The first online agricultural radio station in Oyo state christened Redio Awa Agbe has been launched in Ibadan, the state capital.
The radio station was launched on Saturday at the University of Ibadan.
The launching featured a lecture titled “Passing agricultural information through the electronic media: A private agricultural extension practitioner way”.
The lecture was delivered by Professor Luqman Akinbile, a professor at the University of Ibadan.
The Chief Executive Officer of the radio station, Alagba Rasheed Adegbola while speaking noted that the idea was introduced in recognition of the roles radio has been playing in the society.
“Agricultural extension opined that the radio has been the most universal out of the methods of information dissemination to the farmers who majorly are the occupants of the grassroot.
“The radio is the cheapest and the easiest to carry by any mobile farmers all over especially the herders. With the development of Information Communication Technology (ICT) the radio is now embraced by all and sundry. One is most surprised that the establishment of radio garden web, had made the whole world a global village.
“Agriculture is seen as family means of livelihood in Africa, especially in Nigeria. The farming family rests solely on Agricultural practices a daily duties, the father, the mother and the siblings are all domiciled the villages practicing agriculture as noble profession. The government in supportive steps established various agricultural research institute and make use of the radio to reach the grassroot.
“As civilization sets in, agricultural development was negatively affected. The Youth move out of the villages for education and modernization in urban places; some opt for white collar jobs instead of engaging in agriculture.
“To bridge the gap between research and farmers agricultural extension officers disseminate research findings as improve technology to the farmers. Presently, the youth who did not live with their farmer parents know little or nothing about agriculture because the ratio of agric extension agent to the farmers is enormous. To the present day youth, computer and ICT is the order of the day.
“With all these aforementioned, establishment of online Ere Agbe agricultural radio (Redio Awa Agbe) will be of greater usefulness to agricultural development among the Computer literacy being. The reach and coverage of an online agricultural radio is wider and information dissemination through this channel cannot be over emphasized”.
