Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

This research was carried out within the months of August, September and October of 2001 in Zambezi Valley found in the north eastern district of Zimbabwe, where Farmer Field Schools have been modified to suit the farmer's conditions. The research looked at the suitability of the Farmer Field Schools as a learning process for the resource poor farmers of the Zambezi Valley. The resource poor farmers are those with little or no resources to make their farming successful.

The effect of the learning process on the farmers' farming system was also explored. It was found that farmer's farming system changed because of the learning at the Farmer Field Schools. Farmers contributed to the learning process through active experimentation and contribution of their indigenous knowledge. Farmers felt that they wanted to have control over Farmer Field Schools by having Farmer Field Workers and field supervisors accountable to them. The research adopted a participatory approach, employing Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods.