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This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the Farmer Field School approach in terms of examining farmers’ selection criteria, their profile and FFS implementation. It was also sought to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of FFS members and nonmembers regarding coffee management practices with reference to coffee [...]

The Intensified Social Forestry Project in Semi-Arid Areas (ISFP), which is a technical cooperation project between JICA and Kenya Forestry Service (KFS), has been applying the FFS methodology in social forestry extension field since 2004. Based on experiences of ISFP, this multi-media material "Facilitator training tool for FFS session [...]

I use an autobiographical approach to tell the story of innovation and its changing fortunes and uses. I have lived through the major approaches and perspectives in the past 50 years and have played some role in them myself. The paper starts off with my early days with the [...]

Effects of farmer field school (FFS) and the conventional (classroom lectures) training on acquisition of pest management knowledge and skills by small vegetable farmers were studied in Yunnan province, China from 2003 to 2007. There were significant gains of knowledge about vegetable pests, natural enemies, insect and disease ecology and [...]

The complex and dynamic nature of environmental problems requires flexible and transparent decision-making that embraces a diversity of knowledges and values. For this reason, stakeholder participation in environmental decision-making has been increasingly sought and embedded into national and international policy. Although many benefits have been claimed for participation, disillusionment has [...]

The need to increase agricultural sustainability has induced the government of India to promote the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM). An evaluation of cotton-based conventional and IPM farming systems was conducted in India (2002–2004). The farmers managing the IPM farms had participated in discovery-based ecological training, namely Farmer Field [...]

Overcoming challenges to ecosystem health calls for breaking down disciplinary and professional barriers. Through reflection on a research and development project to address pesticide-related concerns in northern Ecuador, this article presents challenges encountered and accommodations made, ranging from staff recruitment, through baseline assessments and community education activities, to mobilising for [...]