“The hands-on nature of the FFS approach gave me new insights into how we can tackle local farming issues. I'm eager to share this knowledge with my community,” said one Farmer Field School (FFS) Facilitator Training participant held in Honiara, Solomon Island, in July 2024.

The Kastom Gaden Association, in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), hosted a transformative two-week training, part of the ACP MEAs Phase 3 project, aimed to enhance agricultural capacity and promote climate resilient and sustainable farming practices across the Solomon Islands, setting the stage for long-term agricultural transformation in the region.

The training gathered 20 participants, of whom 30% were women, including Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock (MAL) extension officers, representatives from Rural Training Centres, lead farmers, and NGOs from Malaita and Guadalcanal, creating a diverse and collaborative learning environment.   

Under the expert guidance of Farmer Field School Master Trainers, participants gained practical experience in sustainable pest management, small livestock breeding, and sustainable harvesting techniques. Through the FFS approach, participants learned by doing, equipping themselves with the tools to address pressing agricultural and climate challenges within their communities.

“This training has empowered me. It’s not just about theory; it’s about real solutions that we can apply immediately”, said a participant from Guadalcanal.

The participants particularly appreciated the focus on practical learning through field exercises, including a Rapid Participatory Diagnosis (RPD) exercise. “The field exercises were invaluable. We worked on real farming challenges and collaborated on finding solutions,” shared one Guadalcanal participant. The training also introduced gender-sensitive tools, ensuring women are actively involved in agricultural decision-making and enhancing the resilience and sustainability of farming practices.

The success of this training marks a significant milestone in agricultural education in the Solomon Islands. The trained facilitators are ready to lead the development of resilient and sustainable farming systems across the islands. Equipped with new knowledge and a renewed sense of purpose, facilitators are now prepared to pilot two Farmer Field Schools in Malaita and two in Guadalcanal starting by January 2025. These pilot schools will serve as hubs for local communities to address agricultural challenges and share climate resilient and sustainable practices.

In the coming months more details on the results of the four Farmer Fields Schools. Stay tuned!

Photo credit: @Hayato Ogushi