Abstract:
Radio and television are potential for knowledge dissemination. This study investigated the usage
of radio and television as sources of agricultural knowledge among farmers in Tanzania.
Specifically, the study identified major sources of agricultural knowledge used by farmers;
determined the potential of radio and television stations as sources of agricultural knowledge;
determined the accessibility and usage of radio and television agricultural programmes;
investigated factors influencing the accessibility and usage of radio and television agricultural
programmes and; devised strategies to improve accessibility of radio and television agricultural
programmes. This study involved 314 randomly selected farmers from nine villages in Morogoro
Region. Findings indicate that radio and television were among the seven sources of agricultural
knowledge among farmers. Radio sets were more accessible and owned by more farmers than
television sets. Findings further indicate that majority of farmers who used radio and television as
sources of agricultural knowledge preferred to listen and watch agricultural programmes
respectively during evening and night. The study showed that accessibility of radio and television
sets, gender based division of labour, language, number of agricultural programmes broadcasted
and awareness of the broadcasting time of agricultural programmes were among the factors
influencing their usage as sources of agricultural knowledge. For improving the accessibility of
agricultural knowledge radio and television stations should perform agricultural knowledge needs
and enhance timely dissemination of needed knowledge.
