AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES FOR INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AMONG LOW INCOME FARMERS IN ODEADA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OGUN STATE

The persistent low agricultural productivity among farmers in Nigeria, which has contributed significantly to food security challenges, remains a major concern for stakeholders. This issue is largely attributed to the inadequate access to essential agricultural information among low- income farmers, which hampers their ability to improve and increase productivity. This study investigates the communication methods employed by the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP) to relay agricultural information to rural farmers. It examines the effectiveness of these methods and the challenges faced by both OGADEP and farmers in the dissemination and reception of information. Using a mixed- methods approach, the study combined quantitative survey research with qualitative structured interviews. The study's sample included 315 rural farmers from Odeda local government area, five extension agents, and one OGADEP information officer. Stratified sampling was applied for farmers, while purposive sampling was used for extension agents and the information officer. Data were collected via questionnaires and interview guides. Findings show that extension agents (EAs) are the primary communication channel for OGADEP, yet 60% of farmers find this method inadequate due to limited access to EAs. The study also highlighted various challenges in the dissemination and reception of information faced by both EAs and farmers. The study recommends enhancing the extension service as a critical strategy for improving the dissemination of agricultural information. Strengthening the extension service by increasing the number of extension agents, improving their training, and expanding outreach efforts to ensure more comprehensive and effective communication with rural farmers is paramount.