Farmers’ Perception of Performance Performed by Extension Field Workers/ Facilitators during Integrated Pest Management Farmer Field School Training Programme in Sindh Province of Pakistan

Abstract

In connection to environment friendly farming, potential stakeholders took efforts and launched FAO-EU-ADB funded National Integrated Pest Management (Nat-IPM) Programme for Cotton in Pakistan during the years 2001 to 2004 and introduced new extension training methodology called Farmer Field School (FFS). The basic principle of FFS training was to enable farmers to be self sufficient, using IPM practices that are agro-ecosystem friendly. This study examined the performance performed by agriculture extension field workers/facilitators (EFW/F) in the implementation of IPM-FFS trainings with special reference to cotton crop in selected districts of Sindh province of Pakistan. A survey study was carried out in four districts of Sindh province (Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Matiari and Mirpurkhas). The total sample size comprised of 144 farmers who were involved in the series of IPM-FFS training sessions. Farmers’ perceived that EFW/F played an effective role and performed positively in IPM-FFS activities during training programme. Further, results of present study a confirmation of the adoption and a validation of IPM-FFS as a successful extension approach in Sindh province of Pakistan