Effectiveness of the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach to Integrated Production and Pest Management (IPPM) technologies for the promotion of grain legume production in Myanmar | |
| Author | Lwin Lwin Aung |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.RD-05-01 |
| Subject(s) | Pests--Integrated control--Myanmar Grain--Diseases and pests--Myanmar Farmers--Education--Myanmar |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The research deals with the effectiveness of Farmer Field School (FFS) approach to Integrated Production and Pest Management technologies for the promotion of grain legume production in Myanmar. The main objectives of the research were to the methods of IPPMFFS approach, to examine its effectiveness in the diffusion of IPPM technologies among grain legume farmers, to analyze factors influencing it, to identify the problems and needs of farmers and to give recommendations to improve the IPPM-FFS approach. The scope of this study was the Improved Grain Legume Production Technologies project (TCP/MYA/0166A) activities implemented by Myanmar Agriculture Service in collaboration with the FAO covering major grain legume areas in the Dry zone and Lower Myanmar during 2002-2004. The research was conducted in Theik Tu Kan village (Mahlaing Township) and Kyauk Than village (Thonegwa Township). A standardized questionnaire was employed to collect data from the farmer facilitators (FFs) and village farmers (VFs), field observation, key informants interview, group discussions with the VFs. The research focused on quantitative analysis but qualitative technique was also applied. The main findings of this research showed the increase in knowledge and changes of practices of farmers and somewhat adoption of the IPPM technologies after participating in the FFS approach. The degree of knowledge gained, practice changed and adoption of the farmers of the Central MM as well as the FFs level was higher as compared to those of the Lower MM as well as the VFs due to the twice frequencies accessible to the methods of the FFS approach, higher education level and social-economic status. The positive changes in practice were found in the reduction of the number of chemical fertilizer sprays and the increase in natural insecticide sprays, bio-super liquid fertilizer sprays, EM bokashi usages, the number of farmers applying the combination of N, P and K. As a consequence, they realized they had gained a high degree of benefits not only from the awareness of the negative effects of pesticides but also from the slight increase in the average sown and harvested areas, yield and amount of green gram and pigeon pea. Therefore, there was a high degree of satisfaction regarding the relationships and quality of the FFS team. The research concluded that the farmer's perception to change their knowledge and practices were mainly influenced by the institutional factors, followed by the social-economic and biophysical factors. The factor analysis explained that the effectiveness of the IPPM-FFS approach on the FFs and VFs was mainly due to the interaction and learning process, resources and agricultural income, farmers' experiences in grain legume production, family labors, changing capability and practices of farmers, their willingness and innovativeness, assessment, perception and visits to the demonstration plots. Certain recommendations were made to strengthen the effectiveness of IPPM-FFS approach in Myanmar. These were focused on the intensification of key effective methods of the FFS approach, provision of effective Training of Trainers (TOT), preparation of facilitator's manuals, selection of farmers by the community's involvement, preparations of FFS curriculum, and manuals for the implementation of the FFSs and on demonstration trials. The recommendations were also given to enhance the adoption of IPPM technologies focusing on provision of agricultural inputs, promoting research activities at local seed farms and farmers' farms. The implications of the FFS approach and the strategy for its replications to the Myanmar Agriculture Service for future consideration was proposed based on the key findings of this research. |
| Year | 2005 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Soparth Pongquan; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Thapa, Gopal B. ;Shivakoti, Ganesh P. ; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | The World Bank (Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program) ;Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2005 |