Developing Farmer Field Schools and Farmer Networks: Case Study of an NGO- coordinated Integrated Pest Management Project in Indonesia

This paper describes World Education's experiences in supporting local NGOs and farmers organisations in developing activities which promote cooperative exchange among farmers, NGOs, GOs, and researchers for the development of community-based sustainable agricultureprogrammes focused initially on Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Through the development of these programmes the project aims to assist Indonesian farm families to develop critical, ecological, decision-making, and leadership skills that reduce environmental degradation and increase productivity in their farming systems. Activities of IPM farmer field schools, cross-visits, collaborative linkages with researchers, and training of farmer trainers are discussed. These activities have been effective in a) initiating and establishing a group learning process among farmers in their communities and b) linking farmer field school groups together in active local networks.