Comparative Analysis Of Empowerment Under Farmer Field School And Conventional Extension System

Abstract

The study compared empowerment of farmers under the Farmer Field School (FFS) strategy and the Conventional Extension (CONE) strategy. Data was collected with the aid of structured questionnaire, and interview from 140 randomly selected farmers in Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria. Data analysis was by the use of frequency, percentage, mean and discriminant function. Results of the study revealed that farmers were more empowered under the Farmer Field School (FFS) strategy than the Conventional Extension (CONE) strategy. Based on the findings of the study the following recommendations were made: That agricultural extension should change from information –driven approach of introducing technology, to a participatory approach of learning-by-doing. That in the course of regular field trainings and experimentations the farmer will easily learn from each other by sharing wisdom, knowledge and creativity, all of which make them to become more skillful an attribute which makes them to become more independent in solving their problems. That the farmers need adequate exposure to the process of technology development and policy making.

Global Approaches to Extension Practice Vol.1(1) 2005: 7-17