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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Learning experiences of Farmers Field School on Integrated Nutrient Management: evidence from Wolaita in southern Ethiopia: a research report |
Authors: | Ergano, Kebebe Beyene, Sheleme Wallelu, Wondimu |
Year: | 2005 |
Periodical: | Ethiopian Journal of the Social Sciences and Humanities (ISSN 1810-4487) |
Volume: | 3 |
Issue: | 2 |
Period: | December |
Pages: | 81-93 |
Language: | English |
Notes: | biblio. refs. |
Geographic terms: | Ethiopia Northeast Africa |
Subjects: | agricultural extension fertilizers Agriculture, Agronomy, Forestry agricultural productivity food supply Farmers--Education Soils and nutrition |
External link: | https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ejossah/article/view/29879 |
Abstract: | In the last two decades, per capita food production in Ethiopia has lagged behind the rates of population growth, and food shortage and rural poverty have become chronic problems. Past efforts to intensify agricultural production have often failed due to excessive emphasis on superficially perceived causes of land degradation. Rather than making blanket recommendations, approaches that empower farming communities to decide what they need are required. One such approach, developed by the FAO, is the Farmer Field School, a forum where farmers make regular field observations, relate their observations to the ecosystem, and apply their previous experiences and new information to make crop or livestock decisions with the guidance of a facilitator. This paper reports on three years (2002-2005) of FFS learning experiences on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in Kindo-Koisha district of Wolaita, in southern Ethiopia. Emphasis was placed on the determination of an optimum combination of compost and inorganic fertilizer. The findings indicate that the FFS had a positive impact on farmers' knowledge, skills and innovation behaviour, but that the spread of knowledge beyond the village in which the FFS was located was relatively limited. Bibliogr. [ASC Leiden abstract] |