Farmers Field Schools (FFS)

AME has been conducting FFS in collaboration with partner NGOs in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh on Paddy and Cotton crops. AME has taken the support of master trainers and is also using the experiences of FAO and CABI. Training is season-long, ensuring a holistic understanding of the given agro-ecosystem. Emphasis is on learning through discovery and experience. The FFS facilitates, mostly through discussions among participants, deeper insights into their problems and possible solutions.

FFSs have been a useful means for empowerment of NGOs. In just three years, number of farmers started growing pesticide free paddy and reduced the use of chemical fertilizers as in Enamreddiapatti Pudur (TN) and Anegundi Panchayat in Gangawathi (Karnataka). Especially in Paddy, the approach had a tremendous outreach effect.