| Understanding
ecological concepts: ecosystem analysis
Weekly FFSs provide an opportunity for farmers to study
the population trends of arthropods. Results from insect
zoos help farmers to sort out the herbivores and natural
enemies (or defenders). Farmers are encouraged to make drawings
of rice plants to reflect the growth stage in the field.
They will draw the arthropods observed in the field and
accord them the position where they were found. Usually,
the herbivores would be placed on one side while the natural
enemies will be placed on the other side of the plant. Farmers
will make presentations to their fellow FFS participants
about the condition in the field. The ecosystem analysis
also takes into consideration preliminary results from experiments,
which help farmers understand plant compensation.
The analytical processes employed in the FFS enhance farmers'
capabilities to examine the conditions, in which they live
and work.
Generating knowledge: experimentation
After farmers have graduated from FFSs, learning continues.
Farmers are encouraged to continue to carry out studies
to increase their knowledge. Hence, when agricultural authorities
in Indramayu decided on a prophylactic approach towards
'preventing pest outbreaks' in late 1998, the farmer group,
Bumitani, decided to evaluate the insecticide component
of the package recommended. Farmers planned an experiment
where five fields owned by their group would not use the
insecticides recommended (namely carbofuran granules and
fipronil sprays). They found five other farmers who would
adopt the package and sought their support to monitor arthropod
populations in the fields. All ten fields were planted with
the same variety (IR 64) and were planted about the same
time. Field practices were similar with the exception of
insecticide applications. The farmer group would collect
weekly data; record costs and eventually analyses the data.
Results would be shared with all participating farmers as
well as other interested farmers in the village and those
outside.
Farmers who wanted to know more are duplicating this approach
in many villages. In addition to receiving information,
they wanted to generate information to improve their production.
Often, they come out with ideas that revolutionised the
way rice is grown.
Farmers as scientists: farmer empowerment
Farmers who carry out experimentation tend to be more confident.
They tend to be critical of suggestions made by outsiders
and would insist on proofs. A story was related by a field
trainer of how a group of farmers in Java reacted to a group
of salespersons who wanted to promote a new insecticide.
The group of salespersons touted the product as a breakthrough
by a developed country to produce an insecticide 'compatible
with IPM'. In marketing language, it was a safe compound.
At this suggestion, a farmer asked if he could taste the
insecticide since it was safe. To this, the salespersons
replied that it was not safe for human consumption but was
safe to the environment. Another farmer then got up and
informed the group that he would collect some spiders and
predatory insects to see if they would survive the insecticide.
The salespersons suggested that this was not necessary as
the insecticide had already been tested in sophisticated
laboratories. However, farmers in the group insisted that
they should test the insecticide to evaluate the claims
that it is safe. They asked for samples to test in 'insect
zoos' and in the field and invited the salespersons to return
in the next few days to discuss the results. Strangely,
they didn't return to the village!
A vital aspect of scientific studies is that it can be
repeated. Hence, scientific papers emphasised as much on
the methodology as the results. The ability of farmers to
question research results and insisting on repeating experiments
to confirm them shows that they are scientists. They are
curious and they want to know more. In the process, they
become better farmers. Such farmers tend to face challenges
with confidence. The FAO's Programme for Community IPM in
Asia encourages this education approach and farmers have
become good IPM trainers as well as organisers of IPM activities
that strengthen the community's food production.
Acknowledgement
This paper is dedicated to the thousands of farmers who
are confident in developing IPM as a means to secure food
production.
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