INFLUENCE OF KOOB-NE-GULIUK RADIO PROGRAMME ON LIVESTOCK FARMING IN THE BAWKU WEST DISTRICT OF GHANA

Abstract

The use of radio programmes in agricultural extension became the best strategy employed to improve access to livestock farming information. This research work was to unveil and demonstrate the level of contributions of the Koob-Ne-Guliuk Radio Programme as an effective tool in enhancing technology adoption in livestock farming and to unearth the factors that affect livestock farmers' access to and adoption of agricultural information in the Bawku West District. The study used a mixed research methodology with an instrumental case study approach. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted in selecting three hundred and twenty (320) respondents with the use of Miller and Brewer’s sample size determination formula. Interviews and questionnaires were the main methods employed in data collection. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and Kendall's coefficient of concordance. The study's main findings are that farmers have a high level of knowledge about livestock farming innovations thanks to the radio programme. The study also found that an increase in the dissemination of livestock farming innovations through radio programmes would lead to a moderate increase in the rate of adoption of these innovations. The radio station faced major challenges such as financial constraints and unreliable access to resource persons, whereas feed scarcity, theft, and unfavourable market prices were major issues that hampered the uptake of livestock farming innovations disseminated through the radio programme. The study, therefore, recommends that NGOs, the government, and other civil society organisations actively support the radio programme and that the government should restructure the R4FJ flagship programme and other related programmes to give priority to young people and women to increase their level of patronage in livestock farming.