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Agricultural expansion is responsible for almost 90 percent of deforestation worldwide, making it a leading driver of biodiversity and habitat loss. Cropland expansion is the main driver, causing almost 50 percent of global deforestation, followed by livestock grazing, which accounts for 38.5 percent. This situation of great concern presents a [...]

Senegal has had extensive experience with the development and implementation of the farmer field school (FFS) approach across almost two decades. Building on this experience and that of the first phase of the scoping exercise conducted in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region (and using the same methodology), [...]

Over the last three decades, Farmer Field Schools (FFS) have proven to be an effective discovery-learning-capacity building approach to help rural populations to innovate with more clarity and purpose while building the social skills needed for rural transformation and empowerment. The diverse forestry and agroforestry applications of the FFS demonstrate [...]

RECUEIL DE SUJETS SPECIAUX POUR LES CEAP ANIMES PAR LES FACILITATEURS LOCAUX ET TECHNICIENS

This guide zooms in on the Diagnostic phase module at the beginning of a Farmer Field School on Local Food Plants for Nutrition. This specific document is meant to help facilitators complete the diagnostic exercises which are part of a Farmer Field School (FFS). It summarizes the information on FFS diagnostic [...]

The online course “Farmer Field Schools on Farmer Seed Production and Marketing” is part of the program’s work on seed production for the local market. The objective of this work is (1) to improve farmers’ access to seed of well adapted crops and varieties not offered by the formal seed sector [...]

The agroecological transition implies rethinking the way farmers are supported in their changes in practices. Farmer Field Schools are an effective mechanism in this respect since they build farmers’ capacity to experiment, to produce knowledge and to innovate independently. However, it is essential that these advisory services are correctly implemented, [...]

The Farmer Field School (FFS) approach, based on group experimentation of innovative practices and/or farming systems, is in line with participatory farm advisory efforts. This approach has an ambitious goal: strengthening farmers’ skills so that they can adapt their practices, or even invent new ones, and move towards more agroecological [...]

Sustainable food and agriculture are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. One of the ways of achieving Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment, and Better Life, leaving no one behind, is through agroecology. Agroecology helps ensure food and nutritional security, reduce poverty, mitigate climate change and [...]

My master's dissertation research was completed in Cape Verde, focussing on the participatory approach to the agro-ecological transition of rural communities. In particular, the dissertation observed an aspect of the implementation of the FAO approach based on people-centred learning: the Farmer Field Schools (FFS). I designed and conducted several [...]