Farmer Water Schools (FWS). FWS conceptualization APFAMGS adopted FFS approach: Discovery and...
Transcript of Farmer Water Schools (FWS). FWS conceptualization APFAMGS adopted FFS approach: Discovery and...
Farmer Water Farmer Water Schools (FWS)Schools (FWS)
FWS conceptualizationFWS conceptualization
APFAMGS adopted FFS approach:
• Discovery and experiential learning process
• Farmers master concepts of groundwater management
• Empower to effectively manage collective resource.
FFS Approach: Origin & FFS Approach: Origin & ObjectivesObjectives
• FFS: brown plant hopper infestation in paddy
• Main objectives:– Improve farmers analytical and decision-making
skills,– Develop an understanding of ecological principles
& pest population dynamics– End dependency on pesticides
• Principles of Nonformal education & Discovery Learning
• Farmers select/transform technologies – to fit the specific ecological and economic conditions, and– contribute to overall food production.
• Farmers understand:– issues affecting their livelihood – Need for debate and concerted action to protect their
interests
AESA: Heart of FFSAESA: Heart of FFS
Observation
Analysis
Decision-making
Adaptation of FFS to Adaptation of FFS to CWBCWB• FFS facilitators – subject knowledge
and facilitation skills • FFS-TOT May 2005, build skills of the
project staff – master facilitators.
• By mid 2005, Farmers:– familiar with the PHM activities and – able to record PHM data into HMR books. – GMCs formed – capacities strengthened to monitor the PHM
activities at habitation and HUN level.
• Experiment adaptation of FFS to CWB Exercise.
FFS-CWB ImpactFFS-CWB Impact
• Farmer participants showed increased initiative to:– understand and discuss groundwater
dynamics;– analyze the PHM data;– calculate water balance estimation;– share the learning of each session in
GMCs;– present water balance estimation results
in CWB workshops; and
– disseminate key messages.
Farmer Water Schools Farmer Water Schools [FWS][FWS]
Participants discuss:
• groundwater concepts & availability,
• impact on crop growth,
• role of institutions in sustainability, and
• gender equity.
Hydro-ecosystem Hydro-ecosystem AnalysisAnalysis
Observe• Recharge factors, like
amount of rainfall, surface water, and rock & soil formation.
• Discharge factors – no. of borewells, pumping hours/days, average discharge
Analyze data [Discussion / Sharing]
Reach decisions on crop plans & management of groundwater
FWS objectives:FWS objectives:• Empower farmers with
knowledge and skills to measure recharge & draft
• Sensitize farmers on the need for collective action
• Sharpen the farmers’ ability to make critical and informed decisions on crop plans
• Sensitize farmers on new ways of thinking and resolving issues
Reach large number of farmers;
Simultaneous learning-teaching process:
Farmer participants of first cycle facilitate 2nd cycle.
FWS cycles one and two run simultaneously with gap of two to four days
First cycle: FWS – 34;
Second cycle: FWS– 272
FWS: Multi-cycle FWS: Multi-cycle approachapproach
PNGO TeamsPNGO Teams• identified content appropriate to local needs
• involved farmers in development of session guides, identifying methods and dev. Models
• made efforts to make farmer training sessions an exercise in discovery-learning
• organized sessions where farmers could observe geological formations and structures
• encouraged farmers to recap learnings at the start of each session.
Typical FWS:
• Lasts a full hydrological year [June–May]
• Between 25 and 30 farmers participate in an FWS
• Farmers meet once every 15/20 days
• Primary learning material: HU & farmer field
• Field school close to the farming plots
• Participants learn together in small groups of five to maximize participation
• FFS educational methods are experiential, participatory and learner-centered
Typical FWS [contd.]:Typical FWS [contd.]:• Each FWS meeting includes at
least three activities: hydro-ecosystem analysis, a special topic, and group dynamics activity
• FWS participants conduct a study comparing farmer and experimental plots
• FWS often includes several additional field studies depending on local field problems
• Ballot Box Exercise: Pre- and post-test are conducted
• Field Day: share learning and results of their studies
FWS & GMC/HUNFWS & GMC/HUN• GMCs involved in FWS
preparation meetings to determine needs, recruit participants and discuss logistics
• Farmer participants share their learning from each FWS session at GMC meetings
• HUNs take lead in the organization and conduct of Field Day
Intermediate results:Intermediate results:PNGO Staff:• Acknowledge and value the
use of nonformal education methods and experiential learning process in engaging farmers;
• Focus on sharing the ‘Must Know’ and ‘Useful to Know’ information with farmers;
• Actively involved lead farmers in making decisions on FWS sessions;
• Encouraged farmers to participate in design of sessions, development of visuals and models.
Farmer Outcomes:
• Farmers are lead facilitators
• HUN members are taking lead
• Women emerged as facilitators and decision makers
• Farmer participation improved the quality of FWS
• Discuss sensitive issues like migration and vulnerability to HIV & AIDS
• Farmers aware of the need to collectively assess and make decisions
Intermediate results…Intermediate results…
Goal of FWSGoal of FWS
• Farmers as experts• Farmers as PHM
trainers• Farmers as
researchers/scientists• Farmers as organizers,
planners, advocates, activists
• Farmers as policymakers
Thank You