The DAE UNDP/FAO project has been in progress for several years and in 1999 began Farmer-to-Farmer activities.  The project has trained 320 FFS alumni as Farmer IPM Trainers and will train 320 more during the present year.  By the end of November 2000, Farmer IPM Trainers will have conducted a total of 926 FFS.  The UNDP/FAO project has established the following process for developing Farmer IPM Trainers:

a.  Project IPM field trainers identify potential Farmer IPM Trainers over the course of an FFS. 

b.  Upon completion of their FFS, these alumni participate in a weeklong TOT.

c.  After the TOT each Farmer IPM Trainer teams up with a DAE IPM Field Trainer to conduct an FFS.  During this “apprenticeship”, the Farmer IPM Trainer does all the planning, preparation and running of an FFS with support and assistance from the IPM Field Trainer.  

d.  Following the apprenticeship season, the Farmer IPM Trainer will establish and run his/her own FFS supported by their DAE IPM Trainer team-mate who will attend a limited number of FFS meetings.  

e.  Regional review and training meetings conducted by DAE trainers are held at the middle and end of this FFS season for Farmer IPM Trainers. 

The DAE/DANIDA project has trained 40 Farmer IPM Trainers and will continue to train more.  The project follows the same process as the DAE UNDP/FAO project in developing Farmer IPM Trainers.  The following describes a farmers IPM club.  Clubs usually provide a forum for Farmer IPM Trainers to provide IPM training and advice to other farmers.  However, as the following brief case shows, the activities of IPM clubs are neither limited to IPM nor adults.

Laupara Elementary School

In 1998, 25 rice farmers, including five women, participated in an FFS at Laupara in Bagmara Upazila in Rajshahi District.  At the end of their FFS the 25 farmers established an IPM club and built a simple shed for meetings near their fields.  The group assessed a membership fee of US $ .60 per month.  Their first activities included providing IPM management advice for their neighbours.  Membership grew to 43.  Members wanted a school for their children.  The group built a second building.  The building became a school for local children. There are now 37 pupils attending grades one through six at this school. 

CARE Bangladesh has trained farmers to be Farmer IPM Trainers.  For CARE, the main purpose of the Farmer IPM Trainers is to extend the benefits of their IPM activities beyond the project period.  Farmer IPM Trainers were encouraged to develop their own roles. CARE conducted an evaluation of the activities of their Farmer IPM Trainers.  The following is a summary of their review.

Money is not the most important motivational issue.  CARE discovered that most of their Farmer IPM Trainers found  “social recognition” to be more important than the potential of earning money as a Farmer IPM Trainer.  Farmer IPM Trainers state that non-alumni have been coming to them to learn about IPM and they are proud of this new recognition that they get from their neighbours. 

Farmer IPM Trainers improve linkages with line agencies at the community level. Farmer IPM Trainers were developing linkages and networking with different organisations and helping their communities to acquire new information and technologies.

Farmer IPM Trainers contribute to community cohesion.  Farmer IPM Trainers respond to community and alumni needs and take initiatives. 

Cambodia

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