EFFECTIVENESS OF FARMER TO FARMER TRAINING IN DISSEMINATION OF FARM INFORMATION

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine and describe the extent of effectiveness of Farmer to Farmer Training (FFT) as perceived by the farmers based on their knowledge, skill, attitude and practice regarding the content of Integrated Farm Management Farmer Field School (IFM FFS) guidelines and explore the contribution of the selected characteristics of the farmers to the effectiveness of FFT as perceived by them. Data were collected from 345 FFS trained farmers from a population size of 3450 from six Upazilas of six districts with help of an interview schedule during September 2016 to October, 2017. Data were also collected from 51 non-trained farmers from the study areas where no FFS was established to compare the perception of FFT effectiveness between trained and non-trained farmers. Findings indicated that about two-thirds (63.2%) of the respondent FFS trained farmers perceived medium to high effectiveness of FFT. Each of the four dimensions for measuring effectiveness like knowledge, skill, attitude, and practice of the farmers had significant positive relationship with the overall effectiveness of FFT. Again each of the dimensions had significant positive relationship with each dimension. Trained farmers perceived significantly higher effectiveness of FFT than non-trained farmers. Step wise multiple regression analysis indicated that the whole model of 17 variables explained 28.2 percent of the total variation in effectiveness of the farmer to farmer training as perceived by the respondents. But since the standardized regression co-efficient of 6 variables formed the equation and were significant, it might be assumed that whatever contribution was there, it was due to these 6 variables. As per descending order of standardized regression co-efficient these six variables were: aspiration, training exposure, agricultural diversification, sincerity status in FFS, agricultural experience, and decision making ability influence the effectiveness of FFT. Path analysis indicated that crop diversity had the highest (0.060) total indirect effect followed by training exposure, aspiration and decision making ability on the effectiveness of FFT. Sincerity in FFS and agricultural experience had negligible total indirect effects on effectiveness of FFT through other variables. Qualitative assessments revealed that to make FFT more effective, refresher training should be provided to the Farmer Facilitators, IFM FFS guideline should be revised as per current necessity, and new FFS should be introduced in non-disseminated areas and working spaces should be allowed sustainably for farmer facilitators as the complementary hands of the present extension system. Finally, this research has made several practical and theoretical recommendations regarding FFT interventions for development.