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Institutionalizing Farmer Field School approach: experiences from Latin America

Year of publication 2018

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 40 p.

Author Sarapura, S. ; Chulunbataar, D. Cofini, F.

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (stand-alone)

ISBN 978-92-5-130334-4

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The Farmer Field School (FFS) is a group-based experiential learning approach first developed by FAO 25 years ago in Southeast Asia rice paddies for training farmers to apply the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Since then, its use extended successfully including multiple crops, aspects of crop management beyond IPM and encompassing non-field activities related to farm enterprise development and marketing and other sectors as nutrition, climate change and health care. Against this background of increased expansion, the need of institutionalizing FFS emerged to increase its impact and unlock its potential in the long run and ensure sustainability while maintaining flexibility in its implementation and preserving quality and relevance of FFS activities. This report summarizes the results of the FAO study on Experiences from Latin American countries on institutionalization of FFS. It aims to present the common features of the institutionalization process in Latin America delving into the experiences of Peru, Bolivia, Honduras and Costa Rica. FFS has been instrumental in achieving FAO’s strategic objective 2 on improving sustainable agricultural intensification, reducing poverty and building resilience.

Language English

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