Farmer field schools for small-scale livestock producers

In many countries across the world, livestock are an integral part of poor people’s livelihoods, contributing to household income, food security and nutrition. They can provide quality food (meat, milk, and eggs); capital (sale, barter and hire); fertilizer (manure); draught power for cultivation and transport; building materials (fibres and hides); and fuel (manure). In some societies, livestock also have important sociocultural and religious functions (FAO, 2009b). Efficient and sustainable livestock production relies on good agricultural practices, including appropriate feeding, breeding, and health care as well as a value chain approach and market-oriented production. In FFSs, small-scale livestock producers test, validate, and adapt good agricultural and marketing practices that assist them in achieving sustainable food production and livelihoods improvements for their families and children. FAO developed the FFS approach in 1989. It enabled small-scale rice farmers in Southeast Asia to investigate and learn – together in small groups – the skills required for adapting integrated pest management (IPM) practices to their paddy fields. As the approach was shown to be very effective, it was quickly applied to other crop production systems in different developing regions, and adapted to other agricultural subsectors, including livestock production (Groeneweg et al., 2006). The FFS approach centres on people. It brings together groups of producers and engages their members in a process of hands-on, participatory learning. Groups meet regularly throughout the production cycle to test, validate, and adapt new practices to their local conditions. FFSs groups develop solutions by comparing local practices with new ideas through trials, observation, critical analysis and discussion. Farmer Field Schools contribute to community development by building skills, trust, competencies and informed decision-making, as well as by enhancing the ability of small-scale producers to work together. Indeed, FFSs often help strengthen existing producer groups or form new groups (both formal and informal). This guide aims to inform decision makers (e.g. government officials, programme managers) about the potential of Livestock FFSs to develop and support small-scale livestock production in pastoralist, agro-pastoralist and small-scale farming systems. It does not provide information on how to design an FFS project or to set up and implement a Livestock FFS.