Farmer field school’s training on knowledge level of citrus growers regarding improved production practices

Abstract

The major objective of this paper was to assess the impact of the Farmer field school (FFS) training program on the knowledge level of farmers (citrus growers) regarding improved citrus production practices. Distract Sargodha was the targeted research area for this study being the leading producer of citrus in Pakistan. Quantitative data were collected through interview schedule and analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). It was conclude that young people were more tend towards getting training under FFS program than old age farmers. Educated farmers were in majority in FFS farmers while; conversely illiterate farmers were in majority in the category of non-FFs farmers. In category of FFS farmers livestock farming was their primary income as reported by majority (31.3%) of FFS farmers and in the case of non-FFS farmer’s crop sale was their primary income source as reported by 28.4% of non-FFs farmers. In addition to that both FFS and non-FFS farmers also earn income from nonfarm sources like business, job, foreign remittances and labour. FFS training program had positive and significant impact on the knowledge level of farmers regarding citrus production and protection practices. T-test statistics showed highly significant (P<0.05) difference in knowledge level of FFS farmers and non-FFS farmers.

Agribusiness development model for strengthening the chili-tobacco intercropping farmer group

“…Agribusiness is a business activity that is engaged in agriculture that has been oriented to profit, agribusiness people consistently strive to obtain commercial and financial value on an ongoing basis to produce products that the market needs (Adjid, 1998;Antara, 2006;Muliarta, 2016;and Hermawan, 2008). Agribusiness consists of five subsystems, namely the enterprise subsystem and the procurement and distribution of agricultural production facilities, farming subsystems, product processing subsystems (agroindustry), yield marketing subsystems and supporting services subsystems (Suparta, 2005). The problems experienced so far are farming subsystems, marketing subsystems, production, and income, which are still classified as low categories.…”

“…The problems experienced so far are farming subsystems, marketing subsystems, production, and income, which are still classified as low categories. One of the efforts that have been made by the government in making an increase in Human Resources for farmers of the chili-tobacco intercropping is through the application of field schools, which have proven to be more effective in increasing farmers 'knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards farmers and can increase farmers' production and income (Rejesus et al, 2012;Phillips et al, 2014;Victor et al, 2017). Field schools will also open up the creativity of farmers in terms of knowledge, practice, and the use and preservation of natural enemies (Palis, 2006;Guoa et al, 2015;Lampe, 2016).…”