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
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