Media Usage by Poultry Farmers in the Control of Avian Influenza in Lagos State, Nigeria

Type Journal Article - Journal of Communication
Title Media Usage by Poultry Farmers in the Control of Avian Influenza in Lagos State, Nigeria
Author(s)
Volume 3
Issue 1
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2012
Page numbers 43-46
URL http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/JC/JC-03-0-000-12-Web/JC-03-1-000-12-Abst-PDF/JC-03-1-043-1​2-044-Alabi-S/JC-03-1-043-12-044-Alabi-S-Tt.pdf
Abstract
Lagos State, Nigeria, witnessed the outbreak of Avian Influenza in March 2006. The state is the commercial
nerve centre of the country. The disease affected nine of the 20 Local Government Areas in the State with consequent devastating
losses to poultry farmers. The State Government responded by launching a media campaign to combat the spread of the disease.
This study was carried out to ascertain how poultry farmers utilized the media in obtaining information for the control of the
disease. It specifically found out the media preference and reliance of the poultry farmers for information. Systematic random
sampling was used to select 200 poultry farmers. The study found that majority (82.4%) of the farmers relied on the media for
information. It also found that poultry farmers prefer traditional mass media for information. Of these, radio was the most
preferred medium by the poultry farmers, which was followed by television. These findings showed among others the primacy
of the media in educating the farmers and as a reliable institution in the control of the disease. It is hereby recommended that
Lagos State should continuously employ radio, television, newspapers, magazines and interpersonal communication as partners
in progress in mobilising the poultry farmers/public in eradicating the disease or any other that can affect the well-being of the
public.

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