Agroecosystem Analysis Research Articles

Application of the Lume Method to an Agroecological Horticultural System in Córdoba, Argentina

The Cordoba Green Belt, in Argentina, is a local food supply region that is reducing its surface area. Agroecology is established as a paradigm for the transformation of these agroecosystems, encompassing ecological, productive, social, cultural, and economic aspects. The Method of Economic-Ecological Analysis of Agroecosystems constitutes a proposal to evaluate the multiple aspects that intervene in decision-making in diversified family systems. In Córdoba, there are few studies that include the systematization of local information on horticultural production systems, which reflect diversity, productivity, and socio-economic impact in the agroecological transition process. The objective of the work was to evaluate the agroecological production unit of the Movement of Urban Farmers of Córdoba, from the Lume method. From the analysis of information, results were obtained that allowed sizing the production destined for self-consumption and the own production of inputs, and the great contribution of reciprocal relations. This allows valuing the non-monetary elements that give autonomy, identifying the limitations due to the high systemic costs of renting land and other services, and visualizing the gradual and sustained application of the principles of agroecology in a transition process.

Multi-omics Analysis and Digitalization of Agroecosystems in Agriculture: A New World of Plants, Microbes, and Soil

Multi-omics Analysis and Digitalization of Agroecosystems in Agriculture: A New World of Plants, Microbes, and Soil

Impact of Farmer Field School on Crop Income, Agroecology, and Farmer’s Behavior in Farming: A Case Study on Cumilla District in Bangladesh

The Farmer Field School is a season-long training for farmers involving participatory activities and interactive learning with the doctrine of integrated pest management and agroecosystem analysis. It has become a popular education and extension approach worldwide. This study tried to evaluate the FFS as a vehicle for sustainable agriculture which has economic viability, ecological soundness, and social acceptability. The study aimed to analyze the impact of the FFS on crop income, agroecology, and farmers’ behavior in farming. The empirical models, such as propensity score matching, Mahalanobis distance matching, and difference in differences, were applied for estimating the impact of FFS on crop income, more specifically, real income from brinjal. The environmental impact quotient was used to assess the agroecological impact of using pesticide, and a graded response model was used to investigate farmer behavioral changes in farming. The treatment effect based on the empirical models has shown a positive, significant effect on crop income. The findings also revealed that FFS farmers had a lower agroecological impact from pesticide use, and their behavior in farming practices was improved. Therefore, FFS was demonstrated to be a key strategy in strengthening agricultural extension services, which will contribute to promoting sustainable agriculture.

Effects of Management Practices on Agronomic Parameters in Cocoa Agroecosystems at Peripheral Zone of Ebo Forest Reserve, Littoral Region, Cameroon

The study was carried out to assess the effect of management practices on agronomic parameters of cocoa agroecosystems in the peripheral zone of Ebo Forest Reserve. Purposive random sampling was conducted to establish experimental plots on the farms of willing farmers. Demonstration plots were established and agronomic parameters were monitored for “farmers’ practice (FP) and integrated crop pest and disease management (ICPM) practice” using indicators of Cocoa agro-ecosystem analysis (AESA). The FP and ICPM treatments were replicated in ten sites. From AESA records of agronomic parameters, the “observe, learn, decide and act” (OLDA) model was implemented in the ICPM treatments only. The effects of management practices were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and treatment means compared using Turkey’s T-test at 5% probability. Results of ANOVA between the two Management practices showed that over 50% of the response variables were statistically significant. Means separated through GLM ANOVA with Tukey pairwise comparisons at α = 0.05 showed that 14 (53.8%) out of 26 response variables monitored were statistically significant between the two management practices. Pruning, shade management, phytosanitary harvest, rational use of pesticides, farm sanitation, pod harvesting, breaking, fermentation of beans and drying were regular in the ICPM treatment and time-bound in the FP treatment. The average total production varied from 385.83 kg/ha in FP treatment to 572.8 kg/ha in the ICPM treatment, still below the average standard of 1000 kg/ha. The OLDA model applied in ICPM treatment following AESA is a relevant tool to enhance sustainability in the management of cocoa agroecosystems. Farmers should be sensitized and trained on appropriate farm management techniques and enhance access to extension services as well as make available improved and grafted planting materials to ensure appropriate productivity levels.

Pelatihan Agro Eco-System Analysis Petani Ketela Pohon dalam Teknik Pengelolaan Organisme Pengganggu Tanaman

<em><strong>Training on Agro Eco-System Analysis for Cassava Farmers in Plant Pest Organism Management Techniques</strong>. </em>Pest population fluctuations in cassava plants tend to increase and spread rapidly in drought fields and a monoculture cropping pattern with close spacing therefore the presence of pests planted is highly dependent on agro-ecosystem conditions. Therefore ecological-based pest control is very necessary. To maintain the stability of the plant ecosystem, basic skills are needed in conducting agroecosystem analysis (AESA). Based on the analysis results obtained recommendations for appropriate ecosystem management for each growing season and facilitate farmers in determining good cultivation techniques regarding pest control, cropping patterns, soil and water conservation as well as natural enemies that are appropriate for their plants. AESA activities are carried out so that farmers understand and are skilled in managing their cassava plantations because Randotonda Village is a producer of "Nuabosi" cassava which is known as a regional superior product. The activity is carried out in a participatory manner by directly involving the participating farmers as observers, fact seekers and decision-makers for the management of their agroecosystems through discussion and manifesting current real conditions with the hope that in the future they can manage their cropping agroecosystems properly. The highest increase in farmer understanding occurred in natural enemy components of 91.67% while the average increase in farmer understanding for all agro-ecosystem components was 57.14%. All participants were able to perform AESA very well which was indicated by the ability of farmers to make recommendations for managing cassava agroecosystems for the next planting season.

AGRO-ECOSYSTEM ANALYSIS THROUGH PARTICIPATORY LEARNING EXERCISE: A FISHERIES EXPERIENCE OF RURAL WEST BENGAL

Agro-ecosystem analysis was conducted in eight villages of Tapan block, Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal,using Participatory Rural Appraisal tools to explore the fishery resources, occurrence of fish disease, practices in fisheries, choice matrix of fish production and problem cause analysis for low fish productivity. An action plan has been formulated for future strategies such as research, farmers’ training. Key words: Participatory rural appraisal, wealth ranking, problem cause analysis.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of climate change, land degradation, and water insecurity in an arid rangeland: The Río San Miguel watershed, Sonora, Mexico

Rangelands are complex social-ecological systems (SES) commonly used to support ranching and other agrarian livelihoods. Common to Earth's drylands, rangelands are susceptible to drought, desertification, and land degradation from both climatic and human activities. In the arid Americas, ranching communities are often located in watersheds and rely on local riparian resources (e.g. surface- and ground-water) to support crop and animal cultivation. However, anthropogenic climate change in combination with intensified agriculture integrated into international markets degrade both landscape and water resources. In Sonora, Mexico's Río San Miguel Watershed we find via an interdisciplinary set of methods that rangeland productivity, surface-water reaches, and aquifers are reduced to critical levels, agrarian livelihoods endangered, and within this dynamic, that downstream locations are less resilient and water secure than operations upstream. This spatio-temporal dynamic to water insecurity is due both to (a) latitudinal-based climatic changes and (b) upstream groundwater pumping activity. Participatory rapid rural appraisal, agro-ecosystem analysis, and remote sensing tell us how climate, landscape, water, and ranching operation dynamics are interrelated and affect SES morphology and resilience across time, operations, and sub-watersheds. Partnerships and cooperation among ranchers, sub-watersheds, and institutions are among the management and policy interventions available to prepare for or mitigate the developing social-ecological crisis in the watershed. Lessons from Mexico's Río San Miguel Watershed are relevant for other drylands, agrarian systems, and groundwater-reliant economies, especially as the specter of long-term global climate change and water insecurity looms large for many of the Earth's social-ecological systems.

Rural development in the Sertão do São Francisco, Bahia: an interpretation based on the trajectories of peasant families of the territory

This article addresses the trajectories of peasant families of the rural areas in the municipalities of Juazeiro, Casa Nova, Campo Alegre de Lourdes, and Remanso development, in the Sertão do São Francisco territory, semiarid Bahia, Brazil. It aims to interpret the processes of rural development in the territory based on the results of innovations incorporated by families from the interaction in learning networks mobilized by non-governmental organizations and access to a set of public policies. The Lume method was used to guide the economic and ecological analysis of agroecosystems. In its recent history, this territory was the beneficiary of several policies of tackling misery and hunger through Zero Hunger (Fome Zero) and Brazil without Extreme Poverty (Brasil sem Miséria) governmental programs, aimed at peasant farming. The incidence of extensive territorial development policies conducted by innovative institutionalities is another feature that called the attention of the research. A significant ensemble of innovations has been incorporated to the agroecosystems, to which contributed the public policies of the democratic period and, most importantly, the social capital of the territory resulted from the mobilization of the peasantry as well as from their partner organizations. The trajectories of analyzed families show how food production for self-consumption of the families, the reciprocity of give-and-take actions and the trading in a big diversity of local markets, while empowering the families’ struggle for autonomy, also contributes to summon social active strength for the construction of rural development alternatives aimed at both making peasant farming stronger and ensuring food sovereignty of the territory.

Identifying the resource use and circularity in farm systems: Focus on the energy analysis of agroecosystems

An innovative method is described, assessing the energy flows in farm systems. These systems represent both a socio-economic activity and an agroecosystem. Both market and ecosystem flows are inventoried, focusing on farm agroecosystem circularity of the reinvested biomass. An original system representation is proposed, where process and energy storage sub-systems are distinguished. Biotic energy storage, identified as an Associated Ecosystem (AE) is included. Soil mineralization, reflecting soil activity, was selected as a proxy for services provided by the AE. The present approach was tested on an existing French mixed farm case study. Contrasting scenarios were proposed to test the model and the two sets of selected indicators. EROIs (Energy Return On Energy Invest) evaluate the current system performance through resource use efficiency. Circularities reflect the system resilience. Circin (Inflow Circularity) indicates the system self-sufficiency and the extent to which the farm activity is based on the AE. Temporal stability is assessed by the steadiness of the Circin versus Circout (Outflow Circularity) relationship. The Crop production scenario presents best performance. Specialized and intensive systems present lower Circin values. Furthermore, contrasting Circularities were observed for the intensive breeding scenario, while homogenous results were obtained for the extensive mixed-farming scenario. This method takes a new step towards the integration of circularity and ecosystem support functions in the energy analysis of farm systems. Firstly, it provides indicators of performance and resilience. Secondly, as a key feature for sustainable agriculture, it highlights the relationship between agricultural activity and its associated ecosystem.

AVALIAÇÃO DE UM SISTEMA AGROALIMENTAR NO SEMIÁRIDO BRASILEIRO: UM OLHAR ECONÔMICO-ECOLÓGICO

A implantação de um assentamento rural pelo Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária – INCRA representa a construção de um novo território para o agricultor e sua família, onde é possível implantar práticas sustentáveis de agricultura. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida para avaliar um agroecossistema composto por quatro assentados de um mesmo núcleo familiar, sendo que dois praticam agricultura e pecuária conforme a tradição da região, enquanto os outros dois seguem os conceitos agroecológicos da permacultura. Para avaliar o agroecossistema foi escolhido o método de Análise Econômico-Ecológica de Agroecossistemas desenvolvido pelas Articulação Nacional de Agroecologia e AS-PTA – Agricultura Familiar e Agroecologia. A criação de uma rede de suporte que levou a uma série de cursos e benefícios como projetos de plantio de frutíferas e capineira, alavancaram a produção do núcleo familiar do agroecossistema e proporcionaram maior autonomia às mulheres do assentamento. A entrada da linha de crédito Fomento Mulher através do INCRA foi uma das causas apontadas para essa mudança. Investimentos na irrigação da horta e na capineira através de empréstimos do AgroAmigo e do CrediAmigo foram decisivos para garantir a soberania alimentar do Núcleo de Gestão Social do Agroecossistema – NSGA. A implantação da mandala proporcionou o plantio de novas culturas de frutas, legumes e verduras, além da piscicultura. A diversificação de produtos trouxe um incremento na qualidade e segurança da alimentação do NSGA, abriu um leque maior de produtos comercializáveis, onde se destacam como fonte de renda cada vez mais crescente a venda de Tilápia e das hortaliças.

Farmer field school : An approach beyond technology transfer

Farmer field school is an innovative extension approach, emerged in rice crop and gradually diversified to vegetables, cotton, livestock and other crops. FFS originated from Indonesia, is presently being conducted in many countries with local adaptations and institutionalization. FFS is a groupbased learning process that includes hands-on training methods, carried out through field observations, agro-ecosystem analysis at subgroup level, agro-ecosystem analysis at school level and special topics. Participants of farmer field schools are made to learn through direct real-life experiences to maximize retention of farm information. During the period 1994-2013, total 14,617 FFS were organized to train 58,422 agricultural extension officers and 4,39,508 farmers in the country. Evaluation studies reported that the FFS approach has empowered farmers in knowledge acquisition, analytical skills, critical thinking, problem-solving skills and reflecting an increase in yield, reduction in pesticide use and farm-level returns. Sustained diffusion from field school graduates to neighboring farmers still lacks convincing evidences. Effective FFS essentially require backstopping by experienced facilitators, appropriate fund release mechanism, proper logistics, regular monitoring and participation of farmers.

AGROECOSYSTEM ANALYSIS OF FINCHA SUB BASIN, BLUE NILE RIVER BASIN, ETHIOPIA

<p class="Default">Agro-ecosystems are ecological systems modified by human beings to produce food, fiber or other agricultural products. It is an intersection of a set of agriculturally relevant climatic factors; soils and physiographic variables relevant to crop production; and a prevailing set of cropping practices. The biophysical diversity and associated socioeconomic condition of the community necessitate multiple strategies for augmented the resilience and adaptation to climate change. The objective here is to support site-specific and climate resilient development activities in a changing environment. Hence, the pattern, productivity, and sustainability analysis of the agro-ecosystems found within the sub-basin analyzed. Primarily, agro-ecosystem analysis conducted in collaboration with experts, development agents, and local communities; and four distinct agro-ecosystems (Highland, Midland, Wetland, and Lowland) identified. Then, the identified agro-ecosystems examined in light of their potential for agricultural production and the challenge presented by climate change. The diverse agro-ecosystem offers the potential for the production of equally varied diversified agricultural products with a notable demarcation in terms of production orientation and socioeconomic uniqueness of the community among the agro-ecosystems. This feature provides an opportunity in addressing the adaptive capacity and resilient development options to climate variability and change based on specific requirement of each agro-ecosystem.</p>

Comparative Energy-Landscape Integrated Analysis (ELIA) of past and present agroecosystems in North America and Europe from the 1830s to the 2010s

Along the last century there has been an unprecedented growth in both global food production and related socioecological impacts. The objective of this paper is to analyse the effects of long-term metabolic patterns of agrarian systems on land use and cover changes (LUCC). We have developed an Energy-Landscape Integrated Analysis (ELIA) of agroecosystems to measure the energy storage (E) and the information (I) represented by the complexity of internal energy cycles, in order to correlate both with the energy imprint in the landscape functional-structure (L) that sustains biodiversity. ELIA values are used to assess the agro-ecological landscape transitions in different case studies analysed in North America (Canada and USA) and Europe (Austria and Spain), demonstrating their sensitivity and robustness for case study comparisons on farm-driven environmental change. The results show two stages of the socio-metabolic transition: a first period (from 1830 to 1956) characterized by a non-significant decrease in energy reinvestment (E) and a decrease in energy redistribution (I); and a second period (from 1956 to 2000) with a significant loss of E·I optimal values and associated landscape patterns (L). To overcome the socioecological degradation that these trends implied requires a low external input strategy based on an innovative enhancement of cultural knowledge kept by rural populations, which may help to empower farm communities in the markets and in the public arena. Further research could help to reveal how and why different strategies of agroecosystem management lead to key turning points in the relationship between energy flows, landscape functioning and biodiversity. This research will be very useful for public policies aimed to promote more climate and socioecological resilience of agricultural landscapes and food systems worldwide.

Modifying the farmer field school method to support on-farm adaptation of complex rice systems

ABSTRACTPurpose: Complex rice systems (CRSs) are polycultures of plants and animals that enhance ecological processes contributing to sustainable and profitable farming systems. However, the contextual management complexity can hamper adoption, despite the large long-term benefits that CRSs offer. This paper aimed to provide a method that encourages active farmer involvement and integrates farmer’s feedback to deliver timely adaptations to CRS management.Design/methodology/approach: FFSs that are commonly used in guiding rural development processes involve a long process of preparation, weekly meetings and dissemination of new technologies with a greater knowledge flows from researchers or institutions to farmers than contrariwise. We have simplified FFS components and modified its curriculum focusing on extracting and integrating farmers’ feedback into adaptation measures. Surveys were conducted and their results were validated through focus group discussions, which provided an adequate database to simplify the steps in the FFS approach.Findings: Only four meetings for agroecosystems analysis that emphasised an analytical and reflective learning cycle generated suitable adaptation measures selected from farmers’ feedback. Repetition of the shortened FFS over several rice cropping cycles proved more effective than the frequent meetings within one cropping cycle.Practical implications: The modified FFS could be considered as a promising approach to training farmers, whilst simultaneously identifying and discovering adaptations of agricultural innovations and monitoring the evolution of complex polycultures like CRSs, under diverse conditions.Theoretical implications: The modified FFS provides participants additional time to reflect on the training topics, resulting in a significant improvement in their knowledge and the performance of the CRS.Originality/value: The modified FFS approach is focused on reflexive learning cycles and adaptation of innovations. Therefore, it is highly suitable for management of complex polycultures such as CRSs.

Life cycle assessment of rice production systems in different paddy field size levels in north of Iran

Life cycle assessment (LCA) had proven to be an appropriate assessment tool for analysis of agro-ecosystems by identifying, quantifying, and evaluating the resources consumed and released into the environment. In order to assess the relevant environmental impacts of rice agro-ecosystems due to a specific process, using LCA method, two factors concerned with resource utilization and contaminant emissions were calculated in north of Iran during 2016 and 2017. All the management practices/inputs were monitored and recorded with the help of local experts without interference in farmer's practices. After preliminary evaluation, 100 paddy fields were selected in three planting systems (low input, conventional, and high input) which were predicted in two planting methods (semi-mechanized and traditional) in small, medium, and large farm size levels. Functional unit was considered as one ton paddy yield. The finding revealed that in both regions, all the impact categories and environmental pollutant were almost same and farmer's management practices are close to each other. Also, climate change (CC) in Amol and Rasht regions was 277.21 and 275.79kgCO2eq., respectively. The most CC, global warming potential (GWP 100a), and cumulative energy demand (CED) in both regions were observed in high-input system for semi-mechanized method. Furthermore, the result for the impact categories of terrestrial acidification (TA), freshwater eutrophication (FE), marine eutrophication (ME), agricultural land occupation (ALO), water depletion (WD), metal depletion (MD), and fossil depletion (FD) was similar to the CC, GWP, and CED where the highest amounts in both regions statistically went to high-input system, traditional planting method, and small farms. Moreover, in both regions, high-input and conventional systems emitted higher heavy metals than low-input system. Furthermore, the most heavy metal emission in the air was achieved in small farm, and medium farm got the next rank. Additionally, the high consumption of chemical inputs, such as fossil fuels and fertilizers, in the high-input and conventional systems led to an increase of environmental pollutant in comparison with low-input systems. Therefore, to increase the sustainability of agro-ecosystems, as well as to reduce the environmental impacts of pollutant, reforming the pattern of chemical input consumption and reducing the use of non-renewable energy sources are essential.

Methods and tools for developing virtual territories for scenario analysis of agro-ecosystems

Land evaluation has a leading role in the sustainable management of natural resources. By integrating information from different disciplinary fields and at different spatial scales, concerning soils, climate, vegetation, geomorphology, economic and social drivers, it assesses alternative land uses with consideration of socio-economic and environmental objectives. Over time, the increasing complexity of such an analysis has shown the limits of traditional approaches proposed by Food and Agricultural Organisation and other international institutions in the second half of the 20th century, to deal with relatively new phenomena, such as those related to global change. Among the recent methodological proposals, agro-ecological zoning (AEZ) has gained increasing attention of scholars. Global change affects all the variables to be considered for land evaluation and in particular those affecting land productivity and economic consequences, but only rarely they have been jointly considered. Moreover, the possibility of simulating agro-ecosystems over long-time periods in many parts of the world is limited by the great efforts required for data acquisition and the many sources of errors. Our study aims to demonstrate the opportunity to explore the use of virtual territories as analogues of controlled field experiments, in order to carry out scenario analysis of agro-ecosystems, which may exist or not at the moment. Virtual territories exhibit morphological, ecological and land cover features statistically similar to selected existing territories. Provided this basic prerequisite is met, a virtual territory is built as a coherent set of geographic information system layers and databases on which the effects of global change phenomena (e.g., climate and land use changes) can be simulated under different scenarios. The advantages are: the possibility of having full control of the experimental conditions; the possibility of setting up factorial experiments with combinations of different typologies or levels of climate, physical conditions, socio-economic development, etc.; the efficiency and the flexibility of the tools adopted to easily generate realistic landscape and their variants. The approach is demonstrated through the development of erosion analysis under climate change scenarios.

GREEN ECONOMY – THE PARADIGM OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS IN UKRAINE

Some possibilities to apply green economy in order to achieve sustainable development of agro-ecosystems in Ukraine are described in the article. On the basis of the comparison of such definitions as “sustainable development” and “green economy” it was concluded that green economy is organizational and economic fundamentals for sustainable development. The analysis of agro-ecosystems of Ukraine is performed and the extensive method of farming leading to the deterioration of the ecological conditions of agro-ecosystems is determined. Management mechanism of sustainable development of agro-ecosystems in Ukraine based on the concept of “green economy” is suggested.

Participatory rural appraisal: A systems approach for identification of problems by an agro-ecosystem analysis

Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) technique of selected village (Bilakundi) in Belagum district of Karnataka state revealed that village basically sugarcane and maize based cropping system. The major sources of irrigation are open well, bore well and canal and 721 hectare of land is irrigated through these sources. The PRA tools used include transect walk, agroecological mapping, social mapping, resource map, mobility map, time trend, seasonal calendar, gender analysis, time line, livelihood analysis, technology mapping, wealth ranking, consequence diagram, problem solving tree etc. The major constraints identified were increasing micronutrient (Zn-Fe) deficient fields, water salinity, water logging, market price fluctuation, water scarcity during summer, quality of electricity supply to run pump sets, timely non-availability of labourers for agricultural activities, infertility of buffalo and cows, root grub and woolly aphid insect pest problem in sugarcane and gradual declining of soil fertility. Based on the problems identified, suitable solutions were arrived in consultation with researchers, subject matter experts of KVK and progressive farmers.

Eco-friendly kitchen gardening by Pakistani rural women developed through a farmer field school participatory approach

A joint venture was made by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Society of Facilitators and Trainers Pakistan to train rural women of eight districts of Pakistan in kitchen gardening and off-season vegetable cultivation using a farmer field school (FFS) approach. Overall, 42 females were trained as master trainers who in turn established 48 season-long FFS where 1227 rural females were facilitated to establish home gardens and field plots with emphasis on minimizing chemical inputs in crop production and protection. Observatory skills regarding regular plant growth and ecology were enhanced through agroecosystem analysis, which, in turn, improved their crop management decisions. The largest portion of FFS participants (38.2%) was illiterate and with regard to age, the largest category (36.6%) was 21–30 years old. The participatory FFS activities not only enhanced the awareness of participating rural women folk but also provided a forum to share their experiences. They gained confidence and improved their social interactions and awareness about their role in improving livelihoods and agriculture. The cost–benefit analysis showed home gardens and field plots of vegetables to be economically beneficial activities.

Social impacts of IPM-FFS on urban and peri-urban vegetable producers in Cotonou, Benin

Shifting from scientist-led top-down approaches in agricultural development to participatory approaches putting farmers and their knowledge in the center requires scientists and farmers to play new roles, changing social relationships between them, and among farmers themselves. Using mainly qualitative data and analysis, this paper reports social impacts (social relations, social empowerment and sharing of IPM information, and sustainability and institutionalization of IPM) for vegetable producers in an integrated pest management (IPM) project using farmer field schools (FFS) in Cotonou. Forty-three vegetable producers were chosen for semi-structured interviews. The project led to social empowerment of the vegetable producers and initiated a process of creation and sharing of IPM knowledge and building of social relations within and between the vegetable gardens. The participants realized they were sources of information for each other, and IPM knowledge was shared without the benefit or restriction of social networks. However, this study revealed several factors hindering the development of improved social relations among the vegetable producers and between these and the scientists and steering committee members, which in turn may result in lack of continuation and institutionalization of IPM activities. To overcome these obstacles, this research suggests that similar IPM-FFS projects encourage (1) a transparent selection process, (2) improvement of the Trainer of Trainers’ facilitation skills for better quality FFSs and improved sharing of complex information like agro-ecosystem analysis and beneficial insects, (3) building trust and confidence between the participants and scientists, (4) giving the ToT participants, community organizers and farmer organizations ownership of the project by giving them responsibility for creating post project plans to spread and institutionalize IPM of IPM-FFS activities and (5) facilitating the participants during and after the project in improving social relations and accountability. The results also draw lessons on how scientists and vegetable producers have or should have changed their roles to sustain and institutionalize IPM, such as the scientists and project leaders need to focus even more on their interactions with vegetable producers, enhancing their role as facilitators in initiating equitable processes of sustaining and institutionalizing IPM in the vegetable gardens.