Delivery Innovation through Mutual Learnings : Farmer Field School (FFS)

Abstract

In Afghanistan farmers follow traditional rational ways learned from their forefathers in agriculture and livestock operations in the farm. Most of them do not know how to use extension practices to improve their agriculture and livestock system and so were not involved in the identification of problems and ways for solving. To encourage farmers’ to solve problems by themselves and increase their production and productivity, farmer field school is the best methodology. Although it is a new extension approach in Afghanistan, it has positive result in extension services and broadened the farmers’ mind to develop new ways for high yield and productive agriculture. Most of the organizations implement it in their extension activities. Famer Field School (FFS) has been implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock (MAIL) and other relevant organization as new extension approach since 2005 in Afghanistan. Because of less land, International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) established two Farmer Field School (FFS) under the Dairy-Goat Project with the focal theme on food and forage production (Mungbean, Chickpea, Wheat, Sorghum and Atriplex shrubs), one each in two target provinces of Nangarhar and Baghlan to enhance the production of forages in 2014.