In the FFS farmers learn about about the crop: Know the crop Understand the different crop stages Make drawings Which pests are important in each crop stage? Crop stages Planting Seed Seedling Growth Vegetative stage Flowering stage Harvest Ripening Fruiting /ul> Crop management Sowing Transplanting Weeding Fertilizer use Pest management Pruning / thinning Harvesting
In the FFS farmers learn about the ecosystem: What is an ecosystem? Farmers make drawing of ecosystem Elements of ecosystem Physical Biological The agro-ecosystem Discuss about agro-ecosystem as preparation for AESA Weather Soil Water Plant / crop Pests Insects Diseases Weeds Natural enemies Predators Parasitoids Pathogens Balanced ecosystem Population growth Population dynamics Interactions between species … Read more
Farmers in the FFS learn about plant compensation. Discuss how plants can compensate for damage by pests Set experiments: Simulation of insect damage to observe crop compensation Rice Tillers Leaves Vegetables Leaves Shoots / branches Create understanding that some damage can be tolerated
FFS participants learn about the soil. Soil structure Organic matter Nutrients NPK Micro-nutrients Soil testing Soil health Micro-organisms Soil improvement Manure Compost Mulching Water
FFS farmers learn about collecting insects. How to collect insects? By hand Provide plastic bags or boxes Use an aspirator for collecting small insects Use a water pan Search all plant parts and near plants Stem Leaves Flowers Fruits Roots Soil On weeds Sweep nets Use them to catch flying insects Traps Use sticky traps … Read more
FFS farmers learn about insect identification. When we collect insects from the field there is a lot we want to learn about them: Naming the insect: Don’t use scientific names when talking with farmers Use common names; preferably local names used by the farmers Invent names if needed Recognizing the insect: Study the body part: … Read more
FFS participants learn about insect pest management. There are many methods to manage pests. For many farmers the most obvious method is chemical control with synthetic insecticides. But this is also the most dangerous and destructive method, causing health and environmental problems. Synthetic pesticides should be used only as a very last choice, when all … Read more
FFS participants learn about plant diseases. Recognizing and identifying plant diseases Use identification guides Photos Drawings Invite experienced persons to help Disease outbreaks How does a disease arrive in the crop? How do diseases spread within a crop? Relation to weather conditions Humidity Temperature Micro-climate in the crop Resistance and tolerance Crop varieties Grow a … Read more
FFS farmers learn about disease management. Although fungicides and bactericides are generally less toxic than insecticides, we have to try to reduce their use as much as possible. In IPM, other methods to manage diseases should be explored first: Disease management can be done by: Crop rotation Sanitation Antagonists Trichoderma Healthy plants Good seed, strong … Read more
FFS farmers learn about weed management Weeds compete with the crop for water, nutrients, space and light. But weeds also provide shelter for natural enemies. Flowering weeds provide food for adult parasitoid wasps. When weed control is needed, always consider if it is necessary to remove all weeds. It may be useful to keep some … Read more
