Firm Harps on Agricultural Knowledge to Boost Farmers’ Productivity

Gilbert Ekugbe

The Bellefu Digital Agro Connect, owners of Bellefu.com, has emphasised the need to equip Nigerian farmers with the requisite agricultural knowledge that would boost their productivity in making decisions that were related to agricultural activities.

Speaking on the importance of knowledge sharing in food security, the Spokesperson of the company, Mr. Oluwaseun Olukumoro, said the agricultural sector needed adequate access to agricultural knowledge.

Olukomoro said the establishment of the Bellefu online radio, known as the Farmers Radio, is to bridge the knowledge gap among farmers, stressing that research has revealed that radio remains the best medium of disseminating information to farmers.

“Radio is an important tool for agricultural communication. It has proved to be the most effective media in promoting agriculture and development in rural areas, particularly as a tool for the delivery of quick information. It is cheap and as such many people can own it. It is able to pass messages to the non-literate audience as it can present its message in the local language.

“Radio communication is useful in agricultural messages to a large number of people at relatively low cost and at faster rates,” he added.

He said that radio could link researchers and extension workers by offering information on where research information could be obtained and used; how to pass it on to users; as well as help get feedback from farmers regarding research.

Olukumoro added that radio could also be used to announce processes of research and extension work.
“To increase the effectiveness of radio in technology adoption, it should be supplemented by other training methods. However, a look at the Nigeria media shows a disproportionate concentration on urban areas to the partial or total neglect of the rural population, and the media content is usually determined by the urban-based, urban-oriented media practitioners who may be ignorant about or indifferent to the realities of the situation in the rural areas,” he averred.

He said considering the numerous roles played by radio and its effectiveness in promoting agricultural production, Bellefu Digital Agro Connect, (owners of Bellefu.com) have established Bellefu online radio – the farmers radio.

He said it was established for the purposes of providing innovative information and ideas to farmers through news broadcast, live coverage of agricultural conferences, shows, exhibitions and farmer/expert interviews among others “thereby bridging the knowledge gap for farmers and helping them to adopt new agricultural innovations.”

He said being an online radio, bellefu radio has the potential to link farmers from around the globe to share ideas and innovations about agriculture, interact, share opinions and help solve problems.
Olukumoro said the online radio would also help stakeholders to discover avenues to market/export their produce through round – table discussions.

“It also affords farmers the opportunity to listen to documentaries highlighting agricultural research around the world and offers modern and practical livestock and crop solutions.”
He disclosed that the Bellefu Radio could be accessed through https://radio.bellefu.com and the Bellefu Radio app, which could be downloaded from the Google play store for android users and app store for iOS users.