The IPM Farmer Field School

These pages focus on the rice IPM FFS as it was developed in Indonesia as the standard approach to the design and conduct of an FFS.  The goal is to present a standard as the basis for appropriate variation.  Familiarity with what might be the standard considered design will enable one to successfully adapt the FFS approach to other crops.  There have been variations in the standard rice IPM FFS design related to the number of FFS meetings and number of participants.  In both cases the variations have represented increases.  In some countries the number of meetings of the FFS has been extended to 16 meetings and the number of participants has been increased to 30.  When and FFS is conducted in a crop other than rice, there are necessarily changes based on the various actors in the typical agroecosystem of that crop (for example plant physiology, insects, etc.).  The process of any FFS should be the same; it is the content that would change as the FFS is conducted with different crops.  The four principles of the IPM FFS should always be observed: 

• grow a healthy crop;

• conserve natural enemies;

• conduct regular field observations;

• farmers become IPM experts.

The Typical Rice IPM Field School

The IPM Field School is a field based learning experience for 25 farmers.  The Field School lasts for a full cropping season, meeting at least 12 times with an approximate length of four to five hours per meeting.  Each meeting consists of a set pattern of activities: agroecosystem field observation, analysis and presentations; special topics; and group dynamics.   The IPM Field School meets throughout the cropping season in order that participants can observe and analyse the dynamics of the rice field ecology across a full season.

The primary learning material at a Field School is the rice field, which is where most Field School activities take place.  The size of the fields of an IPM Field School varies up to a total area of 1,000 m2.  Field School plots receive two treatments.  A set of plots will be designated to receive an IPM treatment and another set will be designated as non-IPM or Local Treatment.  The primary difference between the two is that the non-IPM fields receive a basal treatment of carbofuran and only nitrogen fertiliser (this tends to be standard farmer practice in Indonesia).  The IPM fields will receive a balanced fertiliser treatment (NPK) and may be planted at lower densities with wider spacing than is typical of the local farmer treatment if that is appropriate.  Other differences in treatments will reflect the decisions of FFS participants.  These decisions usually reflect the principle of growing a healthy crop.  Because of the importance of the field study plots to the learning process, the Field School meeting place is usually close to the field study plots.  Although it is important that the meeting place is out of the direct sun, any simple structure—such as a terrace or bamboo hut—or even a comfortable, shaded area will do.

Participants.  IPM Farmer Field Schools are designed for 25 participants. This is not an arbitrary number.  During field observations, agroecosystem analysis and other activities, farmers divide into five ‘small groups’ of five participants each. This is an ideal size for small group discussions.  This number allows for sufficient diversity of opinion without being so large as to discourage less vocal participants from taking an active role.  Larger groups may become either chaotic or passive depending on the temperament of the group.  After the Field School is completed twenty-five farmers constitutes a neighbourhood support group for IPM of a reasonable size within the context of a village.

Selection of participants takes place at a meeting led by the IPM Field School facilitator with the members of the Farmers Group from which participants will be drawn. At this meeting the Field School process is explained.  The facilitator also explains to prospective participants that they will be expected to attend every week for the duration of the season.  Prospective participants are given an opportunity to either agree (the ‘learning contract’) or withdraw.

Activities.  The basic format of an IPM Field School  for farmers consists of three activities: agroecosystem observation, analysis, and presentation of results; a ‘special topic’; and a ‘group dynamics’ activity. Agroecosystem analysis is the Field School’s core activity, and other activities are designed to support it.

Agroecosystem Analysis.  The agroecosystem analysis process sharpens farmers’ skills in the areas of observation and decision making and helps develop their powers of critical thinking. The process begins with small group observations of the IPM and non-IPM plots. During the observation process participants collect field data—such as the number of tillers per hill and varieties of insects and their populations—and samples of insects and plants. These data are collected from ten rice hills. The facilitator is present throughout the observation to help participants in their observations.