The Role of Farmer Field Schools in Poverty Reduction among Rural People in Kasungu District, Malawi

Author(s): Hastings Mlinde, Dr. A Mohamed Yasir Arafath and Dr. T Velmurugan

Abstract:

Farmer field school is becoming popular extension services delivery method across the global. Farmer field school, according to FAO E learning Academy (2021), is defined as a participatory education approach that brings together a group of small-scale food security farmers to solve production related challenges through sustainable agriculture. Public and Private sector organizations are using the farmer field school approach as a tool for addressing production related challenges among farmers. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of farmer field schools in poverty reductions among rural people in Kasungu District, Malawi. The objectives of the study were to identify technologies validated in Farmer Field Schools; to assess use of technologies validated in Farmer Field Schools by FFS graduates; to determine changes in crop yield among Farmer Field School graduates, and to assess changes in household annual income among farmer field school graduates. The study used purposive method and 60 respondents were drawn from farmer field schools that had been in operational for more than one year. Data collected were triangulated through focus group discussions with Agriculture Extension Development Coordinator and Agriculture Extension Development Officer/ Master Trainers for the targeted Farmer Field Schools. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. The study findings showed that farmer field schools conducted studies on various topics; farmer field schools enhanced adoption of improved technologies among farmer field school members; Farmer field schools have improved crop yield among the farmer field school members; There is evidence of enhanced annual income among farmer field school members; Assets possession has improved among farmer field school members, and that Farmer field school concept has potential to reduce poverty according to farmer perceptions. In conclusion, farmer field schools have a role to reduce poverty by promoting adoption of recommended agricultural practices which impact on yield and consequently Basing on the findings, the study recommends that Government should establish board comprising technical people for FFS implementation guide; Higher learning institutions should consider revising curriculum to accommodate FFS as standalone course for undergraduate students, and that Government and NGOs should continue investing resources in the FFS approach.

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