Abstract
In connection to environment friendly farming, potential stakeholders took efforts and launched FAO-EU-ADB funded National Integrated Pest Management (Nat-IPM) Programme for Cotton in Pakistan during the years 2001 to 2004 and introduced new extension training methodology called Farmer Field School (FFS). The basic principle of FFS training was to enable farmers to be self sufficient, using IPM practices that are agro-ecosystem friendly. This study examined the performance performed by agriculture extension field workers/facilitators (EFW/F)in the implementation of IPM-FFS trainings with special reference to cotton crop in selected districts of Sindh province of Pakistan. A survey study was carried out in four districts of Sindh province (Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Matiari and Mirpurkhas). The total sample size comprised of 144 farmers who were involved in the series of IPM-FFS training sessions. Farmers’ perceived that EFW/F played an effective role and performed positively in IPM-FFS activities during training programme. Further, results of present study a confirmation of the adoption and a validation of IPM-FFS as a successful extension approach in Sindh province of Pakistan. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/suslj.v11i1.5867Sabaragamuwa University Journal 2012; V. 11 No. 1 pp 1-12
Highlights
Pakistan is the territory of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and big source of livelihood to around 1.5 million farmers in the rural areas
The Integrated Pest Management-Farmer Field School (IPM-FFS) approach is based on training needs
The results show that majority of the farmers (51.1%) perceived that they participated in IPM-FFS on their self interest, and 11.9 percent of the farmers reasoned their training participation on request of the farm manager; while 8.9 percent showed cause of their participation as order of their landlord
Summary
Pakistan is the territory of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and big source of livelihood to around 1.5 million farmers in the rural areas. The timely and optimum use of the pesticides for cotton is essential to prevent the crop from the attack of pests and diseases but the excessive use of the pesticides disrupts the growth of cotton, killing cotton friendly pests and providing opportunity to harmful pests to attack on crop. This throws burden of costs on the growers. The farmers participate in the FFS and become a part of wide scale IPM programmes, ranging from local to national research, and analyze the production troubles and develop solutions for them at the country level (FAO, 2000). The IPM-FFS takes into consideration local needs as well (Linh, 2001)
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