An assessment of the perception of facilitators of cotton integrated pest management programme in Sindh province of Pakistan

Abstract

The purpose of this study conducted in the Sindh province of Pakistan was to assess the performance of facilitator of agriculture extension during implementation of Farmer Field School (FFS) trainings in 2001 to 2004 in the context of FAO-EU-ADB funded National Integrated Pest Management Programme (Nat-IPM) for cotton. The basic principle of Nat-IPM programme was to enable farmers to be selfsufficient, using practices that are agro-ecological friendly. A survey study was carried out in four districts of Sindh province (Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, and Mirpurkhas). The sample size comprised of 48 facilitators who participated in Training of Facilitators (ToF) and ran FFSs. The present study revealed that despite of some constraints, facilitators performed effectively during training activities that shows FFS was a favorable process for learning IPM practices with special reference to cotton crop. Results of present study a confirmation of the adoption and a validation of IPM-FFS as a successful extension approach in Sindh province of Pakistan