Preparing for special topic

Before the next session we need to prepare well for the special topic that was selected by the farmers:

• Collect background information

• Prepare materials (pest specimens, flip charts, etc.)

• If needed, invite a specialist to help you with the special topic

• Design exercises about the special topic to carry out with the farmers

• Prepare guiding questions that help you to facilitate the discussion

Examples of special topics

• Components of the ecosystem
• Energy flow in the ecosystem, food chains, food web, etc.
• Soil health, micro-organisms, nutrients, etc.
• Fertilizer management, soil testing
• Composting and mulching
• Weed management
• Quality seeds (germination test, selection of varieties, etc.)
• Life cycle and management of an important pest (use insect zoo)
• Life cycle and behavior of an important natural enemy (use insect zoo)
• Bio-extracts (farmers prepare and set up experiments to test them)
• Hazards of pesticides
• Risk reduction
• Disease management of an important disease
• Bacillus thuringiensis (set up experiments to learn how it works, field and/or insect zoo)
• Soil-borne diseases, use of Trichoderma
• Etc.

Ballot box test

To test farmers at the beginning of an FFS we use a “ballot box test”. It is not really about testing the farmers' knowledge, but rather a way of showing them the gaps in their knowledge as a way of preparing them for what they can expect to learn during the coming FFS sessions.

Usually a test consists of about 20 questions. Farmers answer each question by choosing between 3 answers. They select their answer by putting a piece of paper in the ballot box. The paper could have the name of the farmer on it, but this is not really necessary because we are not testing the individual but rather we want to find out how many farmers knew the correct answer and how many did not. The results of the test can then immediately be used to start discussions about these topics.

The questions are presented by using actual organisms and symptoms which can be examined by the farmers (not by using pictures).

Design three types of questions in such a way that they can measure:

• Understanding of ecology and natural control mechanisms.

• Ability to identification pests, natural enemies, diseases, and damage symptoms.

• Knowledge of crop management methods.

Example questions

• Show one pest insect and three different natural enemies. The farmers have to indicate which natural enemy can help control that pest.

• Show one pest insect and three types of crop damage. The farmers have to indicate what damage was caused by the insect.

Insect zoo

Many questions about insects can be answered by setting small experiments in an insect zoo. Use transparent boxes with fresh leaves. Or use potted plants inside a small cage. Always make sure that the insects have fresh food. Keep the zoo in an shaded place to avoid high temperature. Take care that the environment inside the zoo does not get too dry or too humid.

Assign responsibility for the zoo to one or more farmers. They have to make sure that the insects have sufficient food, and they have to make daily observations.

Use insects zoos for:

• Study the life cycles of insects
  • Keep caterpillars and see how they feed and how they pupate and develop to adult butterflies
• Study feeding behavior of insects
  • What do they eat?
  • How do they eat?
  • How much do they eat?
• Study predators
  • How do they feed?
  • How many insects can they eat in one day?
• Study parasitoids
  • Keep larvae and pupae of insects and see if they are parasitized
• Other experiments
  • For example study the effect of Bt (insect don’t die quickly but they stop feeding).