| Farmer Field School (FFS) |
An FFS session
in Bahawalpur District, Pakistan
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Farmer Field School (FFS) is a well tested approach based
upon “learning by doing” to empower the communities
to build their capacity for informed decision making. FFS
provides a platform to the farming communities where they
can share their experiences and knowledge to improve their
existing practices through experiential learning processes
leading towards sustainable agriculture production.
The Farmer Field School (FFS) approach evolved from the
concept that optimal learning derives from experience -
in the case of farmers, from observation in the field. The
FFS integrates the domains of ecology and non-formal education
to give farmers the opportunity to learn about their crop
and to learn from each other
In general, Farmer Field School (FFS) consist of groups
of people with a common interest, who get together on a
regular basis to study “how and why” of a particular
topic. The topics covered can vary considerably from soil
health, optimum tillage operations, right variety selection,
rationalizing agro-chemicals, IPM and cooperative marketing.
The FFS activities are based on discovery learning process
through non-formal adult education techniques involving
simulation and group dynamic exercises. This model aims
to help farmers to discover and learn about field ecology
and integrated crop management starting from land preparation
to right seed selection, rational use of irrigation, fertilizers
and pesticides, harvesting and marketing. Under these FFS,
farmers learn how to best utilize indigenous resources and
implement best natural resource management strategies based
on financial input.
Each FFS also needs a technically competent facilitator
to lead members through the hands-on exercises. There is
no lecturing involved, so the facilitator can be an extension
officer or a Farmer Field School graduate. Extension officers
with different organizational backgrounds, for example government,
NGOs and private companies, have all been involved in FFS.
The FFS curriculum taught to the farmers, is designed to
help them in developing skills to identify their localized
issues, formulate & test solutions (BMPs benefits),
conduct analysis & draw conclusions, and to test which
BMPs are the most appropriate under their respective conditions.
The Cotton curriculum which is taught to the farmers was
developed by Nat - IPM Programme and CABI - Pakistan in
2002. However, in year 2006, WWF-P revised the existing
curriculum in consideration with the changing scenario of
WTO, SPS & GMOs. It was updated for the Farmer Facilitators
of WWF - Pakistan and also for other professionals to use
while implementing the BMPs on cotton.
The basis for a successful FFS depends nurturing and empowering
farmers, facilitators etc. The empowerment is done through
education on skills and concepts (how’s and why’s).
FFS are not difficult to set up if there is a commitment
to, and faith in farmers and facilitators ability to learn
and apply learning to local problems themselves.
WWF also involves extension people primarily for the sustainability
of the project. The agriculture extension departments of
Sindh and Punjab provinces are very active partners of WWF
activities.
Funded by the European Commission
This website has been produced with the assistance of
the European Union. The contents of this website are
the sole responsibility of WWF-Pakistan and can in no
way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. |
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