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: 

a)   pests and natural enemies observed in the fields (pests on one side, natural enemies on the other);

b)   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;

c)   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

Activity

Critical

Steps

Notes

Indicators

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.

Presentation & Analysis

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.

 

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