During the first week of December, FFS experts, ICT specialists and key partners gathered in FAO headquarters in Rome to discuss the role of digital technologies in FFS.

At FAO’s Technical Workshop on ICT and farmer field schools, held from 3 to 5 December 2019 in Rome, participants shared their experiences, knowledge and tools used in ICT to strengthen farmer field schools.

The key objectives of the workshop were to learn and share experiences about digital technologies and platforms for FFS but also to discuss opportunities and risks of digitalization for FFS, distilling key recommendations for integration of digital technologies in FFS programmes.

35 participants attended the workshop from different backgrounds and organizations (FAO, CARE, Oxfam, Access Video, Digital Green, Honeybee network, CTA, Schola Campesina, AFAAS etc.) all around the world (Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, Malawi, Thailand, Philippines, India, Peru, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy). During this workshop, various FAO divisions were also represented such as DPI, SP2, AGP, AGA, ESP, FIA and much more. In addition to these participants, 4 were participating remotely from the UK, Mongolia, China and Pakistan.

Opening the workshop, Remi Nono Womdim, FAO Deputy-Director of the Plant Production and Protection Division (AGP), highlighted the need to reflect on how to integrate new technologies available today into our programmes working on smallholders’ empowerment and food security.

“The time has come for the Farmer Field School key partners to reflect on the opportunities and challenges that digital technologies and processes pose to Farmer Field School,” stated Mr. Nono Womdim.

Key outcomes, recommendations and conclusions

Indeed, 30 years after the creation of FFS, the landscape of knowledge and information has changed dramatically. Challenges with infrastructure, digital literacy, gender-digital divide, cost of access and capacity development need to be addressed to promote sustainable use of ICTs in FFS. A better understanding is needed of the role of different digital technologies to strengthen FFS programmes, for instance to enhance skills and decision-making of famers to adopt sustainable production practices.

As a main recommendation of the workshop, the participants highlighted the need to strengthen networks to document tools and cases of use of digital technologies in FFS. The discussions also focused on the improvement of the MEL system by better defining what data needs to be collected, when and what for, as well identifying key MEL indicators and integrating them in existing digital MEL frameworks.

The exchanges also stressed the importance of strengthening the capacity development of master trainers, facilitators and farmers through specific training modules on digital literacy. Finally, one of the key recommendations was to develop an e-learning module within FAO addressing programme and MEL managers in FFS programmes.