This discourse discusses communication as a potent sociological tool for rural and agricultural development. It demystifies the concepts of communication, rural and agricultural development. It high-lights principles of communication, types of communication, communication barriers and the role of communication in a holistic and sustainable rural and agricultural development in Benue State, Nigeria. The epilogue concludes by noting that as long as there is continued imbalance in the diffusion of agricultural information and wrongful targeting of information, the possibility of harnessing the full potentials of our rural populace towards attaining sustainable and holistic national, rural and agricultural development will remain problematic and in a limbo and another political snafu. It is recommended that segmentation of the target audience based on needs, interested agro-ecological areas should be adopted by senders of agricultural messages; and decentralization of radio, and television broadcasting in local languages should be encouraged and underscored

The study assessed the communication competence of agricultural extension workers in Benue State, Nigeria. Ninety-three respondents were selected and studied using stratified and random sampling techniques. Data were collected from the use of a well-structured questionnaire. The results obtained revealed that the majority (57%) showed a low level of communication knowledge/skill. Logit regression statistics showed significant effect of respondents' educational qualification, work experience, and rank (salary grade level) on their communication competence at 5% level of probability. It is therefore recommended that Benue State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority should adequately train their staff so as to correct their low communication knowledge/skill.

The study estimated trend equations for budgetary expenditure on Nigeria agricultural sector between 1977 and 2004. Secondary data in the form of budgetary expenditure records were obtained from various publications of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal of Statistics (FOS). Results from the fitted trend equations showed that budgetary expenditures on agriculture were generally low and insignificant (p>0.05). Annual compound growth rate of expenditure on the sector was also low (1.02%) and fluctuating for the entire period under review. Furthermore, the fitted quadratic equations in time variable showed the absence of either significant acceleration or deceleration in expenditure growth on agriculture. This, therefore, confirms that expenditure growth on agriculture had been stagnant, suggesting a case of financial neglect of the sector. Based on these findings, the study recommends deliberate efforts by Government to increase funds to agriculture in order to boost self-sufficiency in food production and reduce poverty in Nigeria.