ABSTRACT
Agricultural input
towards national development dropped to an abysmal level on account of oil boom
and other problems besieging agricultural sector. Nevertheless, the importance
of agriculture to national development cannot be over-emphasized especially now
that there is rapid decline in oil prices, massive unemployment, hunger and
starvation etc. Therefore, this study examined newspaper coverage
of agricultural news for national development. The study adopted content
analysis as its research design. The population of the study is all
editions/issues of Daily Trust, Sun, The Guardian and Vanguard newspapers
published between 1st of January to 31st December, 2014.
Using composite week sampling technique, the study arrived at 384 editions of
newspapers as sample size. The Holsti’s inter-coder reliability check was used.
The study found out that 94.6% of stories studied covered agriculture
positively. However, in a sharp contrast, the study also revealed that no
agricultural news was seen in front, back or centre spread pages of the 4
newspapers indicating lack of prominence. The study concluded that newspapers’
coverage of agricultural news has not been impressive. It was however,
recommended among other things, that since issues are seen
as important as the media made it to be based on the emphasis, placement and
frames used by media, Nigeria media should accord all this to Agricultural news
coverage.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of Study
From
the evolution of human history, it is amply testified that economic development
traces its origin to agriculture. All over the world, the development of an
enduring economy goes hand in hand with agricultural development. Agriculture
is considered a catalyst for the overall development of any nation. According
to Ogbalubi And Wokocha (2013, p.60), agriculture is:
A
critical sector that drives the economic development and industrialization of a
developing nation, and also holds the ace for reducing unemployment. Thus, its
development is critically important for ensuring food and nutritional security,
income and employment generation and for stimulating industrialization and
overall economic development of the country.
The technological
strides recorded by the world’s leading economies had their roots in
agriculture. Despite the fact that the sector has increasingly shrunk in its
contribution to the Gross Domestic product (GDP) of many nations, it still provides
the chunk of the GDP of many nations especially the developing ones. (Ogbalubi
And Wokocha 2013, p.60)
Development
economists have always assigned the agriculture sector a central place in the
development process of any nation. In this light, Reddy, Ram, Sastry & Devi
(2009, p.585) maintain that “Even the developed countries were basically
agriculture in origin and through this sector, they achieved industrial
development”. However, the understanding of that role has evolved overtime.
Early development theorists emphasized industrialization, though they counted
on agriculture to provide the necessary output of food and raw materials, along
with the labour force that would gradually be absorbed by industry. Much later
thinking moved agriculture more to the forefront of the development process of
countries. (Wilber &Jameson, 1992, p.8)
Indeed, the importance
of agriculture in any nation’s economy cannot be over emphasised. In practical
terms, agriculture has worked a tremendous miracle in countries like Mexico,
India and China where the Green Revolution is one of the great success stories
of modern times. It is the major contributor to the export –led growth pattern
of a country like Taiwan which was able to attain notable increases in per
capita GNP. (Ogbalubi and Wokocha 2013, p.60)
Based on these facts
therefore, the importance of the agricultural sector in generating employment
and stimulating overall economic development in a developing country such as
Nigeria cannot be undermined. Most public policies in Nigeria, especially since
independence in 1960, were tailored towards promoting food security, provision
of agricultural raw materials needed by the manufacturing sector to provide
adequate employment and income to alleviate poverty as well as earn substantial
foreign exchange. (www.onlinenigeria.com/agriculture/%)
In the early
years of Nigeria as an independent country, Agriculture occupied a prominent position
in the national economy, as the sector serves as a key driver of growth, wealth
creation, employment as well as poverty reduction. It was also the leading
economic activity in the country which contributed immensely to her Gross
Domestic Product. Kwanashie, Ajilima and Garba (1998, p.4) posit that
agricultural export was Nigeria’s engine of growth prior to 1973, providing
much of the revenue that the government used in developing a basic
infrastructural system. This clearly
indicates that holistic agricultural development is a precursor for national
development. Hence, Aigbokhan, in Dim
and Ezenekwe (2013, p.62) argue that, “agriculture was the leading sector in
the pre-oil boom era, contributing 63 and 54 percents to GDP in the 1950s and
1960s respectively”. During this period, Ogen (2007, p.185) asserts that
“Nigeria was the world’s second largest producer of cocoa, largest exporter of
palm kernel and largest producer and exporter of palm oil. Nigeria was also a
leading exporter of other major commodities such as cotton, groundnut, rubber
and hides and skins”
Regrettably, it is an obvious
fact that Nigerian agricultural sector has over the years been neglected by all
stakeholders involved, government and the people inclusive. With the discovery
of oil in 1957 and its consequent exploration and exploitation from
the early 60s, the interest veered towards the ‘fast oil wealth’. Obasanjo
(2014) maintains that “neglect became the sheer lot of agriculture and this has
brought us to the sad and embarrassing situation of having Nigeria import
staple food such as rice and beans”.
As a result,
Oni, Nkonya, Pender, Philips & Kato (2009, p.5) lament that “the advent of
oil in the early 1970s made Nigeria highly dependent on oil revenue, with the
performance of the agricultural sector adversely affected over years”. This ugly
trend undoubtedly, has dealt heavy blow on Nigeria’s quest for meaningful
development. Ogen (2007, p.185) affirms that “the agricultural
sector suffered neglect during the hey-days of the oil boom in the 1970s. Ever
since then Nigeria has been witnessing extreme poverty and the insufficiency of
basic food item”.
Also of urgent concern is
the sheer lack of interest of young people in agriculture. Most of our farmers
in Nigeria are presently an ageing population, with the youths mainly
interested in ‘more glamorous’ white collar jobs. This trend has precariously
placed Nigeria on the brink of a looming food security crisis, not to mention
the rising cost of food prices.
Consequently, Nigeria
needs to spend much more on agriculture than its current commitment of only 1.6
per cent of the national budget. While agriculture develops the economy, oil
consolidates it. Olatunbosun (2014) believes that “agriculture if harnessed
well will liberate many Nigerians from joblessness by providing employment
opportunities. It also has the capacity to offer greater contribution to the
growth of domestic product”. If with all the money we earn from oil, yet about
“110million Nigerians still live below poverty line” (NBF News, 2014), then we
must grab the huge benefits attached to agriculture for true national
development. In its World Development Report for 2008, released
on October 19 and entitled "Agriculture for Development," the World
Bank stressed the importance of a renewed emphasis on agriculture. The report
argues that "for the poorest people, GDP growth originating in agriculture
is about four times more effective in reducing poverty than GDP growth
originating outside the sector”. (http://go.worldbank.org/ZJIAOSUFU0).
If Nigeria commits more resources
to agriculture and continues to improve institutional and legal frameworks, it
will be in a position not only to feed itself but to export food and to mark a
path for the rest of Africa. Interestingly, the present federal government of
Nigeria has started taking the agricultural sector seriously. As Akinwumi Adesina, Nigeria’s agriculture
minister, says, “In Nigeria, we’re making agriculture the new oil (NBF News,
2014).” It is possible if the efforts are sustained. Nigeria’s ministry of
agriculture has embarked upon several programmes aimed at achieving this. For
instance, Youth Empowerment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP) among others.
(www.fmard.gov.ng). It is also heart warming to hear President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan reiterating his government’s readiness to revamp agricultural sector
as contained in his Nigeria’s 54th independence speech. According to
Mr. President, “we are making giant strides in the agricultural sector which we
are re-positioning to diversify our economy” (NTA News, 2014). These are
conditions not just for a booming agricultural sector, but also for a big drop
in poverty. And that is desperately needed in Nigeria for greater national
development.
However, for this to happen, the
media have major roles to play. The media have social responsibility and agenda
– setting roles to play in terms of conscientization and mobilization of both
the government and the governed towards resuscitation of agricultural sector
for holistic national development. Mass media diagnose the
system and open the pitfalls and offers opportunity to rectify them. They act
as mass mobilizer irrespective of space. The media distribute messages wide and
fast, where administration can’t reach, mass media touches.
Media are
undoubtedly very fast, vast and powerful mode of communication. They do not
only appeal a vast audience, they have tremendous impact on the political and
economic state of a nation ( Biswal,
2012, p.80).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
No country talks of achieving meaningful national
development where majority of its citizens are still wallowing in abject
poverty and squalor. Neither does a country dream of recording relatively high
level of national development soon when most of its graduates are unemployed, with
no serious encouragement for agro industries and agricultural production.
Unarguably, agriculture plays important role in the provision of food,
employment, industrial raw materials, income and foreign exchange for national
development.
For a country like Nigeria that craves for
development to according, to World Bank Index (2012) have over 70 percent of its citizens live on
less than a dollar, then, it is a serious peace threatening issue that demands
urgent and pragmatic approach. Visible high rate of crime in form of armed
robbery, kidnapping, prostitution, terrorism and other social vices have all
been attributed to poverty and lack of development in the country. Moreover, if,
despite the huge amount of money Nigeria make from oil sales and this trend
over the years remained unabated, no doubt, we must look inwardly more than
ever. Today, the situation is worse in the face of rapid fall in oil prices.
Therefore, a critical look will reveal the enormous space agriculture occupies
in the heart of national development.
The media are supposed to contribute in this case by
heightening the visibility and mobilising efforts through extensive coverage of
agricultural issues. Whether and to what extent the media are doing this
constitute the kernel of this study.
Hence, this study sought to examine newspaper
coverage of agricultural news for national development. By extension therefore,
to gauge how the media are contributing to national development through
agricultural news reportage.
1.3
Objectives of the Study
Objectives of the study are what the study is set to
achieve or the aims and purposes of conducting a research. Osuala (2003, p.34)
opines that it remains “a quick overview of the study itself”. Therefore, the
following are the objectives of the study.
i.
To ascertain the
direction newspapers take in the reportage of agricultural news.
ii.
To examine how often
(frequency) newspapers cover agricultural news.
iii.
To determine the extent
in terms of depth newspapers report agricultural news.
iv.
To ascertain the level
of prominence given to agricultural news by the selected newspapers.
v.
To identify the frames
used in newspapers’ coverage of agricultural news.
1.4
Research Questions
Research questions serve as guide to the researcher
in the quest to gather answers to problems being investigated. The research
questions for this study therefore, include;
i.
What is the direction
of newspapers’ coverage of agricultural news in Nigeria?
ii.
How often (frequency) do newspapers cover
agricultural issues?
iii.
What is the depth of
newspapers’ coverage of agricultural news?
iv.
What is the level of
prominence given to agricultural news by the selected newspapers?
v.
What are the frames
used in newspapers’ coverage of agricultural news?
1.5
Significance of the Study
This study is hoped to be useful to various segments
of the society. It will serve as an addition or contribution to existing
literature on the topic and similar ones. It will further serve as a reference
material to scholars, journalism students and practitioners who may want to
pursue this idea further by providing data to substantiate or refute its
claims.
There is no doubt that the study will provide
government and institutions with insight into the level of press coverage of
agricultural news. It will also equip agricultural policy makers with ideas on
the successes and failures of their several policies.
1.6
Scope of the Study
The population for this study comprised all issues
of the newspapers published in Nigeria between January and December, 2014.
However, for the purposes of convenience and in order to save time and cost,
the study covered only Daily Trust, Daily Sun, Guardian and Vanguard
publications. To Ohaja (2003, p.67), “the idea behind this delimitation of
boundaries is to avoid embarking on an unmanageable venture”.
1.7
Operational Definition of Terms
Agriculture:
Agriculture according to Ugochukwu, Otegbade, Ifeonu, Okeke and Idris (2009,
p.2) “was originally as ‘field
cultivation’ from latin words ‘ager
and cultura’”. However, it is defined
as the act of rearing animals and cultivating crops for human use. It is
usually refers to farming.
Coverage: This
means journalistic reportage of news, issues and events in the newspapers
especially as it concerns agriculture which is the thrust of this research.
National
Development: This is the ability of a country to improve and
sustain the standard of living and economic welfare of the people.
Newspaper:
The term
“newspaper” refers to a brand range of publications from the huge metropolitan
daily to the small provincial newspaper. Ukonu (2006). Newspaper according to
Ndolo (2005) can be defined as a printed product created on a regular (weekly
or daily) basis and distributed to large number of people. Hence, newspapers
carry information and news report of
happenings in the society.
REFERENCES
Reddy,
S. S., Ram, P. R., Sastry, T. V. & Devi, I. B. (2009). Agricultural economics. New Delhi; Oxford and IBH publishing.
Ogbalubi,
L.N. & Wokocha, C.C . (2013). Agricultural Development and Emplyoment
Generation: The Nigeria Experience. In Journal
of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS) e-ISSN: 2319-2380,
p-ISSN: 2319-2372.Volume 2, Issue 2 (Jan. - Feb. 2013), PP 60-69 www.iosrjournals.org.
Kwanashie, M., Ajilima, I., & Garba, A. G. (1998). The Nigerian economy: Response of agriculture to
adjustment policies. African
Economic Research Consortium: Nairobi.
Dim, C. & Ezenekwe, U. (2013). Does Agriculture Matter for Economic
Development? Empirical Evidence from Nigeria. Journal of Finance & Economics Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2013.
Ogen, O. (2007). The Agricultural Sector and Nigeria’s Development:
Comparative Perspectives from the Brazilian Agro-Industrial Economy, 1960-1995.
Osuala, E. (2003). Introduction to
Research Methodology. Onitsha: Africana-FP Publishers.
Ohaja, E. U. (2003). Mass
Communication Research and Project Report Writing. Lagos: John Letterman.
Ndolo,
I.S. (2005). Mass Media system and society. Enugu; Rhyce Kerex Publishers.
Ukonu, M.O. (2006). Dynamics of
mass media development in Nigeria. Enugu; Rhyce Kerex Publishers.
Ugochukwu, O. C., Otegbade, J.
O., Ifeonu, P., Okeke, E. U. &
Idris, S. A. (2009). Stan Agricultural Science. Lagos: Longman.
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