Implementing Impact And Extension Approach Assessment Of Farmer Field School

Farmer Field School (FFS) is a participatory agricultural technology extension method from bottom up, focusing on farmers, based on learning cycle and aiming to developing farmers' abilities. The trainings concerned with cotton Integrated Pest Management (IPM) were conducted at Yingcheng city and other 7 cities or counties in Hubei province during 2000-2004. The result of the assessment shows, there were remarkable economic, ecological and social benefits after FFS concerned with the extension and implication of cotton IPM technology and measure.The FFS trained farmers obtained marked economic benefit, 48.46% higher than the normal farmers, They had more outputs and incomes of cotton production, the difference between them is significant. The trained farmers spent more 5.89% than the normal farmers in the total expenses of cotton production, the difference is not significant. Among the expenses, less costs spent seeds, pesticides and fertilizers, and more in plant regulator and labors. The influence to the ecological shows in the less using of pesticides, benefits of farmers health and the increase of amount of natural enemies. The decrease of spraying frequency and amount in IPM farmers' fields is significant, the cases of pesticide poisoning symptoms decreased distinctly. The amount of insect predators is higher in IPM farmers' fields than normal farmers significantly during the cotton production season, especially in the middle and late season. IPM farmers could influence their relatives and neighbors on decision makings on cotton pest managements, what IPM techniques the farmers learned in cotton IPM FFS could be spread into their relatives and neighbors in the community, most of the different groups of people in the community highly satisfied with the effects of cotton IPM FFS.The influence to the farmers in FFS is to improve the ability of identification of cotton pests and natural enemies, to understand the relationship and function of them and to form the concept of cotton eco-system unceasingly. The empowerment of farmers was verified not only by their knowledge improvement but also by their changes of attitudes and behaviors, the IPM farmers' capacity on decision makings on cotton pest managements, safe use of pesticides and analysis of cotton pests in ecological approaches were significant stronger than the normal farmers. The IPM farmers became more cooperative, creative and initiative after attending FFS, the FFS farmers' attitude and behaviors changes catalyzed many initiatives in...