Asyut/ Tanta, Egypt - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held two rounds of four-days training programme for the Farmers Field Schools (FFS) facilitators in cooperation with the Agricultural Extension Sector at the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MoLAR). A total of 40 facilitators representing 16 governorates from Upper and Lower Egypt benefited from the training programme that aimed to contribute to the implementation of 20 FFSs, especially on maize crops to control Fall Armyworm (FAW).

The cooperation with MoALR aims to enhance using this approach to improve crop productivity and control pests

The training focused on the principles of FFS, following the FAO approach. FFS facilitators are considered a cornerstone in the framework of FFS, as they play a key role in facilitating farmers' sessions within the FFS.

The training focused also on how to establish FFS and to select FFS experienced farmers as well as how to facilitate the farmer’s meetings, to select the experimental field, and to evaluate the success of the established FFS.

The first training was held in Asyut Governorate to train 20 facilitators from 9 governorates from Upper Egypt, while the second one held in Elghrbia Governorate to train the other 20 facilitators from seven governorates from Lower Egypt.

The FFS in the 16-targeted governorates will be modeled on the successful FFS in the New Valley and Qena Governorates, which were implemented to manage FAW on maize crops. The proposed FFS will focus on the practical implementation of the suggested Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles for controlling FAW in the maize fields of smallholder farmers.

The trainees had varied backgrounds, mainly from the extension and pest control sectors. The FAO FFS approach is based on farmers sharing their experiences with each other. The training employed a participatory approach with interactive group discussions, case studies, and a practical session that included a field visits. All participants underwent preliminary and final evaluations to gauge their knowledge and abilities prior to and after the training.

The growing application of the FAO FFS approach as an educational tool will allow the dissemination of the recommended IPM strategies to manage FAW in infested maize fields, reduce the reliance on hazardous chemical pesticides, promote the use of eco-friendly methods, and decrease the maize yield losses caused by FAW infestations.