Identifying problems faced by facilitators and farmers in integrated pest management farmer field schools’ training programme in Sindh Province

Abstract

The FAO-EU-ADB funded National Integrated Pest Management Programme (Nat-IPM) for Cotton was started in Pakistan during 2001-2004 and introduced new extension training methodology called Farmer Field School (FFS). Basic principle of FFS training was to enable farmers to be self-sufficient, using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices that are agro-ecosystem friendly. To identify problems faced by the facilitators (ToF participants) and farmers (FFS participants) in IPM-FFS training programme with special reference to cotton, study was conducted in four districts of Sindh province (Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Matiari and Mirpurkhas) of Pakistan. The sample size comprised of 48 facilitators and 144 farmers in total. The results of this study indicated that facilitators and farmers were involved in IPM programme due to their self-interest despite facing some problems in IPM-FFS training programme.

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