FARMERS FIELD SCHOOL THE

MODERN APPROACH TO AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT

By Allah Dad Khan03329221298

Definition• The Farmer Field School (FFS) is a

group-based learning process that has been used by a number of governments, NGOs and international agencies to promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Origin of LFFS• In 2001, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), with the support

of the FAO and the Animal Health Programme (AHP) of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), adapted the FFS methodology to livestock production systems. This required the integration of animal health concerns and crop/forage production activities

• within the FFS curriculum

Origin of FFS• By the end of the 1980s, a new

approach to farmer training emerged in Indonesia called the 'Farmer Field School' (FFS). The broad problem which these field schools were designed to address was a lack of knowledge among Asian farmers relating to agroecology, particularly the relationship between insect pests and beneficial insects

First FFS • The first IPM Farmer Field Schools

were designed and managed in 1989 by experts working for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Indonesia. This was not, however, the first attempt made by FAO to extend IPM techniques to farmers in South East Asia.

The basic features of a typical rice IPM Farmer Field School are as follows

• The IPM Field School is field based and lasts for a full cropping season.

• A FFS meets once a week with a total number of meetings that might range from at least 10 up to 16 meetings.

• The primary learning material at a Farmers Field School is the field.

• The Field School meeting place is close to the learning plots often in a farmer’s home and sometimes beneath a convenient tree.

• FFS educational methods are experiential, participatory, and learner centered.

• Each FFS meeting includes at least three activities: the agro-ecosystem analysis, a “special topic”, and a group dynamics activity.

The basic features of a typical IPM Farmer Field School are as follows

Contd

• In every FFS, participants conduct a study comparing IPM with non-IPM treated plots.

• An FFS often includes several additional field studies depending on local field problems.

• Between 25 and 30 farmers participate in a FFS. Participants learn together in small groups of five to maximise participation.

• All FFSs include a Field Day in which farmers make presentations about IPM and the results of their studies.

• A pre- and post-test is conducted as part of every Field School for diagnostic purposes and for determining follow-up activities.

• The facilitators of FFS’s undergo intensive season-long residential training to prepare them for organising and conducting Field Schools.

• Preparation meetings precede an FFS to determine needs, recruit participants, and develop a learning contract.

• Final meetings of the FFS often include planning for follow-up activities

Farmer Field School Approach

Farmer Field School is a school without walls. Farmers and extension workers are students. The Farmers Field is the class room and the plant is the teacher. As the plant grows the students gain knowledge in the light of their observations. The get together at a fixed time every week once and make their own decisions based on observations and data analysis for the health of the plants.

Basic Aims of Farmer Field School

1. Skill Development

2. Empowerment

3. Will power

4. Capacity of Decision Making

Basic Principles of Farmer Field School

1. Grow a healthy crop2. Conserve natural

enemies3. Conduct regular field

observations4. Farmers understand

ecology and become experts in their own fields

TOF

25 Facilitators

10 FFS

3 days TOF per week

2 days FFS per week

Innovations•Partial residence•Single district participants

Pakistan Model

Non-Formal education Specialist/

Facilitators

Researchers/ Subject matter

SpecialistsToF 25

Facilitators

Facilitators are furtherdivided into 5 groups

each group comprises of 5 facilitators

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5

FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS

Training of Facilitators

TOF: Training of Facilitators Activity guided by a facilitator who has been trained before hand CHARACTERISTICS

One complete growing season Learning by doing Growing own crop (regular observations on

plant development) Carry out FFS Group dynamics (serve as preparation for

trainees to conduct FFSs themselves and to gain facilitation skills)

Fostering corporate identity (provides joint spirit which is crucial factor for the success)

TOF/FFS Crop Cycle Activity Chart

L

Land Preparation/ Group formation

AESAInsect ZooSpecial topic

AESAInsect ZooGroup Dynamics

AESAInsect ZooGroup DynamicsS Topic

AESAInsect ZooGroup DynamicsData Analysis

Agro-Ecosystem Training

Cucumber Cropping CalendarIsmailia, Winter Season

October November December January FebruaryPreplant Seedling Growth Flower Fruit-Set Harvest

Climate protect young plantsfrom strong winds

preferred temperature: day 24o/night19o

rH should not sink below 40-50%preferred temperature: day 20o/night16 o

rH should not sink below 40-50%preferred temperature:

day 27o/night27°keep tunnels closed for

germination onlyventilate tunnels, particularly after sunrise to avoid water on the leaves at any time

keep tunnels closed at nightSoil use fine-structured, well

aerated organic soils use 20-40m3 manure to

increase organic matter add 50-100 kg sulfur to

lower alkalinity

plant 2-3 cm deep keep soil warm to assist

germination

remove weeds

Water use well drained soilswith high water holdingcapacity

irrigate lightly and regularly, preferably in the morning hoursavoid water logging and periods of water stress

NutrientsN 50 kg Ammon. Sulfate

P 100 kg Super Phosphate

KCa 50 kg Calcium Nitrate

MicroelementsProtection Favorable Conditions: Control Measures:

Downy Mildew 20-25oC90-95% rH

Protective:Cu-oxichlorideCurative: systemic

Powd. Mildew 20-25oC75-85% rH Micronized Sulfur/water

Spider Mites warm and dryMicronized Sulfur

Aphids K-soap

CulturalPractices

do not grow cucumberrepeatedly in the samefield to avoid nematodes

use 1.5 kg seeds/fd6-8000plants/fd1-2 plants/m2

clip tips to encourageside shoots

cut out old, diseasedleaves

50 kg Potassium Sulfate 50 kg Potassium Sulfate50-100 kg Super Phosphate

Use TX6 Nozzles for best coverage

Crop Calendar L J

Water

Beneficials

Cultural Practices

Nutrients

PestsWeather

Soil

Plant

Ecosystem Analysis

Agronomic DataWeekly

Plant Height # of leaves/plant # of flowers/plants # of fruits/plants Weight of harvested

fruits

Plant Protection

Data

Weekly

Counting insect pests

Counting natural enemies

Diseases incidence

General Data

Weekly Variety Days after

planting Weather

conditions Soil

conditions

Agro-ecosystem Analysis (AESA)

Farm

er F

ield

Sc

hool

s Give a man a fish…...and feed him for a day

Teach him how to fish…..and feed him for life