The document discusses the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach to agriculture development. It provides definitions of FFS, describes its origins in Indonesia in the late 1980s to promote Integrated Pest Management. The first FFS was designed by FAO experts in Indonesia in 1989. The basic features of a typical rice IPM FFS are then outlined, including being field-based for a full season, weekly meetings, experiential and participatory learning methods, conducting comparison studies between IPM and non-IPM plots, and including a field day. The principles of FFS are to grow a healthy crop, conserve natural enemies, and help farmers understand agroecosystems and make informed decisions.

2. FARMERS FIELD SCHOOL
THE
MODERN APPROACH TO
AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT
By
Allah Dad Khan
03329221298

3. Definition
• The Farmer Field School (FFS) is a
group-based learning process that
has been used by a number of
governments, NGOs and international
agencies to promote Integrated Pest
Management (IPM).

4. Origin of LFFS
• In 2001, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), with the support of
the FAO and the Animal Health Programme (AHP) of the UK’s Department for
International Development (DFID), adapted the FFS methodology to livestock
production systems. This required the integration of animal health concerns and
crop/forage production activities
• within the FFS curriculum

5. Origin of FFS
• By the end of the 1980s, a new approach
to farmer training emerged in Indonesia
called the 'Farmer Field School' (FFS).
The broad problem which these field
schools were designed to address was a
lack of knowledge among Asian farmers
relating to agroecology, particularly the
relationship between insect pests and
beneficial insects

6. First FFS
• The first IPM Farmer Field Schools
were designed and managed in 1989
by experts working for the UN Food
and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
in Indonesia. This was not, however,
the first attempt made by FAO to
extend IPM techniques to farmers in
South East Asia.

7. The basic features of a typical rice IPM
Farmer Field School are as follows
• The IPM Field School is field based and lasts for a full cropping
season.
• A FFS meets once a week with a total number of meetings that
might range from at least 10 up to 16 meetings.
• The primary learning material at a Farmers Field School is the
field.
• The Field School meeting place is close to the learning plots often
in a farmer’s home and sometimes beneath a convenient tree.
• FFS educational methods are experiential, participatory, and
learner centered.
• Each FFS meeting includes at least three activities: the agro-
ecosystem analysis, a “special topic”, and a group dynamics activity.

8. The basic features of a typical IPM Farmer
Field School are as follows
Contd
• In every FFS, participants conduct a study comparing IPM with non-IPM
treated plots.
• An FFS often includes several additional field studies depending on local
field problems.
• Between 25 and 30 farmers participate in a FFS. Participants learn
together in small groups of five to maximise participation.
• All FFSs include a Field Day in which farmers make presentations about
IPM and the results of their studies.
• A pre- and post-test is conducted as part of every Field School for
diagnostic purposes and for determining follow-up activities.
• The facilitators of FFS’s undergo intensive season-long residential training
to prepare them for organising and conducting Field Schools.
• Preparation meetings precede an FFS to determine needs, recruit
participants, and develop a learning contract.
• Final meetings of the FFS often include planning for follow-up activities

9. Farmer Field School Approach
Farmer Field School is a school without walls.
Farmers and extension workers are students. The
Farmers Field is the class room and the plant is the
teacher. As the plant grows the students gain
knowledge in the light of their observations. The get
together at a fixed time every week once and make
their own decisions based on observations and data
analysis for the health of the plants.

10. Basic Aims of Farmer Field School
1. Skill
Development
2. Empowerment
3. Will power
4. Capacity of
Decision Making

11. Basic Principles of Farmer Field School
1. Grow a healthy crop
2. Conserve natural enemies
3. Conduct regular field
observations
4. Farmers understand
ecology and become
experts in their own fields

12. TOF
25
Facilitators
10 FFS
3 days TOF per week
2 days FFS per
week
Innovations
•Partial residence
•Single district
participants
Pakistan
Model

13. Non-Formal
education
Specialist/
Facilitators
Researchers/
Subject matter
Specialists
ToF 25
Facilitators
Facilitators are further
divided into 5 groups
each group comprises of 5
facilitators
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5
FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS FFS
Training of Facilitators

14. TOF: Training of Facilitators
Activity guided by a facilitator who has been
trained before hand
CHARACTERISTICS
One complete growing season
Learning by doing
Growing own crop (regular observations on
plant development)
Carry out FFS
Group dynamics (serve as preparation for
trainees to conduct FFSs themselves and to
gain facilitation skills)
Fostering corporate identity (provides joint
spirit which is crucial factor for the success)

15. TOF/FFS Crop Cycle Activity Chart
L
Land
Preparation/
Group
formation
AESA
Insect
Zoo
Special
topic
AESA
Insect
Zoo
Group
Dynamics
AESA
Insect Zoo
Group
Dynamics
S Topic
AESA
Insect Zoo
Group
Dynamics
Data
Analysis

16. Agro-Ecosystem Training
Cucumber Cropping Calendar
Ismailia, Winter Season
October November December January February
Preplant Seedling Growth Flower Fruit-Set Harvest
Climate protect young plants
from strong winds
preferred temperature: day 24o
/night19o
rH should not sink below40-50%
preferred temperature: day 20o
/night16o
rH should not sink below40-50%
preferred temperature:
day 27o
/night27°
keep tunnels closed for
germination only
ventilate tunnels, particularly after sunrise to avoid water on the leaves at any time
keep tunnels closed at night
Soil  use fine-structured, well
aerated organic soils
 use 20-40m3
manure to
increase organic matter
 add 50-100 kg sulfur to
lower alkalinity
 plant 2-3 cm deep
 keep soil warm to assist
germination
remove weeds
Water use well drained soils
with high water holding
capacity
irrigate lightly and regularly, preferably in the morning hours
avoid water logging and periods of water stress
Nutrients
N 50 kg Ammon. Sulfate
P 100 kg Super Phosphate
K
Ca 50 kg Calcium Nitrate
Microelements
Protection Favorable Conditions: Control Measures:
Downy Mildew 20-25o
C
90-95% rH
Protective:Cu-oxichloride
Curative: systemic
Powd. Mildew 20-25o
C
75-85% rH Micronized Sulfur/water
Spider Mites warm and dry
Micronized Sulfur
Aphids
K-soap
Cultural
Practices
do not growcucumber
repeatedly in the same
field to avoid nematodes
use 1.5 kg seeds/fd
6-8000plants/fd
1-2 plants/m2
clip tips to encourage
side shoots
cut out old, diseased
leaves
50 kg Potassium Sulfate 50 kg Potassium Sulfate
50-100 kg Super Phosphate
Use TX6 Nozzles for best coverage
Crop Calendar L J
Water
Beneficials
Cultural
Practices
Nutrients
PestsWeather
Soil
Plant
Ecosystem Analysis

17. Agronomic Data
Weekly
Plant Height
# of leaves/plant
# of flowers/plants
# of fruits/plants
Weight of harvested
fruits
Plant Protection
Data
Weekly
Counting insect
pests
Counting natural
enemies
Diseases incidence
General Data
Weekly
Variety
Days after
planting
Weather
conditions
Soil
conditions
Agro-ecosystem Analysis (AESA)

18. FarmerField
Schools Give a man a fish
…...and feed him for a day
Teach him how to fish
…..and feed him for life