Integrated Pest Management Farmer Field Research Articles

Impact of integrated pest management farmer field school programs in the subtropics of Jammu and Kashmir, India

To quantify the long-term impacts of integrated pest management farmer field school (IPM-FFS) program on rice and vegetables in the subtropics of Jammu and Kashmir, we conducted a field study using latitudinal comparison (with vs. without FFS) and cross-sectional longitudinal comparisons. Our results show contrasting use of pesticides by both rice and vegetable farmers in the subtropical region of Jammu. Rice cultivation in the study area was found to be free of insecticides and fungicides. In vegetable crops, IPM-FFS farmers reduced the number of pesticide applications by 7% but used 27.8% higher amounts of pesticide active ingredients resulting in 59% higher field use environmental impact quotient of pesticide use, mainly driven by the higher fungicide use. Over time, the impact of IPM-FFS fleet as the farmers trained 4–8 years before the survey reported significantly higher number of pesticide applications in vegetable crops (by 49%) compared to those trained 1–3 years. We suggest that IPM dissemination should be reoriented for rationalizing pesticide use, as long-term outcomes of reduced pesticide use do not present a positive impact.

Perspective: enhancing economic evaluations and impacts of integrated pest management Farmer Field Schools (IPM-FFS) in low-income countries.

Over the last few decades, the use of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) have been considered one of the best approaches to disseminate integrated pest management (IPM) practices that aim to reduce reliance on and misuse of chemical pest control methods in agriculture. However, the published empirical literature has been decidedly mixed in terms of the effectiveness of the IPM-FFS approach to improve economic outcomes in the short-term (e.g. reduce chemical use, improve profits), and the potential for scaling-up and IPM dissemination in the medium-term. This article briefly explores the empirical IPM-FFS literature and draws implications for future research directions that can potentially enhance IPM knowledge diffusion methods (including IPM-FFS) and increase the economic impact of IPM techniques in low-income countries. We find that promising research directions to improve understanding of IPM dissemination and IPM impacts will need to involve: (i) interdisciplinary long-run studies using rigorous evaluation methods; (ii) in-depth assessments of spillover effects; (iii) careful examination of IPM and IPM-FFS impact heterogeneity; (iv) evaluation of novel IPM packages with herbicide- and genetics-centered components; (v) piloting and impact assessments of alternative IPM knowledge diffusion structures; and (vi) piloting and impact analysis of IPM dissemination and learning programs with private sector involvement. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Farmers’ perception of performance performed by extension field workers/facilitators during integrated pest management farmer field school training programme in Sindh province of Pakistan

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

Effect of integrated pest management farmer field school (IPMFFS) on farmers knowledge, farmers groups ability, process of adoption and diffusion of IPM in Jember district

This research aims to explore the effect of the integrated pest management farmer field School (IPMFFS) on farmers’ knowledge, farmers groups’ ability, and process of adoption and diffusion of IPM in Jember District. The population of the research was 556 groups of farmers, with 22.240 farmers who are engaged in the IPMFFS in Jember District. The sample of this research consisted of 400 farmers selected with stratified area random sampling technique. Area or region will be used as basis for sub-district: from 31 sub-districts will be taken 8 sub districts by random, and each sub-district will be represented by 2 farmer groups. It means 16 farmers group can act as sample and 400 farmers as sample taken proportionally. The conclusion is rationalized with the following points: (1) the IPMFFS has significant effect on farmers’ knowledge, (2) the IPMFFS improves three aspects of farmer groups’ ability, that is the ability to plan activity for improving agribusiness productivity, to implement and obey agreement with other institution and to apply technology, information and team work, (3) The IPMFFS has the ability to improve the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) by the farmers, and (4) the IPMFFS has the ability to improve diffusion of IPM by the farmers to other farmers. Key words: Integrated pest management, farmers’ knowledge, farmer group ability, adoption, diffusion.

Demystifying farmers' entomological and pest management knowledge: A methodology for assessing the impacts on knowledge from IPM-FFS and NES interventions

Enhancing the environmental soundness of agricultural practices, particularly in high input systems, is of increasing concern to those involved in agricultural research and development. The Integrated Pest Management Farmer Field School, which is based on farmer participatory environmental education, is compared to the No Early Spray intervention, which is a simple rule approach. A research methodology was developed and tested in the Philippines to document farmers' pre- and post-intervention knowledge of rice field insects, insect/plant interactions, and pesticides. The results indicate that increased knowledge from education is linked to better pest management behavior. It is proposed that the methodology may also be useful for documenting other areas of knowledge, in the design of educational interventions for farmers and in assessing their impact.