FFS is an approach to agricultural extension that emphasizes farmer experimentation and discovery learning. It involves farmers meeting regularly over a cropping season to conduct experiments and make observations in their own fields. The goals are to help farmers gain an understanding of ecosystem concepts, improve observation skills, enhance critical thinking, and make better management decisions. FFS has led to reduced pesticide use, higher yields, and more sustainable practices compared to top-down extension approaches. The methodology is being expanded to cover additional crops and topics beyond integrated pest management.

1. Guide Lines, Planning andGuide Lines, Planning and
Implementation of FFSImplementation of FFS
ByBy
Allah Dad Khan,Allah Dad Khan,
Provincial Project DirectorProvincial Project Director
CMP-II, NWFP ComponentCMP-II, NWFP Component

2. FFS-Background
• 1970’s and 1980’s - a threat to green revolution by indiscriminate use of
pesticides.
• 1980’s
• First FFS carried out
• in Indonesia on rice.
• In Pakistan (1996) FFS
• started in 2000.
METHODOLOGY
• FFS: Farmer Field School
• Activity guided by a facilitator who has been trained in ToF
• CHARACTERISTICS
• One complete growing season
• Discovery based learning in the field
• Conducting experiments (insect zoo, herbivore-
• predator trials in cages, compensation experiments etc.)
• Working in groups
• Horizontal learning by fellow farmers
 “We must have insect control, I do not favor turning nature over to insects. I
favor the sparing, selective and intelligent use of chemicals. It is the
indiscriminate, blanket spraying that I oppose”
(Rachel Carson, 1962)
“The obligation
to endure gives us the right to know.”
(Rachel Carson, 1962)

3. IMPACT OF PESTICIDE MISUSE
 Pesticide residues in food chain
 Contamination of water
 Public health
 Development of pest resistance
 Elimination of natural enemies
 Extinction of wild life
 Degradation of cropland soil
 Loss of Pollinators/crop loss
PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT
FFS and Sustainable Agriculture ?
Agricultural production that is …Agricultural production that is …
economical (affordable and beneficial to national economy)
environmentally safe (not damaging to present and future environment)
stable / replicable (produce consistent results over time)
socially just (benefits all social groups)
self-reliant (autonomously managed by farmers = farmer-led)
Type of Sample % of samples
contaminated
% of samples
> MRL
Vegetables (brinjal, okra, bitter
gourd, gourd)
100 60
Fruits (apples) 100 60
Cotton seed oil 100 65
Cotton seed cake 100 65
Shallow ground water 100 30
Soil 100 -

4. Sector Agent
Village
Extension Worker
Head of
Unit
Subject Matter
Specialist
Research
Innovation
FFS AND TRANSFER OF NTECHNOLOGY
Knowledge Skill attitude
Crop production,
agronomy, irrigation
management, soil
science/fertility. Plant
physiology, Integrated crop
management, farm
machinery & equipment,
quality control, WTO/SPS.
Post harvest/marketing,
agro industry, agri
economics
Monitoring and coaching,
managerial, impact
assessment, management,
motivation, analytical and
decision making, problem
identification, planning
and evaluation, marketing,
pest identification,
mechanical, IT,
Presentation
Dedication, flexibility,
humble, patience, social,
sensitive, tolerant,
innovative, responsible,
professional, honesty,
competitiveness,
cooperative, proactive,
self-motivated,
participatory, Non
prejudice
Facilitator Knowledge, skill and attitude based qualification
requirements for TOT/TOF/FFS
Farmer

5. Salient Differences in T&V, and FFS
Basic Philosophy
Role of Farmers
Role of Facilitators
Perception by Farmers
Approach
Instructions
Consume New
Knowledge
Teach
Free Service
Top Down
Discovery
Decide
Facilitate
Invest time and
farm facilities
Bottom-up
Features T & V
FFS
FFS as Transition to Future Extension
FutureFuture
ExtensionExtension
ConventionalConventional
ExtensionExtension
• CentralizedCentralized
• Government-Government-
ledled
• TechnologyTechnology
centeredcentered
• Self-reliantSelf-reliant
• Farmer-ledFarmer-led
• Learning centeredLearning centered
• Fewer staffFewer staff
• More professionalMore professionalTransitionTransition
ThroughThrough
Farmer Field SchoolFarmer Field School

6. Paradigm Shift:Paradigm Shift: Research - Extension – Farmer RelationshipResearch - Extension – Farmer Relationship
Research
Extension
Farmer
Research
Extension
Farmer
FFS
Farmer Field School

7. FFS APRROACH WORK AREA
• Rice
• Cotton
• Vegetables
• Sugarcane
• Wheat
• Maize
• Fruits
• Livestock
• Poultry
• Enterprises
• Health
• Teachers
• Others
• FFS (Men)
• WOS (Women)
• CEC (Children)
• FFFS (Whole Family)
MODELMODEL AGRI. CROPAGRI. CROP COMODITIESCOMODITIES
Farmer Field School Unique Approach
Farmer Field School Unique Approach
Science at TOF & FFS
• FARMERS LEARN ABOUT THE BASIC PRINCIPLES AND PROCESSES IN THEIR
CROP ECOSYSTEM.
• THEY LEARN TO ASK QUESTIONS AND GET ANSWERS THROUGH
EXPERIMENTATION DOING BY THEMSELVES.
• THEY DO SIMPLE STUDIES , COMPARE TREATMENTS, AND LEARN THROUGH
THEIR OWN OBSERVATION

8. Male, Female
Farmers
Literate, Illiterate,
mostly small
farmers
FFS 25-30
Facilitators
FFS 25-30
Facilitators
Farmers divided into
5-6 Groups
Group 1 Group 3 Group 5
Model of Farmer Field School (FFS)
Group 4Group 2
Participatory Decision
• FARMER FIELD SCHOOOL
• Principles
• Grow Healthy Crop
• Observe Crop Regularly
• Conserve Natural Ecosystem
• Farmer Becomes Expert
• Objectives
• Capacity Building
• Empowerment
• Confidence Development
• Decision Making

9. FFS Planning
• FFS meeting.
• TOF /FFS
• Selection of crop.
• Selection of Village.
• Selection of farmers
• Group of Farmers
• FFS material
• Facilitator
FARMER FIELD SCHOOL
Syllabus Components
• Science and Farmers
• Non-Formal Education
• Management
• Organization
TYPE OF ACTIVITY NO. OF SPP. TYPE OF ACTIVITY NO. OF SPECIES
Insecticidal 1006 Herbicidal 13
Antifeedent 383 Antibacterial 11
Repellent 278 Chemosterilant 4
Anathematic 108 Molluscidal 8
Antifungal 94 • Fish Poison 205
Acaricidal 39 • Poisonous 110
Growth inhibitor 31 • Arrow/dart poison 88
Attractant 27 • Antiseptic 39
Rodenticidal 19 • Antivermin 17
• Indicates plants with suspected pest control activity only.
FFS IMPLEMENTATION
Sowing of crop Improved/Farmers Practices.
• FFS meetings and field visit
• FFS establishment
• Agro-eco –system analysis.
• Harmful insects
• Pest Scouting
• Economic thresh hold level
• Beneficial insects
• Bio pesticides
• Field Days
• Report
Pest Control Categories According To Activity

10. FFS BASIC LEARNING TOOL
• AESA (AESA (Agro-Ecological System Analysis)Agro-Ecological System Analysis)
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FFS APPROACH
 Farmers as Experts.
 The Field is the Primary Learning Material.
 Extension Workers as Facilitators Not Teachers.
 The curriculum is integrated.
 Trainings Follows the Seasonal Cycle.
 Regular Group Meetings.
 Learning materials are learner generated.
 Group dynamics/team building.
Concept and principles of the Farmer Field School Approach
 Communication
 Education
 Problem-Posing/Problem-Solving
 Field based education
 Principle not Packages
 Training driven research
IPM DEFINITIONS
• Definition “The practical manipulation of pest population using sound
ecological principles to keep pest population below the level causing
economic loss.
• In an other definition it is stated “ IPM” is an ecosystem based strategy that
focuses on long term prevention of pests or their damages through
combination of techniques such as biological control , habitat manipulation ,
modification of cultural practices, and use of resistance varieties, And
pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates that they are needed.
According to established guide lines. Ways of IPM are
I) Ecologically sound
ii) Economically viable.
Iii) Socially acceptable

11. Sustainable
Managemen
t
Pesticide
Reduction
Pest
Control
+
+
Land
Seeds
Water
Fertilizer +
+
+
+
Bio-
Diversity
Water
Conservation
Soil
Conservation
Nitrogen
Reduction
+
+
+
IPMIPM
Sustainable
Management
Environment
Conservation
Crop
Production + +
+

12. Methods of Pest Control
A. Natural Control.
B. Applied Control.
• Legal Control.
• Biological Control.
• Microbial control
• Cultural and management control.
• Reproductive control.
• Mechanical control.
• Physical control
• Genetic control.
• Chemical control
Natural Enemies
1. Insects 2. Non Insects
3. Vetebrates 4. Reptiles and amphibians
5. Diseases 6.Rodents.
7. Birds 8.Animals
9. Predaceous plants
Biological Control methods
• Insect predators.
• Insect parasites.
• Parasitoids.
• Competitors.
• Pathogenic organisms.
Common Name Scientific Name Part Used
Neem Azadirachta indica Seed
Harmal Peganum harmala Seed
Sweetflag Acorus calamus Rhizome
Turmeric Curcuma longa Rhizome
Kuth Saussurea lappa Roots
Balchar Valeriana jatamansi Roots
Ner Skimmia laureola Leaves
Promising Plant Material

13. Crops Neem Oil Neem Seed extract Neem Cake Extract Neem Cake (kg/acre)
Cotton 0.5 - 2.0 3.0 – 4.0 5.0 150
Rice 1.5 - 2.0 3.0 – 4.0 5.0 – 8.0 150
Sugarcane 2.0 - 2.5 3.0 – 4.0 5.0 – 8.0 150
Maize 1.0 - 2.0 3.0 – 4.0 5.0 – 8.0 150
Leguminous crops 1.0 - 1.5 2.0 – 3.0 5.0 150
Oilseed crops 0.5 – 2.0 2.0 – 3.0 5.0 150
Vegetables 1.0 - 2.0 2.0 – 3.0 5.0 100
Fruit 1.0 - 2.0 3.0 – 4.0 5.0 – 8.0 100
Concentration of Neem Derivatives on Important Crops (Percent)
Activities by other Projects Regarding FFS
Strengthening of Research and Extension Coordination through Establishment
of FFS in N.W.F. P. ( 2004-2005 to 2008-09) 40 Million Rs
• Best Agriculture Practices By MRDP ( 2004-05 t0 2006-07)
• Intel Cooperation Livestock FFS Buner
• Biological Laqb at Dargai, Swat, Mardan
• BM technology Mardan, Dargai, Swabi
• GPU at Swat, Sherkhana, Di Khan ,Haripur
• Organic Fruit Production in Swat .
• IPM fruit Fly
• IPM termites.
• Agribusiness
• CMP II
Environment Impact
• Spray reduced
• Cost of production also reduced
• Income of the farmers increased
• Farmers become quality conscious
• Replication of innovation in other areas.
• Adoption of FFS by communities.

14. PARADIGM SHIFTS IN IPM
• From chemical to a more ECOLOGICAL approach
• From a top-down delivery mechanism of technology to EDUCATION, i.e. a
focus on understanding rather than following instructions or adopting a package
of practices
Ten Most favoured chapters to be part of the IPMTen Most favoured chapters to be part of the IPM
1 Agro ecosystem
2 Introduction to IPM
3 Pests and diseases of Agricultural crops
4 Host parasite relationship
5 Crop loss assessment
6 Principles of pest management
7 Pesticides and environment
8 Sampling and experimental design
9 Crop protection
10 Soil fertility and plant nutrition systems
What can we tell about the future?
– There will be changes
– The speed of change will increase
– Changes become more complex
• To prepare for the future, we need
– training in change processes
– flexible management and critical thinking
– quicker adaptation processes