THE ROLE OF THE FARMERS FIELD SCHOOLS IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SUSTAINABILITY
Abstract
Interventions are undertaken to address the challenges of Sustainable Development, which involve various stakeholders. However, as consequence of the design process, implemented projects may not result in durable actions. When no actions remain within the target group after the end of a project, this is designated not sustainable. The reform process of the agricultural extension leads to multiple and more participatory approach strategies to promote sustainability interventions. To that end, more adequate technologies and knowledge transfer mechanisms to famers, such as the Farmer Field School (FFS) Methodology have been introduced. This study aims to identify the contribution of the FFSs to the sustainability of the actions promoted by the agricultural extension program after its closure. The study is based on literature review and data analysis of the program results from Mozambique taking in consideration the experiences from other counties mainly Philippines and Kenya. From the results, the institutional and methodological issues of the technologies and knowledge disseminated by the FFSs can be understood. The conclusions appoint that FFSs can contribute to sustainable development as well as for the long term continuity of the actions after interventions. The dissemination of the experiences obtained from the EMCs is based on informal networks which are responsible for the continuation of the diffusion process. By following its principles, inter alia respecting the social and cultural context, the FFSs give more attention to the farmer training and assist in knowledge appropriation by the producers, thus contributing to improved sustainability of promoted interventions.
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