Farmer Field School (FFS) is a people-centred approach for learning new technologies. Participatory methods to create an environment conducive to learning: the participants can exchange knowledge and experience in a risk free setting. Practical field exercises using direct observation, discussion and decision making encourage learning-­by­ doing. The field is the space where local knowledge and outside scientific insights are tested, validated and integrated, in the context of local ecosystem and socio-economic settings. Community-based problem analysis is the entry point for a FFS group to develop a context specific curriculum. A growing range of technical topics are being addressed through FFS: soil, crop and water management, seeds multiplication and varietal testing, IPM, agropastoralism, aquaculture, agroforestry, nutrition, value chain, and link to markets, etc.

A Farmer Field School offers space for hands-on group learning, enhancing skills for critical analysis and improved decision making by local people. FFS activities are field based, include experimentation to solve problems, reflecting a specific local context. Participants learn how to improve skills through observing, analysing and trying out new ideas on their own fields, contributing to improved production and livelihoods.  The FFS process enhances individual, household and community empowerment and cohesion.

FAO has provided pivotal assistance to the government on FFS-based participatory capacity building for more than 20 years. The Farmers Field School was set up in the early 1990s with an innovative and successful approach to farmer training, focusing on integrated pest management for rice and cotton, and later vegetables  These training interventions have been shown to have significant impact on pesticide risk reduction, farmers’ profits, food safety, environmental and human health improvement and agro-biodiversity conservation and utilization. Local governments are now actively supporting the programmes with their own funds.