Farmer Field School (FFS)
Definition
Farmer Field schools are an in-person participatory training approach where agricultural practices are tested and demonstrated under local conditions to optimise the resources available to farmers. FFS often include real-time field demonstrations during key crop cycle stages (weeding, spraying, harvesting, etc.). FFS offer farmers and farming communities a place where they can meet, discuss, learn from each other, and conduct practical experiments.
Lead Actors
Input Provider; Off-taker; Other Service Provider
Target Demographics
Farmer Groups; Farmer Organisations; Smallholder Farmers
Objectives addressed
Farmer related
Improve yields:
FFS increases farmer buy-in for more efficient agricultural practices, as they are able to see the results for themselves. Additionally, trainings often occur in real-time with the growing cycle, increasing knowledge retention and removing barriers to adoption of practices.
Increase farmer income:
The impact of FFS training on farmer income depends on its content. When the training focuses on improved agricultural practices, farmers can boost yields and increase their income. If the FFS is led by an offtaker, it helps strengthen the relationship between farmers and the offtaker, improving market access for farmers. Additionally, when the FFS curriculum targets practices suited for premium markets, farmers can benefit from higher revenue opportunities.
Increase climate resilience:
Given that most climate resilience is achieved through adjustments in farming practices, effective FFS programs can significantly support this transition. Additionally, FFS can play a role in promoting farming practices that enhance climate resilience, primarily by helping farmers adopt techniques that reduce the impact of climate shocks and improve preparedness and mitigation capacity.
Business related
Address sourcing needs:
Through increased farmer buy-in for improved farming practices that are taught through FFS, off-takers see more volumes and better quality, creating a more consistent supply.
Contexts Best Suited to
Flexible to most contexts and crops.
Nearby Farms: requires geographic concentration of farmers.
Degree of Farmer Organisation: working with FOs offers added efficiency.
Nearby Farms: requires geographic concentration of farmers.
Degree of Farmer Organisation: working with FOs offers added efficiency.
Key Risks
Limited geographic reach: the need for physical presence at the FFS means that distant farmers cannot access this service.
Heavily dependent on farmer relationships with the company and with each other: because of travel and time requirements, farmer engagement is dependent on reputation and relationships.
No guarantee of adoption: Education on new practices via the FFS does not necessarily lead to higher rates of adoption at farm level.
Heavily dependent on farmer relationships with the company and with each other: because of travel and time requirements, farmer engagement is dependent on reputation and relationships.
No guarantee of adoption: Education on new practices via the FFS does not necessarily lead to higher rates of adoption at farm level.
Environmental Impact
Ambiguous:
If a focus of the FFS is to experiment with more sustainable agricultural practices, the environmental impact could be positive. However, this is not always the case.
Ambition level
Medium
Time
In addition to regular trainings and discussions at the training fields, the fields should be continuously maintained and the crops taken care of in line with the experiments that are taking place.
Investment Need
Costs include inputs and in some cases, renting a plot of land. In other cases, the FFS takes place on a farmer's own land. Depending on the level of sophistication, sometimes curriculum development costs are also involved.
