Digitalizing FFS To Bring Out The Farmer’s Native Genius – The Wizard Of Os, Frank H


You may want to read first my earlier essay, The Wizard Of Os. Original, these 5 Wizard Os: Obstacles, Opportunities, Options, Outputs and Outcomes – Agriculture Anywhere proceeding from production to marketing.

Obstacle:

I junked the Farmer Field School, FFS, in this essay here: Creative Scus. But Alyssa Jade McDonald-Bärtl reacted positively, and Ms Alyssa is a respected board member of the Unternehmensgrun-Bundesverband and Founder of Blyss Chocolate gmbh[1]. She informed our Facebook friend Nestor V Saludo, who in turn sent me her message:

I understand! Just curious as the efficacy of FFS and diffusion education etc is something I work on. In November, the FFS HQ of FAO put together some great work on digitalization of FFS aspects; however there are still some points which need adjustment locally. Thus, your colleague's suggestion of local R&D from uni / higher ed to contribute to custom-FFS (or digital or diffusion) infos for farmers as a concept is well backed by popular opinion and science.

Opportunity:

Yes, I am interested in “the efficacy of FFS and diffusion education” – FFS is a tired educational tool and should now be retired. But I’m educable. Ms Alyssa says the FFS headquarters of FAO “put together some great work on digitalization of FFS aspects, however there are still some points which need adjustment locally.”

Let’s visit the FAO FFS website[2]:

A Farmer Field School brings together a group of farmers, livestock herders or fisherfolk, to learn on how to shift towards more sustainable production practices, by better understanding complex agro-ecosystems and by enhancing ecosystem services. A FFS group meets regularly during a production cycle, setting up experimentation and engaging in hands-on learning to improve skills and knowledge that will help adapt practices to their specific context. The FFS empowers individuals and groups to move towards more sustainable practices and (improved) livelihoods.

Option:

Gentlemen, digital is the way to go! “To learn on how to shift towards more sustainable production practices, by better understanding complex agro-ecosystems and by enhancing ecosystem services” – You have to laymanize all and show all. Today, the best way to teach? Digital. Especially in the Philippines, the social media capital of the world. Via cellphone (image above from Page Design Shop[3]): People can repeat the lesson at will.

No more repeating experiments! Simply record digitally the experiments of volunteer farmers and all the others have to do is pay digital attention! Visual and aural presentations are more convincing.

The FFS has been configured as if the farmer knows nothing, and so the FFS is a season-long instruction class for robots! “This is what to do; this is how, when.”

Output:

FAO says, “The FFS empowers individuals and groups to move towards more sustainable practices and (improved) livelihoods” – the best way to convince anyone of sustainable practices & improved livelihoods is to show digitally, time span included.

Outcome:

Digital FFS can show farmers convincingly how to think and act for themselves & families and in time lead sustainable lives beyond poverty!@517







[1]https://www.facebook.com/alyssajademcdonald/about?lst=1156013429%3A746018571%3A1579774614
[2]http://www.fao.org/farmer-field-schools/home/en/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Redesigning PH Agriculture – Science-Wise, Ilocano-Wiser!

Image
You are looking at The Bridge to Prosperity found in Asingan, Pangasinan – Ilocano-wise.  How do you like it: That your Secretary of Agriculture, William Dar/Manong Willie, is an agriculturist and Ilocano? That your science writer, Frank A Hilario, is an agriculturist and Ilocano? That the Ilocanos are known to be industrious and frugal? I love it! Except: We Ilocanos are not frugal in farming. We Ilocanos have to be taught what we already know! To do that, for my hometown of Asingan, Pangasinan, I have been thinking of an agri-tourism program with our Nagkaisa Multipurpose Cooperative’s 4.2 hectares of land down the Sinapog Bridge (beautiful scene above). Under the bridge, Nagkaisa has authority over those hectares. The other day, I discussed with Nagkaisa Chair Roger Daranciang my proposal for a “Farmer-Friendly Agriculture, Ilocano-Wise” techno-demo program involving Asingan’s 21 barangays. When you find the formula for prosperity, please multiply it! Not
Read more

William Dar Inspires The New PH Agriculture Symbol – The New Madonna & Child!

Image
Saw this one today, 27 February 2020, on Facebook: “Nurturing Ani At Kita” it says on the bulletin board. This is derived from the Department of Agriculture, DA’s slogan “Masaganang Ani At Mataas Na Kita” ( Bountiful Harvests And Bounteous Income , my translation). Here are early 2 Facebook comments: Robert Domoguen: “Nurturing… and sustainable development. Great theme, Sir. Ravindra Joshi: “The focus is crystal clear and targets bulls-eyed. Philippine Agriculture is now starting to make great (strides) under Secretary Dr William Dar’s leadership. Key is everyone needs to be fully (engaged) and be passionate. Congratulations to the DA Team.” With/out meaning to, Secretary of Agriculture William Dar/Manong Willie has proclaimed a new symbol for the emergence of a vibrant PH Agriculture under his headship at the Department of Agriculture, DA: “Nurturing Ani At Kita” – literally, Nurturing Yield & Income . This comes from the slogan for Manong Willie’s ““New Think
Read more

In Onions, There’s Strength, In P Millions! – How To Make That Ideal Real? Do The IMOD

Image
IMOD. William Dar/Manong Willie as head of the Department of Agriculture, DA, avidly leads his “New Thinking for Agriculture” where an embedded ideal is Inclusive Market-Oriented Development, IMOD. If you want farmers to rise from poverty and stay up there, you must do the IMOD.  IMOD as the ideal for local & national growth was developed at ICRISAT, based in India, when Manong Willie was Director General, from January 2000 to December 2014, 15 years – IMOD as ideal became real. So, if you want your farmers to be blessed with “Masaganang Ani, Mataas na Kita” ( Bounteous Harvest, Bountiful Income , my translation), the current mantra of the DA , you must do the IMOD. With IMOD, the development is real – distributed to everyone, especially the poor farmers. IMOD as ideal: “Find the ideal in something not ideal” – Robert Denning [1] . As a farmer, is it ideal to think rich? You have to think rich; you also have think real. Now, let’s consider Eva Visperas’ 09 Januar
Read more