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Farmers' Understanding of Rice-field Ecosystem Before and After Farmer Field School Training

M. M. Haque
Upazila Agriculture Officer
Kishoreganj Sadar, Kishoreganj, Bangladesh

M. M. Ali
Professor
Graduate Training Institute, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Four Farmer Field School (FFS) under the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) of Mymensingh district were purposively selected for this study. The sample constituted one hundred farmers enrolled in these four FFS during T. aman season of 1998. Data on nine personal characteristics of the farmers were collected using interview schedule; however, the same for farmers' understanding on rice-field ecosystem were collected adopting methodological triangulation, interviews prior to and after FFS training and observation during training. The FFS farmers showed a marked individual difference in their characteristic profile. The majority (58%) of them belonged to young age category having medium family size (57%), primary level of literacy (42%), low income (66%), small farm size (73%), moderate cosmopoliteness (51%) and medium innovativeness (67%). None of the farmers were found to have understanding of rice-field ecosystem responsive to scientific standpoint prior to FFS training. After FFS training, a noticeable portion (36%) of farmers' understanding showed a clear move towards scientific paradigm- more consistent, to be more scientifically correct, more complete as well as tending to be more appropriate. The effectiveness of the season-long FFS training in helping form new concepts more closely aligned to that of the scientific understanding is of great importance to sustainable agriculture.

Keywords: Farmers understanding, Ecosystem, Rice field, IPM, FFS

Location: Department of Agricultural Extension of Mymensingh district

Start Date: 00-07-1998

End Date: 00-02-1999

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Non-commodity: Adoption of technology

Objectives:

To investigate what qualitative changes accruing to farmers in their understanding of rice-field ecosystem participating in FFS and how these changes occur throughout the course of the IPM training program.

Methodology:

This study was designed specifically to investigate the understandings of the farmers enrolled in selected FFSs as part of the IPM training program in Bangladesh about rice field ecosystem. Viewing at the purpose of the study, there had to apply a qualitative strategy of naturalistic inquiry to leave ample room for comparing program outcomes and effects over time. This study was longitudinal in order to cover periods before, during and after FFS training and conducted over T. aman rice growing season in 1998. With regards to the agro-ecological selectivity of crop distribution, Mymensingh district was purposively selected as the locale of the study considering it as one of the major rice-bowls of the country. The sample consisted of 100 farmers enrolled in four FFSs, 25 farmers from each. To deal with the diversity of locations and to limit differing effects on program outcomes from site to site, the FFS farmers' groups were purposively selected from the villages having similarity in ecological characteristics and access to communications. The selected FFSs were Khagdohor and Panghagra from Mymensingh Sadar, Kalipur from Gouripur and Mukamia from Phulpur upazila. However, this was a purposive sampling; farmers had similar background, shared same local environment and demonstrated fairly similar farming practices. To collect relevant data, methodological triangulation (multiple methods of data collection such as trainee-farmer interviews prior to and after FFS training and observation) was utilized to build check and balances into the design. Two sets of interview schedules were utilized to conduct pre and post FFS interviews and a journal for recording observations were maintained. The fieldwork of the study was administered during July 1998 to February 1999. The framework for analysis was designed to make a judgment about the farmers' understanding of rice field ecology in accordance with the scientific standard of ecosystem concept in terms of consistency, completeness and appropriateness. 'Consistency' was indicated when there were similar understanding of ecosystem in a set of responses. lt was expected that all the responses should have internal consistency; any incorrect (irrelevant) response means the consistency is somewhat distorted. The number of elements mentioned in a response indicated 'completeness'. For example, understanding of pest-predator relationship is more complete if a farmer could mention three relationships than if a farmer could mention only one. 'Appropriateness' was indicated by whether or not the response was suitable to the environment. For example, if a pest- predator example given by a farmer is one, which occurs in a rice field, it was appropriate. Such an appropriate example would be BPH-spider. Farmers' responses were analyzed according to these three criteria in accordance with the degree in a continuum ranging from scientific concepts on one hand to non-scientific concepts on the other. Scientific concepts were those responses, which were most consistent, complete and appropriate. Non-scientific concepts were those responses, which were most inconsistent, incomplete and inappropriate as outlined above. To analyze the quantitative data, descriptive statistics like frequency count, percentages, means and coefficient of variation were used. In order to analyse the content of qualitative data obtained by means of open-ended questions, responses to the questions of each focus area were analysed separately, collated and categorized. Tables were formulated to show frequency (number Or percentage) of similar responses of various categories. Only simple statistical procedures were used, and these even with certain reservations, since the use of statistics were not completely justifiable considering the sampling technique.

Source of Information: Progress. Agric. 15(1) : 65-75, 2004, ISSN 1017-8139

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The rationale of the FFS comes from the growing realization that agriculture growth for resources-poor farmers must be knowledge intensive. The primary challenge is to strengthen the learning process and facilitate farmers' processing of his own experience. This not only helps them to make their agriculture become more knowledge-intensive, it also enhances the change in their capacity to learn from the reality of agro-ecosystem. This study endeavours to investigate what change accruing to farmers in their understanding of rice-field ecosystem participating in the non-formal educational contexts of FFS Farmers' cognitive patterns showed a marked shift in their understanding of rice-field ecosystem, from non-scientific towards more scientific ones. There were increase in consistency, completeness and appropriateness for all concept measured. Thirty six percent of the FFS farmers could be said to have deep-rooted concept of their rice-field ecosystem. Prior to FFS training, no farmer had such a comprehensive concept. In the FFS, concepts were constructed through participation in activities. The careful arrangement of FFS activities contributed to the formation of scientific ecosystem concept. The appropriate location of those activities in a rice field - a familiar and learner-friendly environment was felt to have contributed substantially in different set of activities involved in the process. As an educational model, the FFS can significantly contribute to both educating farmers and environmentally sustainable agriculture.

Knowledge Management: Journal