This document describes a case study of a farmers field school (FFS) conducted in Shaktikhor, Nepal to empower women through participatory learning and the discovery of improved goat management practices. The FFS involved 28 women divided into observation units. Through the FFS, the women analyzed their current goat farming practices and discovered improved ways of raising goats that increased productivity. For example, they learned to provide vaccinations on time, deworm based on fecal analysis, and feed a mixed diet of legumes and grasses. The improved practices led to higher goat weights and earlier ages of first kidding. The FFS also economically empowered the women by increasing their income from goat farming. The conclusion states that FFS can

1. Women Empowerment And Locally Suitable
Technology Discovery Using Participatory
Learning Approach – A Case Study
Kushwaha, Peetambar
Heifer International Nepal

2. FARMERS FIELD SCHOOL –
PARTICIPATORY LEARNING
make farmers experts in their own fields
develop their ability of making critical and informed
decisions that render their farming profitable and
sustainable
develop new ways of thinking and problem solving
help farmers learn how to organize themselves
and communities
To improve the decision making skills of farmers
To empower them to take more control of the
process of improving their goat production
practices.

3. FARMERS FIELD SCHOOL FOR WOMEN
OF SHAKTIKHOR
 From the time of Rana regime it is believed that Shaktikhor is
related with wild life catch(Rhino)
 Area 28.94sq.km
 Population 7474
 Climate subtropical
 Language 90%Nepali and10%
magar and Chepang

4. BASE LINE SURVEY (BEFORE FFS)
 Facture-Sikari lahara ,
simrik, harchul ,sisno
 Bloat –Opium Jharbuti.
 Worm -sitha or sour plants
such as Amili
 Gid- tie the neck small piece
of sari.
 Bloody diarrhoea - Boil oil
around the head.
 Diarrhoea-Ganja, Chhyapi,
dhami jhakri.
 Dermatitis-Gaujajo.
 Pneumomia-keep warm.
 FMD- wet mud, Powder of
DHAU .
 Mohola-Ashes of barley, til, corn
or 0xen mouth
 Anurea-Pineapple Juice.
 liverfluke infestation- PANGRA
@1 pangra@2-3 goats/year
 Bloat- Opium and jharbuti.
 Ticks,lice and mites-BHC
powder, salt water, or Sampoo
 Deworming- once till date
 PPR Vaccination -Once
Age Weight(kg)
0- Day 1-2
3-5 Month 9-12
18 Month 25-35

5. FFS SUBGROUPING AND OBSERVATION
UNIT
28 women
6 women
KID FARMER
WAY
KID
IMPROVED
WAY
5 women
KID FARMER
WAY
KID
IMPROVED
WAY
5 women
KID FARMER
WAY
KID
IMPROVED
WAY
6 women
KID FARMER
WAY
KID
IMPROVED
WAY
6 women
KID FARMERR
WAY
KID
IMPROVED
WAY

6. FFS DAY SCHEDULE
 Visit observation unit
 Record in Goat Ecosystem Analysis GESA
 Group dynamic exercises
 GESA presentation by Sub Group
 Discussion on presentation
 Recommendation
 Participatory discussion on special topic
 Plan for next FFS

7. GOAT ECOSYSTEM ANALYSIS –
DECISION MAKING TOOL
Adult
Learning
Experiencing
Analyzing
Processing
Generalizing
GESAGESA.xls

8. INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY OF GOAT – DISCOVERY
OF IMPROVED GOAT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Farmer Vs. Improved way Farmer Vs. Improved way
Productivity
parameters
Farmer
way
Improved
way
Age at first service
(Average of 3)
176 days 283 days
Age at first kidding
(Average of 3)
322 days Not
kidded
even at 1
year
Average body
weight at 6 months
goat
22.2 Kg 9.7 Kg

9. DISCOVERY OF NEW GOAT
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
 Uneconomical to rear goat for meat after 7 months
 Vaccinations on time
 Treating against internal parasites only after fecal examination
and if required
 Feeding leguminous and non-leguminous grass by mixing
 Local feed formulation and feeding
 Improvement in shed to get the dropping away from goat pen
 No mating in related goat to stop inbreeding
 Pangra not useful for treating internal parasites

10. WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUGH
FFS
 Increased income from goat
 Investment
 Increase in income
 Investment on food,
education and health
 Opportunity to teach other
group members
 Wider recognition in
community
 Process repeat and snowball
Decision making

11. CONCLUSION
 Represent 1 case
 FFS useful for discovery of locally suitable technology in animal
management
 FFS need to be tested at many place to conclude the findings

12. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!