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The Global Farmer Field School Network: Pilot e xperiences with web-based t ools for knowledge s haring. FFSnet Edwin Adenya , Arnoud Braun and Ruud Crul. What is a Farmer Field School?. Farmer Field Schools (FFS) consist of groups of people
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The Global Farmer Field School Network: Pilot experiences with web-based tools for knowledge sharing. FFSnet Edwin Adenya, Arnoud Braun and RuudCrul
What is a Farmer Field School? Farmer Field Schools (FFS) consist of groups of people with a common interest, who get together on a regular basis to study the “how and why” of a particular topic. The topics covered can vary considerably - from IPM, organic agriculture, animal husbandry, and soil husbandry, to income-generating activities such as handicrafts.
Characteristics of FFS * • The group • The field • The leader • The facilitator • The Curriculum • Financing • Graduation • Upscaling/networking * See also: Fundamental Elements of a Farmer Fleld Schools
Why FFSnet? Approach popular as a result of global expansion, national institutionalisation and scaling-up. Situation before FFSnet: • No knowledge sharing platform on materials, persons and experiences, yet growing demand for this information • Originally piloted by FAO in Indonesia, as a result of success now implemented by many organisations in more than 78 countries. Response: Global FFS Network and Resource Centre (FFSnet) - http://farmerfieldschool.info
FFSnet web-based tools • Website http://farmerfieldschool.info (CMS Joomla) • News (blog) • Country/Districts, Organisations, Projects Profiles • RSS • Wiki • Search cloud • Database • Forum • Listserve • Skype
Achievements • Network platform and tools established: Database (Dec 2005), Listserve (Jan 2007), Web site/web 2.0 tools + forum (April 2007) • One regional (East Africa), two national training events (Kenya, Uganda) • Two institutional training events in Kenya (ICIPE, KENDAT).
Current Constraints • Connectivity • Low bandwidth (speed/videos) • Capacity (skills) • Information sharing is limited (time/willingness/skills) - paradigm shift required • Lack of policy and institutional support
The Future • More mentoring and facilitation – through country user groups • Demand-driven integration of more/other Web 2.0 tools • Additional Languages: French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Swahili • Country sub-sites
Ukitaka Kujua Utamu Wa Ngoma ingia ucheze. Thanks to CTA • For co-funding FFSnet pilot in East Africa (2006/7) • For funding my participation in the conference