Effectiveness Of Communication Methods Of Community - Based Natural Resources Management Programme In Ondo State, Nigeria

Community-Based Natural Resources Management Programme (CBNRMP) is a development effort that uses different adaptable communication methods to empowering the local people in deriving their livelihood from natural resources in a sustainable way. How effective these communication methods remain unanswered? This study examined the effectiveness of communication methods used by Community - Based Natural Resources Management Programme (CBNRMP) in Ondo State, Nigeria. A total of 216 respondents were selected for the study using multistage sampling technique. Data were analysed with frequency count, percentages, mean, and standard deviation while inferences were made with correlation analysis. The results showed that 88.4 percent of the respondents were married with the mean age of 32.52 +/- 12.93 years and mean household size was 7.44 +/- 2.05 persons. Friends and neighbour (mean = 3.59), contact farmers (mean = 3.42) and Group meetings (mean = 3.07) were the most available communication methods to the respondents while Group meetings (mean = 3.63) and friends and neighbour (mean = 3.46) were the most accessible communication methods to the respondents. Group meetings scored highest (3.50) in facilitating feedback and were found to be the most effective methods used in the programme in disseminating agricultural information. Correlation analysis shows that at p <= 0.01, there were significant relationship between effectiveness of communication methods and availability (r = 0.337) and accessibility (r = 0.196). The study concluded that the most effective communication method was group meeting. It is therefore recommended that relevant stakeholders who desire to convey a development service delivery in rural areas should ensure use of group meetings based on it characteristics of availability, accessibility and feedback mechanism.