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Effectiveness of Farmer Field School for Soil and Crop Management

D. Roya*
Lecturer
Dept.of Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

M. G. Farouque
Professor
Dept.of Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

M. Z. Rahman
Professor
Dept.of Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The purposes of the study were to investigate the effectiveness of Farmer Field School (FFS) for soil and crop management as perceived by the FFS farmers and to explore the relationships of the selected characteristics of the FFS farmers with their perceived effectiveness. Data were collected from 100 FFS farmers of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh during April, 2013. The highest proportion (76%) of the FFS farmers perceived FFS as medium effective followed by highly effective (15%). A little more than two-thirds (65%) of the respondents perceived FFS as a medium effective mean, while 20% of them perceived high regarding soil management issue. ‘Use of organic manure in the crop field’ had the highest cumulative effectiveness score (CES), while ‘soil testing for nutrient statuses had the lowest CES. On the other hand, the highest proportion (76%) of FFS farmers perceived FFS as medium effective, and ‘piearching in the crop field for insect control’ had the highest CES and ‘use of light trap for pest control’ had the lowest CES in crop management aspect. The selected characteristics of the FFS farmers, viz. years of schooling, farm size, farming experience, engagement with FFS, extension media contact, risk orientation and knowledge on soil and crop management showed significantly positive relationship with the effectiveness of FFS for soil and crop management. Therefore, it can be mentioned that FFS regarding soil and crop management is significantly effective to the farmers. So, necessary steps need to be taken to enhance the existing activities of FFS that could improve the sustainable crop production as well as the livelihood of the FFS farmers.

Keywords: Farmer Field School; FFS farmers; Effectiveness; Soil management; Crop management.

Location: Muktagacha Upazila under Mymensingh district of Bangladesh.

Start Date: 00-04-2013

End Date:

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

To what extent the FFSs are effective towards soil and crop management?
What is the relationship between the selected characteristics of FFS farmers and effectiveness of FFSs towards soil and crop management?

Methodology:

The study was conducted in three unions of Muktagacha Upazila under Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. The study area was selected purposively for investigation, because highest number of ICM-FFSs has been conducted there. There were five ICM-FFSs and the male farmers (125) of the ICM-FFSs of the selected unions of Muktagacha upazila were considered as the population of the study. The total list of male participants of ICMFFSs was obtained from the office of the Upazila Agriculture Officer of Muktagacha Upazila. Simple random sampling was used in selecting the respondents from each ICM-FFS and a total of 100 ICM- FFS farmers were selected as sample size from the population i.e. about eighty (80) percent of the total population was the sample size of the study. The empirical data were collected using personal interview method along with Focus Group Discussions and observations during the period of 10 to 30 April, 2013. Before collecting final data pre-testing of the interview schedule was made to locate any defects regarding the questions and statements. Effectiveness of FFS for soil and crop management was the focus variable and the explanatory variables of the study were 10 selected characteristics of the FFS farmers. To measure the focus variable a 4-point rating scale such as very effective, effective, somewhat effective and not effective was used. The scale contained i) ten technologies on soil management and ii) twelve technologies on crop management. Weights of responses were: 3 for very effective, 2 for effective, 1 for somewhat effective and 0 for not effective. For determining the effectiveness of individual item rank order was made based on Cumulative Effectiveness Score (CES) of the individual technology. The CES was computed by using the following formula: CES = N1×3 + N2×2+ N3×1+ N4×0. Where, CES = Cumulative Effectiveness Score N₁ = No. of the respondents perceived soil and crop management technologies as high effective, N₂ = No. of the respondents perceived soil and crop management technologies as effective, N₃ = No. of the respondents perceived soil and crop management technologies as somewhat effective, N₄ = No. of the respondents perceived soil and crop management technologies as not effective Thus, the CES of individual technology could range from 0 to 300, where 0 indicating the soil and crop management technologies as not effective while 300 indicating highly effective.

Source of Information: International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR) (2015) Volume 20, No 2, pp 1-11

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It is demonstrated that more than nine-tenths (91%) of the respondents perceived FFS for soil and crop management as medium to highly effective. The findings lead to the conclusion that the FFS farmers would be able to harvest more benefits from the FFS especially for soil and crop management if these would be properly executed. It can also be concluded that there is a great chance of involving other than FFS farmers in the soil and crop management activities if the information obtained from the FFS would be properly disseminated to the non-FFS farmers. Again the findings indicate that year of schooling, farm size, farming experience, extension media contact, risk orientation and knowledge on soil and crop management has considerable influence on the effectiveness of FFS. The extension personnel should provide regular visit to the farmers so that they can make effective communication with them for their farming activities. The FFS practitioners should incorporate adequate trials in the curricula and also provide adequate training materials to the participants so that the individual farmer could practice and learn effectively from the training session. Regular monitoring should be continued by the concerned authority after completion of a FFS training program so that the farmers can practice it effectively in their respective field. Therefore, necessary steps need to be taken to establish more number of FFSs as well as to enhance the activities of the existing FFS that could improve the sustainable crop production and the livelihood of the FFS farmers. In this case, different GOs and NGOs can take necessary measures in collaborate to establish and execute the same.

Knowledge Management: Journal