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The IPM Farmer Field School
Following the field observation, the farmers return to the meeting
place and, using
crayons, draw
what they have just observed in the fields on a large piece of newsprint
or poster paper. The drawings
include:
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pests and natural enemies observed in the fields (pests on one side, natural enemies on the other);
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a rice plant that indicates the size and stage of plant growth, along with other important features such as the number of tillers, the colour of the plant and any visible damage;
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important features of the environment (the water level in the field, sunlight, shade trees, weeds, and inputs).
All members of
the small group are involved in the creation of the drawing and analysis
of data. While drawing,
farmers discuss and analyse the data they have collected in the
field. Based on their
analysis they determine a set of action decisions to be carried out in the
field. A summation of these action decisions as agreed by the group is
also included in the drawing.
One member of each small group then presents these findings and decisions to the larger group. After this brief presentation of results the floor is opened for questions and discussion. Good large group discussions often involve the posing of alternative scenarios, for example questions such as “What would you do if....” This cycle of presentation, question and answer and discussion is repeated until all five small groups have presented their results. Agroecosystem drawings from previous weeks are kept on hand as a reference and as material for discussion later in the season.
Agroecosystem Activity Matrix
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Activity |
Critical Steps |
Notes |
Indicators |
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AESA (Primary FFS activity Develops Good IPM: Habits: -observation -analysis -decision making Farmers become IPM experts) |
Observation &
Drawing Of
Agro-
ecosystem |
Participants need to understand process of observation and its purpose or objective. Participants in field observing, taking notes, collecting specimens. Purpose of drawing to summarise observation, focus of analysis. |
1. Before activity participants
told a)goal of activity and
b)process to be followed in
activity. 2. Participants all in the field. 3. Process of observation includes
the whole plant. 4. Observations written down. 5. Specimens collected. 6. Drawings summarise observations. |
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Presentation & Analysis
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Results of analysis presented to large group by
one member of each small group problems posed, questions asked. Purpose: to discus field conditions &
solve “what if scenarios. Objective: to improve decision making & analytical skills based on ecosystem observation. Facilitator helps group achieve objective by asking probing questions to help analytical process. |
1.Presentations made by member of
each small group. 2.Participants ask questions of
presenter. 3.Facilitator asks questions
appropriate to analysis 4.Groups discuss field conditions
& agroecosystem relationships. 5."What if" scenarios discussed. 6.Previous weeks agroecosystem
drawings used for comparisons. 7.Field management decisions
critically examined by group. 8.Other factors in addition to
economic thresholds are analysed
(e.g. plant stage, natural enemies)
9.Facilitator uses leading questions
to help participants analyse
what was learned during activity. |
The “Agroecosystem Activity Matrix” describes what an observer should be able to see when an agroecosystem analysis activity is being conducted. While this is primarily an outline, the ‘indicators’ column presents those observable processes that are fundamental to the process. Note that the role of the facilitator is to help participants learn, not to teach them.