Farmer Field School (FFS)
Farmers Field School is an informal education imparted to farmers wherein a situation for field oriented, farmers’ participatory approach towards learning process. Farmers’ field school is a season long training program to impart training to the farmer for one day in a week throughout the season. Our Project Officers located in different centers are conducting FFS in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Scientists of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Each farmer is provided with study material in the form of book containing lessons on cotton cultivation from seed to seed. The necessary financial assistance is provided through Commissioner of Agriculture, Chennai from the Mini Mission II of the Technology Mission on Cotton.
Farmer Field School (FFS) conducted by SIMA CD & RA
| S.No | Year | Number of FFS |
Financial support | Area covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007-08 | 50 | 8.50 |
Udumelpet, Rajapaayam, Theni, Kumbakonam, Konganapuram, Villupuram. |
| 2 | 2008-09 | 50 | 8.50 | |
| 3 | 2009-10 | 50 | 8.50 | |
| 4 | 2010-11 | 25 | 4.25 |
| Lessons taught in Farmers Field School | |
|---|---|
| S.No. | Title of Lesson |
| 1. | Selection varieties and hybrids of cotton |
| 2. | Project on cotton cultivation, Seed certification and training on cotton seed production |
| 3. | Water and soil test and preparation of land for cultivation |
| 4. | Pre-treatment of seed treatment with fungicides and training on delinting |
| 5. | Inter crop, refugee crop and awareness on cultivation |
| 6. | Seed sowing, spacing and gap filling |
| 7. | Weed management |
| 8. | Application of fertilizer |
| 9. | Water management |
| 10. | Cotton cultivation practices |
| 11. | Nutrient Management |
| 12. | Insect pest management |
| 13. | Disease management |
| 14. | Nematode management |
| 15. | Cotton seed production technology |
| 16. | Arresting terminal growth |
| 17. | Control measures |
| 18. | Harvest and post harvest |
| 19. | Kapas storage management |
| 20. |
Cotton marketing and organization |
A total of 25 Farmers Field School has been undertaken in all the districts viz., Salem, Namakkal, Villupuram, Coimbatore, Theni and Thanjavur. Each centre had five farmers’ field schools, thus covering 25 farmers’ field schools in all 5 centres. Each school consisted of 30 farmers. Lessons for 20 sessions were prepared with the facilitators and training materials.
Farmer Field School (FFS) conducted during the year 2010 - 2011
| S.No | Centre of SIMA CD & RA | Villages covered | No. of Schools | No. of Classes | No. of Farmers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Konganapuram | Bairoji, Vadakkukadu, P.Pudupalayam, Chennagiri, Kalkattanur and Olaipatti | 5 | 100 | 150 |
| 2 | Kumbakonam | Vannakudi, Govindapuram, Mahajanakudi, Namasivayapuram and Narasingapettai | 5 | 100 | 150 |
| 3 | Theni & Rajapalayam | Pappanaiyakarpatti, Natchiyarpatti, Pudhu Chennakulam, Appayanaickarpati and Mallipudur | 5 | 100 | 150 |
| 4 | Udumalpet | Karadikuttam, Indira Nagar, Pondupuli, Lakshmapuram and Velankadu | 5 | 100 | 150 |
| 5 | Villupuram | Virathikuppam, Siruvazhai, Elusemponn, K.R.Palayam and Kanjanur | 5 | 100 | 150 |
| Total | 25 | 500 | 750 |
The respective Joint Directors of Agriculture in each centre has been contacted and got permission for the conduct and impart trainings to farmers in Farmers’ Field Schools. A building for the conduct of Farmers’ Field School has been taken for rent by each centre.