Identification of Types of Agricultural Task and Topics in Selected Nigerian Newspapers

Abstract

This study was carried out to analyze the agricultural content of some selected newspapers in Nigeria between 2022 and 2023, the selected newspapers were the Punch, Vanguard, Observers and Hope. Specifically, it identified the type of agricultural news covered; agricultural news featured quarterly in the newspapers and the type of agricultural tasks and topics that featured in the newspapers. Findings showed across the value chain, crop production (4 reports), marketing (71) and government policies (72) received comparatively higher coverage than technical areas such as veterinary services (18) and nursery practices (10). Quarterly trends revealed consistent patterns aligned with the agricultural production calendar, with notable peaks in policy and market related reporting. The study concludes that national newspapers provide broader and more development oriented agricultural reporting than state-based newspapers, though overall coverage remain inadequate in diversity. It recommends that thematic coverage should be broadened beyond crop and livestock production include other areas. A wider thematic spread would provide readers with a more holistic understanding of the agricultural sector.

Keywords: Agricultural news, literate farmers, Hope newspapers, the Punch and Content Analysis.