Justification:

In the past two decades, there has been a burst of research activities in agriculture from Universities and Research Institutes. Innovations with the capacity to boost production and kick-start the economy have been discovered. Also, High yielding crop cultivars and improved cultural practices have been created to ensure increased productivity. However, the greatest undoing of all these inventions and innovations is the existence of a knowledge gap. These innovations do not reach the farmers. This is due to the total ineptitude of current channels of communication.

Inefficient information dissemination has been occasioned by improper content adaptation and issues of timing. Most of the farmers reside in the rural areas with low literacy rate. Innovations, when made available, are in English language, which is foreign and incomprehensible to these farmers. Media of correspondence such as the print (leaflets, newsletters, posters, etc.) are either penned in English language or in the vernacular. However, most of the farmers cannot read or write. When alternative means of communication such as radio programmes are utilized, the information is aired when the farmers are already in their farms. This can be as a result of prioritizing commercial interest ahead of the public/farmers' interests. The justification of this project is interminable. While it presents the challenges that have, for so many decades, crippled the agricultural sector, it demonstrates opportunities. The results of this project, is believed to, as well bring about an increase in the participation of Nigeria youth in agriculture towards employment generation, food security and sustainable development.

African Youth Rehabilitation Initiative (AYRI) has identified these prospects and thus in partnership with Enugu State University of Science and Technology developed an Agricultural Information Centre and Community Radio Project (AGRICCORP)

OVERRIDING GOAL:

The overall goal of this project is to establish a Rural Agricultural Radio and Information Centers to serve the rural farm communities in each state across Nigeria.

The objectives of the projects are:

Provide the avenues for dissemination of information on innovative farm practices to serve the rural farm communities in the South East, Nigeria by bridging the gap between researchers, scientific institutions and the rural farmers.

Provide step by step guides to the adoption of new technologies.

Create rural and public awareness aimed at reversing the trend of environmental degradation and climate change due to unsustainable farm practices

Bridge the market information gap and ensure that farmers receive appropriate information on farm produce, value addition and market conditions.

Provide voice for farmers to air their views on successes, challenges and concerns.

Provide outreach platform aimed at sensitizing the youths on potentials in agribusiness.