How do we need to do, say to resolve this problem? What will it cost? The opportunity cost e.g. loss of community approval How do I change my current status? E.g. adopt VMMC go for HTC, use an FP method use a treated mosquito net do STI screening? What support do I need from me and from outside.

1. Presented by:
Lilian Gitau
Associate Program Officer
Integration of health in Agriculture
through Field Farmer Schools in
APHIAplus Western
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION
OF PEER EDUCATORS

2. Outline
What is Farmer Field School
Why Farmer Field School
How is integration done
Who does the sessions
Of what benefit is this

3. A Farmer Field School (FFS)
A Farmer Field School (FFS) consists of 25-30
farmers who meet twice a month for 6 months.
An FFS is facilitated by Tea extension workers or
skilled farmers (graduate farmers). Employing
non-formal education methods, the field is used
as the primary resource for discovery-based
learning. The process is facilitative and respects
the experience that farmers bring with them.

4. Why Farmer Field School
 It is an existing forum
 Learning is already in progress
 The 30 farmers are already community role
models
 The availability of a captive audience for 45
minutes
 FFS educational methods are experiential,
participatory and learner-centered.

5. How is integration done
 Aphia plus uses the SPLASH! Inside Out
methodology to avail quality health information
with in the workplaces in Western region
specifically Kisii and Nyamira
 The Health Activists (HAs) are skilled volunteers
able to facilitate discussions on health related
topics with the aim of identifying risks and making
risk reduction plans.
 HAs use experiential learning which is ideal for
Adult learning

6. SPLASH Inside Out
Ses 1. Introductory session
Ses 2. Problematization of the issue
Ses 3. Risk reduction strategy.
Ses 4. From Inside Out – Activism.

7. Risk reduction strategy.
How do we need to do, say to resolve this
problem? What will it cost? The opportunity cost
e.g. loss of community approval
How do I change my current status? E.g. adopt
VMMC go for HTC, use an FP method use a
treated mosquito net do STI screening?
What support do I need from me and from
outside.

8. Activism
Reflection on how peer achieved the outcome
How do we celebrate our achievement?
How do we make our peers, family, and
community aware of our success.
What did it take?
Who or what supported the effort
Who else do I have influence over who is in a
situation I was in whom I can assist?
How will I get them into session 1.

9. What benefit
The management and the farmers have a better
working relationship
There is increased demand for information on
health
Demand for health related services increased
Community able to discuss among themselves
issues on health
Increased risk perception
Increased uptake of health services (HTC, STI
RH cancers screening, FP services etc)
Confidence by the HAs on conducting sessions

10. Recommendations
More factories should avail quality health
information within the FFS to improve health
indicators within the community
Supportive supervision for the Has should
continue for sustained continual improvement
Health education should be treated as an
important part of the 25% during FFS
The Tea extension office requires to appreciate
the need for farmers good health.

11. Conclusion
FFS experience allows farmers to experience group
formation that becomes valuable in addressing other
community concerns including health
The factories will continue responding to issues on
health even after WP has ended.
The use of existing structures to engage the farmers
on health related issues will enable a sustained
conduit of information which will result to increased
demand for quality services. This avenue will reach a
target group that has not been reached in the past.