Cairo, Egypt - Eleven Farmer Field Schools (FFS) in four Egyptian governorates have been used as a way to improve date palm management and effectively control Red Palm Weevil (RPW) through a learning-by-doing approach and other capacity development activities for Egyptian farmers.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under the regional programme “The Eradication of RPW in NENA Region” and in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR) seek to enhance the role of farmer field schools as an extension tool based on FAO’s approach, that contributes to improving agricultural productivity, efficient use of water, and reducing the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and energy.

These FFSs were established in the governorates of Giza (one school), New Valley (four schools), Marsa Matrouh (three schools), and Aswan (three schools).

“The FFS is a participatory education approach where a group of small-scale farmers gathers to discuss their problems and find solutions based on sustainable agriculture practices” said Thaer Yaseen, Plant Protection officer in the FAO regional office for the Near East and North Africa.

“During one year of date palm plantation, experimental fields are made for each school in which all agricultural and pest control practices are carried out by the farmers and under the supervision of skilled FFS facilitators” he added.

The main outcome of the FFSs is to provide farmers with the knowledge and skills they need to become experts in their fields and to improve their ability to make smart decisions that would help their farming become profitable and sustainable.

At the end of each FFS, the farmers will witness the difference between the experimental fields compared to what they do in their farms.

RPW is a key transboundary pest of date palm that causes negative impacts on date production, farmer livelihoods, and consequences on food security and rural communities. FAO has provided substantial technical assistance to strengthen the capacities of the farmers for the management of RPW in most or NENA countries.