Evaluating and promoting modern farming practices knowledge through Farmers’ Field Schools (FFS) in Thar

Abstract

The study was conducted in four villages (Bhadi, Bhenio Bheel, Bhinyot, and Bhujbar) of the southern area Thar of district Umerkot. Where Farmer Field Schools have been established and modified to suit the farmer’s conditions. The 80 (74% female and 26% male) participants the of four FFS were asked questions mentioned in the questionnaire before starting and after the end of all sessions. The 12 sessions were conducted in four months of the whole cycle of different indigenous crops (pearl millet, guar, sesame, and mung bean) cultivated in each school by two cropping methods (conventional and modern). At the maturity of crop plant height, the number of leaves per plant, seed, and straw yield was recorded. Farmers participated in all sessions as learning processes based on experimentation and learning by doing. During the FFS sessions, farmers achieved good knowledge. Out of the total participants, about 49, 31, 36, 61, 63, and 68% gave more than 75% feedback related to land preparation, variety selection, sowing methods, agricultural inputs, cultivation, cultural, and harvesting practices. Results related to growth parameters like plant height (cm) and number of leaves per plant, the higher plant growth was recorded in the FFS plots with the modern farming method used. However, seed and straw yield (kg ha^-1) was also higher in the FFS plot as compared to the conventional method of farming.  Plants grown in FFS plots with modern farming methods received 26%, 29%, 24%, and 35% more yield in seed and 21%, 45%, 8%, and 17% more in straw yield of pearl millet, guar, sesame, and mung bean, respectively as compared to the conventional method of farming. In the Thar region with low rural literacy rate especially females, this approach of FFS learning is better tool for obtaining good yields from crops and ensuring food security.