How FAO’s Farmer Field Schools are transforming rural agriculture

18/06/2026

Across the rural landscapes of Georgia, informal agricultural education is taking root. Farmer Field Schools (FFSs) are reshaping traditional farming into a modern, data-driven, and highly sustainable industry. Operating on a simple yet powerful ethos "learning by doing," these schools bring interactive, hands-on training directly to demonstration plots owned by local farmers assigned as FFS Lead Farmers, who facilitate the practical learning. Using demonstration plots farmers learn new practices, experiment with new techniques, acquire new skills, and exchange knowledge and experiences.

By bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and field-level practice, the six FFSs established under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) project “Inclusive Rural Development and Sustainable Agriculture” are empowering farmers across diverse sectors - including grain, vegetable, fruit, wine, dairy, and agritourism - to optimize their yields, meet international safety standards, and boost rural incomes.

A cornerstone of this initiative is inclusivity, with three women farmers currently actively leading demonstration plots as FFS Lead Farmers. Women and young participants are engaged across all sectors, particularly in high-value horticulture, vegetable production, and agritourism, where they are exceling modern agronomic practices.

Grain Production FFS: Mechanization and Science in the Field

Modern grain production requires moving past guesswork to precision agronomy. In the Kvemo Chala village of Kaspi municipality, the Grain Production FFS sessions focus on elevating corn and fodder production through the introduction of sample soil fertility monitoring tools, short vegetation of corn seeds to minimize water deficit to the crop and the precise pneumatic seeder.

Farmers gather to learn how to monitor and analyze their crop land to identify issues and find solutions jointly supported by specialized FFS Master Trainers. They utilize tools like penetrometers to measure soil compaction, determine soil texture, pH and salinity (EC), alongside digital remote sensing technologies to develop soil fertility maps. The theoretical knowledge translates directly into mechanized action during subsequent seeding sessions using fully mechanized seeding with a modern 4-row pneumatic seeder with precise fertilization capability. The curriculum emphasizes critical yield factors, including exact seeding depth, optimal row spacing, even seed distribution, and the FAO hybrid classification system.

Dairy Production and Livestock Farm Management FFS – Modernizing Dairy Farming  

In Martvili’s Didi Chkoni village, the Dairy Production and Livestock Farm Management FFS connected fodder production practices directly with the dairy sector, demonstrating how mechanized corn sowing combined with production creates a stable, high-nutrition feed supply for livestock year-round. In subsequent training sessions FFS members will improve their knowledge in livestock management, milking practices, disease prevention, food safety and hygiene issues along with cheese production.

Martvili was specifically selected for this FFS due to its rich local pastures and deeply rooted traditions in cheesemaking, making it the ideal hub for modernizing livestock practices. In upcoming sessions, local producers will delve into the production of traditional Georgian cheese varieties, focusing on upgrading hygiene and standardization to meet safety guidelines. The curriculum places a strong focus on women’s participation and leadership, as women traditionally manage dairy processing and food safety on local farms, making their mastery of advanced hygiene and cheesemaking techniques vital for rural economic growth.

Horticulture (Apple Production) FFS – Advancing Pruning and Soil Management

Perennial crops such as apples demand careful, multi-seasonal management to safeguard long-term agricultural investments. To address this need, Apple Production FFS training conducted in Khovle village of Kaspi municipality equipped local farmers with vital skills in structural pruning and soil fertility management. These interactive sessions allow participants to bridge the gap between traditional farming and modern, data-driven agricultural techniques.

The farmers engaged in hands-on field exercises to master canopy formation and specialized pruning techniques. By learning to properly shape the tree structures, growers are now able to ensure maximum sunlight penetration and achieve an optimized fruit load for better harvests.

Edvard Shermadini, FFS Master Trainer from the Georgian Farmers’ Association (GFA), notes that one of the most rewarding aspects of the Farmer Field Schools is seeing farmers apply new knowledge with confidence. “During the trainings, farmers do not simply listen to recommendations – they test them in practice, observe the results, and discuss them with fellow participants. Often, we see farmers arriving with questions about a specific challenge in their orchard, vineyard, field, or livestock farm, and together we work through possible solutions. By the end of the season, participants are not only gaining new technical skills but are also becoming more confident in evaluating options and making decisions that best suit their own farms,” he says.

Viticulture and Winemaking FFS: Climate-smart Orchard Management

Meanwhile, the FFS program at the Targameuli Winery in Martvili successfully integrated high-tech solutions into ancient winemaking traditions. In addition to standard grapevine pruning, viticulturists learned to utilize an agrometeorological station installed directly in the vineyard alongside the Agrolog.ge digital platform. By tracking real-time weather data such as temperature, humidity, and rainfall, vintners can now precisely plan irrigation, time their protective sprays, and accurately forecast disease risks like downy mildew and powdery mildew. The FFS members look forward to further training activities on Integrated Pest Management techniques, nutrient management, hygiene and food safety, harvesting and winemaking.

Vegetable Production FFS: Controlled Environments and Healthy Starters

For vegetable farmers, success begins long before a seedling hits the field. The Vegetable Production FFS combined foundational soil testing with controlled-environment agriculture to give crops the best possible start.

In a recent FFS field activity, a newly installed greenhouse for vegetable seedling production, participants engaged in a comprehensive curriculum on seedling establishment. They mastered substrate moisturization, the proper filling of seedling trays, and the careful sowing of tomato and cucumber seeds. By transitioning these trays into a controlled greenhouse environment, farmers learn the optimal conditions (temperature, humidity) for seedling production alongside nutrient and IPM during this stage, ensuring high survival rates and uniform growth.

"When you empower a farmer with knowledge, you aren't just improving a crop, but also lifting up a family, securing a village, and ultimately strengthening the entire economy of our country," reflects Tamar Sachaleli, a lead farmer from Kaspi.” For generations in our village, we managed our lands using traditional, old-world methods. But today, we are proudly and confidently integrating modern techniques. When our neighbors see improved results flourishing in our fields, they want to learn, too. And for me, there is no greater joy than opening my doors and sharing knowledge to help our community rise together."

Agritourism & Rural Hospitality FFS: Elevating the "Farm-to-Table" Experience

Agriculture in the 21st century extends far beyond food production - it encompasses experiences.

Hosted by the FFS Lead Farmer at the "Odo’s Marani" in Gachedili, FFS sessions focus on transforming standard farms into thriving agritourism destinations through Food Safety & HACCP compliance and crafting the guest journey. Trainers conduct on-site inspections of newly constructed kitchens, offering practical layouts designed to prevent cross-contamination and ensure regulatory compliance.

Agritourism relies heavily on authenticity and storytelling. FFS members brainstorm ways to package their daily farm routines into premium visitor experiences, such as traditional Georgian food masterclasses, hands-on farming to engage tourists in grape harvesting, nut gathering, cow milking and utilizing a specialized Agritourism Standard Checklist, to ensure seamless flow of the entire visitor experience.

Kyial Arabaeva, Technical Advisor (Rural Development Officer) from FAO Georgia notes, that the true power of the Farmer Field School model lies in its adaptability across the entire agricultural spectrum. "By establishing distinct FFS programs tailored to everything from grain and vegetable production to viticulture and agritourism, we aren't just teaching isolated skills but upgrading the entire rural ecosystem. Whether a farmer is using digital satellite scanning for corn or grape or implementing HACCP standards for a farm-to-table guest experience, these diverse on-farm learning schools provide practical knowledge needed to boost incomes, ensure food safety, improve agricultural productivity and build long-term agricultural sustainability and climate resilience from the ground up.”

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Farmer Field Schools are proving that sustainable rural development happens from within the community. The project ensures that these farming areas are longer just surviving - they are innovating. As these trained farmers share their knowledge with neighboring households, the ripples of this project will continue to strengthen Georgia's agricultural resilience, food security, and rural economy for years to come.

Trainings in the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) are conducted by Implementing Partner -Georgian Farmer’s Association (GFA) under the Inclusive Rural Development and Sustainable Agriculture project implemented by FAO with the financial support from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) as part of International Partnerships Austria in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and the Ministry of Regional Development of Georgia.