Farmer Field Schools Research Articles

Farmers taking responsibility for herd health development—stable schools in research and advisory activities as a tool for dairy health and welfare planning in Europe

Achieving and maintaining a high herd health and welfare status is an important aim in organic livestock farming. The varying farming systems across and within countries call for models that are relevant for different farming types and that can be integrated into local practice. In stable schools, farmers take responsibility for health and welfare planning by identifying issues, setting goals, and acting to improve the health situation based on farm-specific data, e.g. milk production. This paper reviews the results from intervention studies that used a modified ‘farmer field school’ approach for animal health and welfare planning, providing an overview of ongoing activities and their implementation into advisory situations in selected European countries. Studies on stable schools as an intervention tool showed improvements regarding the specific project aim on the majority of the participating farms. Farmers and facilitators were convinced of the approach and benefits for dairy herds. Farmers’ attitude and attention towards their herds and their ownership of the process appear to be crucial success factors for herd health and welfare situations. In some European countries, this method has been implemented in advisory practice, and in other regions, there are relevant and promising opportunities.

Economic impacts of integrated pest management (IPM) farmer field schools (FFS): evidence from onion farmers in the Philippines

AbstractThis article comprehensively examines the impact of integrated pest management‐farmer field school (IPM‐FFS) on yield, insecticide expenditures, labor expenditures, herbicide expenditures, fertilizer expenditures, and profit, based on data from onion producers in the Philippines. Propensity score matching (PSM) and regression‐based approaches that account for potential bias due to selection problems from observable variables are used to achieve the objective of the study. Sensitivity of our IPM‐FFS impact results to potential bias due to “selection on unobservables” was also assessed. We find that farmers who participate in the IPM‐FFS training program have statistically lower insecticide expenditures than the non‐IPM‐FFS farmers. But we do not find any evidence that the IPM‐FFS training program significantly affects yield and the other inputs. There is some evidence indicating that IPM‐FFS farmers may have statistically higher profit levels than non‐IPM‐FFS producers, but these results are sensitive to and may still be invalidated by bias due to unobservable variables. Since IPM‐FFS seem to only significantly reduce insecticide use, policymakers and extension educators may need to adjust the IPM‐FFS curriculum to further emphasize (or include) other agronomic practices that also optimize the use of other inputs like labor, fertilizer, and herbicides. The more efficient use of all inputs would likely reduce total expenditures and eventually translate to higher incomes.

Comparative Analysis of Farmer Participatory Extension Approaches: Case of Farmer Field Schools and Master Farmer Training in Mashonaland Central Province of Zimbabwe

This study made a comparative analysis of two extension approaches, Farmer Field Schools and Master Farmer Training with the objective of finding out the effectiveness of these approaches as regards farmer knowledge gains, skills empowerment, farmer adoption of recommended practices and cost effectiveness. Structured, semi structured questionnaires and informal interviews were used to collect data from farmers, local non-governmental organizations and extension workers. The results indicated that farmer field schools were more effective in terms of improvement in farmer’s knowledge, skills empowerment and change in crop husbandry practices. Master Farmer Original Research Article Gadzirayi and Mafuse; AJAEES, 4(4): 317-324, 2015; Article no.AJAEES.2015.032 318 training improved farmers’ marketing strategies because of assistance rendered by extension workers. Use of farmer field schools is therefore recommended when implementing extension programs targeted at large groups of farmers inclined towards crop husbandry. Where emphasis is on change in marketing strategies use of master farmer training programs is recommended.

Enhancing farmers’ capacity for botanical pesticide innovation through video-mediated learning in Bangladesh

Despite the general success of farmer-capacity-building methods such as Farmer Field School in promoting pest management innovations, only those farmers directly involved benefit. How can agricultural extension enable farmer-to-farmer learning about botanical pesticides beyond such schools? We wanted to know how different learning methods, such as video shows and workshops, change farmers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices about botanical pesticides. This paper explains how video engages men and women farmers in spreading botanical pesticides across 12 villages in Bogra District, north-western Bangladesh. We conducted ex ante and ex post surveys among farmers from November 2009 to September 2010. For data analysis, we used t-test and McNemer and Wilcoxon sign rank tests. Our findings suggest that video improves the ability of both male and female farmers to communicate about pest management among themselves and with other stakeholders, as ‘intricate ethno-agricultural practices’. Video-mediated learning sessions are more effective than conventional workshop training in enhancing farmers’ knowledge about botanical pesticides, changing their attitude and finally taking a decision to adopt these methods. In other words, video is capable of communicating complex issues such as the biological and physical processes that underlie pest management innovations. From our case, we conclude that agricultural extension is more effective with the use of facilitated video learning and that this process clarifies complex agro-ecological principles, bias and normative perceptions of the learners. Also, video-mediated learning is not only transferable across villages, but also works well in combination with other media, such as radio, television and mobile phones.

Study of Extension Teaching Methods Adopted through Crop Maximization Project: A Case Study of Sindh Province

Farmers' decisions to adopt a new agricultural technology depend on complex factors. One of the factors is farmers' perception.Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MINFA) launched an integrated development programme entitled “Crop Maximization Project (CMP)” in 15 districts of the country. A successful extension teaching method can play a vital role to transfer the technology to the farming community. The role of the extension agent cannot be ignored for dissemination of information at field level. This study was conducted six districts of Sindh province comprising Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushahro Feroze, Khairpur and Larkana. Five villages were selected from the each district through multistage sampling techniques. Ten famers were selected from each village. Thus making a sample of 300 farmers was randomly selected for the study. A well structured interview schedule was used to collect information from the small farmers on their personal and socio-economic characteristics and effectiveness of extension teaching method at farm level. Statistical techniques like mean scores and percentages were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study showed that majority 35% of the small farmers were youth having age group (26-35 years). About 57% of the respondents were married; majority (40%) maintained a range of small farmers having land 6-12 acres. 45% of the respondents having their primary education. Almost 47% of the respondents were experienced between 6 to 10 years. The result of the study showed that land management practices and selection and sowing of certified seed at proper time ranked highest in the order of acquiring knowledge. The majority 80% farmers perceived farmers field school, while 70% farmers were identified result demonstration, 68% farmers through method demonstration as the extension teaching method used by extension personnel. It is recommended that farmers should be trained through farmer’s field school for the adoption of the technology at field level. Crop maximization project should be extended to other districts of Sindh province and knowledge of the farmers should be enhanced through extension teaching methods for crop productivity enhancement and better livelihood for the farming community. .

An Analysis of the Effectiveness Farmer Field School (FFS) Approach in Sustainable Rural Livelihood (SRL): The Experience of Punjab-Pakistan

Farmer Field School (FFS) is a capacity building approach in the Agricultural Extension Approaches (AEA), which provides opportunities to farmers of improving various skills through practicing various techniques by themselves. The review paper is in 2015 to analyze FFS as a strategy for benefiting resource poor farmers from agricultural technologies in Pakistan. Keeping in view the importance of exchange of information, FFS approach is the only approach to agriculture extension in which communication is an integral component because after trained by FFS program and to be expected to become a local agent to deliver the information and techniques of agriculture to other farmers for enhancing the agricultural production, income and improved livelihood. It can be concluded from the study that FFS proves highly beneficial to the farming community due to its capacity building functions.

Gross margin as an indicator of the significance of farmer education on the WCR risk assessment in repeated sowing

Western corn rootworm (WCR) appeared in Serbia in the late 80's and quickly spread, causing increasing losses. Monitoring showed that crop rotation gives good results. On the other hand, domestic animals require a lot of corn and considering the limited land-area, that often demands repeated sowing of corn (continuous cropping), consequently leading to higher pest damages. Through Farmer Field Schools, farmers were educated on WCR risk assessment of repeated corn sowing. The goal was to prolong corn production over years, presuming its higher profitability of production (gross margin). Calculations of production of wheat, corn and soybean on farms involved in education program in 2012, have shown that corn has the highest gross margin (92,047.50 RSD/ha), followed by soybean (72,410.00 RSD/ha) and wheat (59,510.00 RSD/ha). It could be concluded that farmer's best interest is to grow corn, when possible, in continuous cropping, with obligatory risk assessment.

The Role of Farmer Field Schools Approach in Improving Tea Production among Smallholding in Kenya

Tea production, processing and marketing in Kenya is under management of two sectors. The two sectors include; Kenya Tea Development Agency which manages approximately six hundred thousand small scale farmers and multi-nationals sector for example Uniliver/Lipton teas, James Finlay's and George Williamson holdings manage privately plantations and estates of tea. The volume and frequency of plucking tea leaves enhances net revenue for small scale tea farmers in Kenya. The main objective was to determine the role of Farmer Field Schools extension approach and eventual outcome tea production among small scale farmers in Kenya. The study assessed the trends and the influence of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) approach in addressing productivity of tea leaves. The study employed descriptive statistics and mean trends analysis to determine the influence of FFS in tea production. The study sites were six sub locations of tea growing areas. The sites were purposively since they were pilot areas where the initial farmer field schools were collaboratively initiated by Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) and Uniliver/Lipton teas for enhancement of tea production. The study gathered primary data from sampled tea farmers by use of structured questionnaires. Secondary data was sourced from the KTDA archives records. Research findings revealed a positive trend in green tea leaf production and as well as revenue. Further, it was revealed that social positive effects such as farmers willingness to participate in group activities and sustainable tea husbandry, promotion of self-mobilization and interactive participation enhanced tea production. The positive economic-agricultural productivity effects were; the transfer and adoption of agricultural technologies particularly in tea growing that enhanced revenue, increased access to knowledge and agricultural information.

Adoption and intensity of integrated pest management (IPM) vegetable farming in Bangladesh: an approach to sustainable agricultural development

The common use of pesticide is a major challenge in trying to accomplish sustainable agriculture. Farming systems based on integrated pest management (IPM) technologies can reduce the use of pesticides to a great extent without causing harm to the yield. Therefore, Bangladesh, like many developing countries, launched IPM technologies to reduce the adverse effects of pesticides in social, economic and environmental aspects. This study made an attempt to analyze the level of IPM adoption and the intensity of IPM practices by vegetable farmers of Narsingdi district, Bangladesh. A total of 331 vegetable producers were sampled. The results revealed that less than one-third of the farmers (30 %) adopted IPM and they varied in terms of the number or type of practices. The use of logistic regression model in this study was to identify the significant factors of IPM adoption, explore several factors, including farmer field school, land ownership status, perception toward IPM, use of improved varieties and extension contact. Furthermore, the linear regression model showed that vegetable cultivation area, farmers’ age, household size, land ownership status and perception toward IPM are necessary in the adoption intensity of IPM practices. This study also made an attempt to clarify the role of these factors in the adoption behavior of IPM practices in vegetable farming. The findings could be used to formulate better policies toward increasing the adoption of this sustainable approach.

Impact evaluation indicators of an Integrated Pest Management program in vegetable crops in the subtropical region of Jammu and Kashmir, India

A reduction in the amount of active ingredients by weight (low-dosage pesticides replacing pesticides with a higher dosage) is not a strong indicator to measure the impact of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs because the toxicity of the pesticides to humans and the environment is not considered. Although, pesticide use frequency is a good indicator to measure the impact, it does not consider the qualitative aspect of the use of more toxic pesticides of low dosage. The field environmental impact quotient (FEIQ) developed at Cornell University, USA, considers the toxicological aspect of the pesticides used. A field study was conducted to evaluate the long-term impact on vegetable Integrated Pest Management-Farmer Field School (IPM-FFS) Program, implemented in the 2000s, in the sub-tropical Jammu region of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. A sample of 80 IPM-trained and 60 non-IPM farmers were selected for the study. Pesticide use by weight in the non-IPM villages was greater in the cases of cauliflower and eggplant by about 19 and 39%, respectively, but in the case of cabbage and okra it was less by 12 and 26%, compared to the IPM villages. The mean numbers of pesticide applications were lower in the IPM villages by 23, 22 and 40% on cauliflower, okra and eggplant, respectively. Overall, the IPM-trained farmers had reduced pesticide use (active ingredients), by weight by 10%, and by treatment frequency by 29% in vegetable crops. The FEIQ of pesticide use was higher in the IPM villages compared to the non-IPM villages, as the farmers trained under the IPM program applied more toxic pesticides. Pesticide retailers were the key source of information on pesticides for both IPM-trained and non-IPM farmers and they affected the farmers' selection and use. Our study explains that FEIQ of pesticide use in combination with the amount of pesticide-active ingredients and application frequency are good indicators to measure the impact of IPM programs on agriculture. Under the IPM programs, mass media should be utilized to get accurate information about the judicious use of pesticides to as many farmers and pesticide retailers as possible, as reaching 108 million farmers through Farmer Field Schools (FFSs) is not possible.

Does beneficiary farmer feedback improve project performance? An impact study of a participatory monitoring intervention in Mindanao, Philippines

Does farmer involvement in the monitoring of agricultural interventions improve the impact of those interventions? This article investigates the impact of a beneficiary feedback mechanism (ParFARM) on the performance of a farmers’ field school project in the Philippines. A participatory feed-back module was randomly allocated to farmer field schools and its impact was observed on a series of outcomes. We find that ParFARM increases farmers’ motivation and improves project performance as measured by farmers’ agricultural knowledge and practices. The intervention, however, does not, within the context of a one-year treatment, increase agricultural yields. Unlike much of the impact literature focusing on the comparison of groups with and without the intervention, we analyse impact over the entire intensity of treatment and we find that the impact of ParFARM increases with the number of farmer field school sessions attended. Our results suggest that farmer field school interventions can be made more participatory and that this can increase their effectiveness.

Do Bolivian small holder farmers improve and retain knowledge to reduce occupational pesticide poisonings after training on Integrated Pest Management?

BackgroundPesticide consumption is increasing in Bolivia as well as pest resistance, pesticide poisonings and pollution of the environment. This survey evaluates the training of small holder farmers on pesticide handling and ecological alternatives to reduce the negative pesticide effects.MethodA baseline survey was performed in 2002 and follow-up surveys in 2004 and 2009. Farmers were selected and trained on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) from 2002 to 2004 in Farmer Field Schools (FFS). After exclusions and drop outs, 23 FFS trained farmers could be compared to 47 neighbor farmers for changes in ‘knowledge, attitude and practice’ (KAP) on IPM and symptoms of poisoning when handling pesticides. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 21.0 using χ2-test, Cochran’s Q test and Student’s T-test.ResultsImprovements were seen in both groups but most significant among the FFS farmers. At baseline no difference were seen between the two groups apart from a more frequent use of personal protection among the FFS farmers. After the training was finished significant differences were seen between FFS farmers and neighbor farmers on all KAP variables, a difference reduced to six of the KAP variables in 2009. No difference was seen in self-reported poisonings after pesticide handling. FFS farmers improved their KAP scores markedly during training and there after retained their knowledge, while neighbor farmers improved during the entire period. Ecological farming without the use of pesticides increased most among the FFS farmers.ConclusionThe study showed a sustained improvement among Farmers Field School trained farmers on personal protection and hygiene when handling pesticides, knowledge and use of IPM and ecological alternatives and a reduction in self-reported symptoms after pesticide handling. Similar though less pronounced improvements was seen among neighbor farmers having had less training and information on pesticide handling and alternatives than the FFS trained farmers. Training of farmers on IPM and good agricultural practices has positive effects, but is scarce in Bolivia as in most low-income countries and must be encouraged to support an improved and sustainable food production and to protect the health of farmers and consumers as well as the environment.

English

The livelihoods of millions of banana farmers in East and Central Africa have been threatened by the devastating epidemic of banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum. The disease is widespread and has been reported in East and Central Africa. The economic impact of the disease emanates from loss of yield and cost of control measures. All banana cultivars grown in the region are susceptible to BXW and no source of resistance has been identified. Cultural interventions are therefore the most practical and recommended practices for BXW control. A number of approaches: farmer field schools, community action, going public and top-down conventional approaches (traning of trainers, mass media and posters) have been used to mobilize stakeholders in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo. Different approaches have been used in different countries with varied success in controlling BXW. This review discusses approaches, which have been successfully used in the management of BXW in some areas of East and Central Africa with a view of evaluating them individually or in combination under local conditions. This hopefully will help scale-out the promising approaches and contribute to more effective BXW control in the region.   Key words: Banana Xanthomonas wilt, disease management approaches, Eastern and Central Africa.

Hugh Waddington and Howard White: Farmer field schools—from agricultural extension to adult education

Hugh Waddington and Howard White: Farmer field schools—from agricultural extension to adult education

Beyond the Field: The Impact of Farmer Field Schools on Food Security and Poverty Alleviation

Summary We estimate the impact of a Farmer Field School intervention among small-scale farmers in northern Tanzania on two main development objectives: food security and poverty. We employ a series of evaluation methodologies, including a Quasi-Difference-in-Difference setup, to account for potential selection into the project, despite lack of baseline data. We find strong positive effects on food security, but no effect on poverty. Investigating possible mechanisms for this result shows that reallocation of labor resources toward own agricultural production and improved production smoothing may have led to improved food security while poverty remained unaffected.

The Potential of Farmer Field School in Cocoa Extension Delivery:A Ghanaian Case Study

The Potential of Farmer Field School in Cocoa Extension Delivery:A Ghanaian Case Study

‘Hama dan Musuh Alami’, ‘Obat dan Racun’: Dinamika Pengetahuan Petani Padi dalam Pengendalian Hama

This article presents the author's examination of the dynamic aspects of farmers' knowledge on pest management strategies among rice farmers on the north coast of West Java. In detail, the author takes into account the differences in farmers' reception and learning process in the context of different modes of transmission: 1) the transferral of technology in the Green Revolution programme; and 2) the transmission of knowledge through the Integrated Pest Management Farmers Field Schools. In both settings, metaphor and analogy played a significant role in knowledge acquisition and transmission. Farmers' existing schemes or models of interpretation, or what is called as 'simplified world' of areas of particular experiences dominately underlying farmers' interpretation of the new transmitted ideas and concepts. In the transferral of technology, without the transmission of the related schemes, farmers' interpretations led to undesirable consequences resulting from the misleading and misused metaphors, e.g. 'medicine' for pesticide. On the other hand, knowledge transmission of the integrated pest management not only shifted the existing paradigm of pesticide use, but also enriched farmers' own knowledge through the improved ways of learning in the context of a continuous pest outbreak and economic constraints.

Modelling of food security in Malaysia

Food security policy in Malaysia is largely about ensuring the availability, accessibility and utilization of rice to the society. To this end, three policy objectives were set since 1970s, namely: to ensure high price to paddy farmers to produce rice, to achieve a certain level of self-sufficiency in rice and to ensure a stable and high quality of rice to the consumers. To ensure these three-pronged objectives are met, the government has embarked on a protectionist regime to ensure the sector is insulated from the market vagaries particularly supply and price shocks. The instruments implemented include; price control (farm and retail), subsidies and income transfer, licensing and import monopoly. The interventions are deep and extensive in that the industry is highly distorted and begun to show some rigidities and inefficiencies. After the successful Green Revolution in the 1970s, paddy productivity has been slowing down in terms of annual rate of change. By 1990s, the chemical intensive culture introduced by the Green Revolution had started taking a toll. Evidences of reduction of soil fertility and water quality were rampant. While the other parts of the world are experiencing technological advances in paddy farming, Malaysia’s farmers remain conventional in their practices due to poor extension services. Hence, this study attempts to rectify these problematic and complex situation by proposing the need for more R&D (Research and Development) for higher yielding varieties, application of bio-fertilisers and new approach of extension (through farmer field schools). Towards these ends, the study has adopted the system dynamics methodology to capture the circular causality between variables in the paddy and rice system as well as delays and non-linearities. The findings suggest that gradual transition to bio-fertilizers, funding for R&D for development of high yielding hybrid rice and increasing the cropping intensity hold big promise towards productivity enhancement. The promotion of training and extension services using participatory approach of learning by doing or the farmer field schools is desirable to reduce the productivity gaps.

English

Declines in banana (Musa spp.) productivity in western Kenya since 2006 have been exacerbated by Xanthomonas wilt, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum. This study provided insight of household dynamics influencing efforts to eradicate the disease from Ugunja, Lunjre, Sidindi and Sigomere. Surveyed households (N = 120) were purposively selected from villages with and without banana-based farmer field schools (FFS). Results showed limited banana experience, noted by the irregularities in timing and frequency of essential agronomic practices. In addition, a rampant tendency to replant sword suckers obtained from own production or farmer-to-farmer exchange. Even though farmers were sensitized on correct diagnosis and control measures, significant disparities between awareness and actual application of control options seem to prevail over the impact of recent massive eradication campaigns. Selective deployment of elements of Avoid introduction, Break-off male bud, Cut infected plants and Clean cutting tools (ABCC) intervention strategy was evident. Dismantling the ABCC package interferes with complementarities embedded within, which ultimately leads to disease upsurge or resurgence. Repeated exposure and demonstrable efficacy of the practices to halt disease spread may have profound bearing on farmer adoption of Xanthomonas wilt control measures. Therefore, the ABCC package should be validated and fine-tuned within the local context of smallholders.   Key words: Avoid introduction, break-off male bud, cut infected plants and clean cutting tools (ABCC), banana, resurgence, western Kenya, Xanthomonas wilt.

Problem Confrontation of the FFS Farmers in Participating Farmer Field School Training Session

The study was conducted to identify and describe the problems of FFS farmers in participating FFS training sessions. Data and information were collected from 100 FFS farmers of selected three unions of Muktagacha Upazila of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh from 10 to 30 April, 2013. Among ten selected problems “Inadequate trials and training materials” got the highest score (PCI-176) while “Biasness in trainee selection” got the lowest score (PCI-48). The highest proportion of the FFS farmers (53%) had low problem in participating FFS training session, while 40% and 7% had medium and high problem, respectively. Findings indicate that a majority i.e. more than four fifth of the FFS farmers faced low to medium problems in participating FFS training sessions. The selected characteristics of the FFS farmers, such as year of schooling, farming experience, extension media contact, risk orientation and knowledge on soil and crop management showed significantly negative relationship with problem confrontation in participating FFS training sessions by the FFS farmers. Therefore, it can be mentioned that there is no significant problems associated with the FFS training sessions. So, necessary steps need to be taken to enhance the existing activities of FFS that could improve the sustainable crop production as well as the livelihood of the FFS farmers.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v24i1-2.19179 Progress. Agric. 24(1&2): 273 - 280, 2013