural spaces (p=0.032), media exposure (p=0.023), and investment capital (p=0.027) were the key factors influencing radio listenership and knowledge application. Despite the positive impact of the programs, certain barriers such as inappropriate airing times and limited access to radios hindered the full adoption of the information by farmers. The study concluded that agricultural extension radio programmes have a wider coverage and so pertinent to smallholder farmers’ activities; however, listenership and application of the knowledge gained through agricultural radio messages is still hampered by certain impediments that call for urgent address. The study therefore recommends that Radio formats be designed to reinforce messages to bring change among farmers to adopt new farming techniques for improved productivity.