Tripp, Robert (author / Overseas Development Institute, London, UK), Wijeratne, Mahinda (author / University of Ruhuna, Kamburupitiya, Sri Lanka), and Piyadasa, V. Hiroshini (author / University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2005-10
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 146 Document Number: C23161
15 p., The results of a study in Sri Lanka, combined with a review of the literature, provide evidence that Farmer Field Schools (FFS) can contribute to increasing farmers' skills and lowering insecticide use in rice. However, there are questions about their capacity to reach the majority of farmers and there's little evidence that skills learned are passed to nonparticipants, or that an FFS is a likely basis for sustained group activity. The results draw attention to the problems of relying on simple formulas in agricultural programs and point to inadequacies in the assessment of donor projects.
"Despite some impressive economic statistics and relative social improvements, the world communications economy has left little space for the region's urban and rural working people."
