IMPACT OF FARMER FIELD SCHOOLS ON SKILL DEVELOPMENT OF FARMING COMMUNITY IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA PROVINCE, PAKISTAN

Farmer Field School (FFS) is an adult educational approach. It provides an opportunity of learning to a group of 25 farmers regarding various skills and crop management practices. It also builds up their decision making capacity through discovery based learning. Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa introduced this approach in 2001 by the Project for Horticultural Promotion (PHP) in the province. Keeping success of the project in view, this approach was replicated in 2004 in all the 24 districts of the province through Agriculture Department (Extension). This paper therefore, seeks to analyze the impact of FFS on skill development of farming community in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The data collected were analyzed using a paired t-test for comparison of pre and post FFS scenarios. The results show that group learning was ranked 1st with mean values 3.29, 3.74 closely followed by decision making capacity and community organization which were ranked 2nd and 3rd with mean values 3.34, 3.84 and 3.32 and 3.80 in the pre and post-FFS scenarios, respectively. Likewise, identification of pest and predator was ranked 1st with mean values 3.27 and 3.91, control of pests by local recipes was ranked 2nd with mean values 3.22, 3.78 and rational use of pesticides was ranked 3rd with mean values 3.31 and 4.04 in pre and post-FFS scenarios, respectively. This situation shows a highly significant difference between the pre and post FFS scenarios. Hence, it can be concluded from the study that FFS has not only improved farmers’ skills in managing their crops but also developed various aspects of human resource as a result of various project activities.