Vincentian farmers heading to livestock school
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Farmer Fielld School, sheep, goats, livestock, cows, small farmers, family farmers, meat and meat products, learning by doing, classroom without walls
Preparations are underway for St. Vincent and the Grenadines to bring the innovative farmer field school (FFS) concept to the country in a project being jointly run by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The project, the first of its kind aimed specifically at livestock farmers in the Caribbean, was officially launched with a workshop in mid-May attended by local farmers, ministry officials, representatives from CARDI, IICA and Development Officer at FAO, Dr. Cedric Lazarus. Classes should begin by the second week of June.
In 2011 St Vincent and the Grenadines imported 8.6 million kilograms of meats and meat products valued at approximately US$ 47.6 million, according to Ministry of Agriculture data. These imports account for over 90 % of total meat consumption. The aim of the project is to contribute to the reduction of this over-reliance on imported meats by helping sheep and goat farmers in the country, most of whom run small family farms, to scale up production, productivity and efficiency.
President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Small Ruminant Society, Dr. Coleen Phillips voiced her strong support for the project, noting that the organization's members stood to benefit greatly, with some 60 farmers signed up to receive training at four farms around the country.
FAO will be providing three technical consultants, two subject matter experts to teach specific modules, as well as a Master Trainer with extensive knowledge of the FFS approach. The Organization will also provide most of the materials and equipment needed to run the school. Chief Veterinary Officer and head of the Ministry of Agriculture's Livestock Division, Dr. Kathian Hackshaw, will act as National Project Coordinator.
The curriculum for the school, as agreed to by the participants, will cover modules pertaining to nutrition, health/husbandry management, reproduction and breeding and farm management. In Phase 1 extension officers, veterinarians and animal health assistants from the Ministry of Agriculture as well as four volunteer farmers will receive training as facilitators. These facilitators will then be certified to oversee the training of a further 60 farmers in Phase 2 of the project, with a special emphasis on women and young people.
FAO has been promoting farmer field schools, an innovative approach to adult education first developed in Southeast Asia for pest management. A farmer field school is often described as a school without walls. A group of farmers gets together in one of their own fields to learn about their crops or livestock and things that affect them. They learn by observing, analyzing and trying out new ideas. In this way, farmers can develop solutions to their own problems unlike traditional approaches to agricultural extension, which rely on extension workers providing advice which may not always be suitable to farmers specific needs.
Materials produced from the St. Vincent experience will be shared with others in the region who may be interested in planning and organizing similar schools in the future.