IMPROVING ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION BY FARMERS THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA

In order to encourage massive participation in agriculture so as to ensure food security and sustainability the various governments of Nigerian since independence have introduced several programmes, policies and schemes on agricultural development (Bayode, Obiora and Oyana, 2012). Among these agricultural programmes, policies and schemes are the Back to Land, Operation Feed the Nation, Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructures, River Basin Development Authority, Farm Settlement Scheme, Supervised Agricultural Credit and Loan Scheme, Agricultural Input Subsidies, Extensive Agricultural Research and Development, Agricultural Extension Programmes or Schemes aim generally at capacity building in agriculture, input provision, marketing of products and the supply or making available the various productive resources for agricultural and enhancing conducive atmosphere for agricultural investments in the country. In the light of the above, this study examined the meaning of agricultural education; scope and roles of agricultural education principles of agricultural education; meaning of mass media; the influences of mass-media on agricultural development and mass media sources of farmers’ education. The challenges to effective utilization of mass media by farmers were also discussed and suggestions made.