Understanding Farmer Learning
• Farmers are adult learners not children
• Farmers have different goals and interests
• Farmers like to learn in different ways (eg
reading, TV/radio, talking, seeing, doing)
• Farmers like to learn from other farmers (eg
relatives or friends or neighbours)
• So extension needs to use multiple
learning and teaching methods!!!
Adult Learning
• Adults are self-directed not dependent.
Involve them in designing their learning!
• Adults have life experiences and
knowledge. Acknowledge and use it.
• Adults are goal-oriented. Set goals with
farmers .
• Adults need information to be relevant to
their situation.
• Adults are practical. Information needs to
be applied to something.
• Adults need to be shown respect.
Learning Cycle
Do
Plan
Review
Learning Styles
•
•
•
•
•
See (learn from observation)
Hear (learn from listening)
Do (learn from doing)
Talk (learn from discussion)
Feeling (learning from success or
failure)
• Review (learn from reflecting)
Example – farmer group meeting
• Hear from experienced farmer about growing
shrimp
• See the shrimp pond, feed, products etc
• Catch some shrimps, do some measuring etc
• Discuss the techniques- what to do, not to do
• Discuss how farmers feel about growing
shrimp
• Reflect on meeting during follow up visit
How to facilitate effective learning
1. Know your farmers (goals, values,
interests)
2. Plan learning activities together
3. Make it relevant!!
4. Provide a range of learning
methods (tell, show, do, reflect)
5. Use the learning cycle with your
farmers (plan, do, review)
Extension or Learning Methods
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Group meetings
Farm or Pond walks
Practical activities
Farmer to farmer visits (cross visits)
Using case studies (examples)
Using CD/DVD
Using posters or books
How to Facilitate Field Visits
 Appoint a facilitator (for process), information
presenter (for content) and observer to take
notes on process and content.
 Make introductions SHORT if possible
 Go to the field as farmers want to see
 Introduce the subject and ask farmer to talk
about what they have done, the benefits and
any problems
 Facilitate questions to host farmer
Try to include quiet people by asking their
views or if they have any questions
Stand next to talkative people. If they
continue, gently ask them to listen and allow
others to talk
Allow farmers time to walk and look and
discuss amongst themselves.
Move from site to site to keep interest
 Be aware when people are getting bored, tired or
hungry
 Be flexible (don’t be afraid to change activity)
 Summarise content at the end of the day
 Have a farmer feedback session away from the
site (what was most interesting, what else do they
want to learn?)
 Have a DAFO meeting to reflect on the day (+/ -)
 Enjoy yourself- if you are positive and happy then
others will follow!
Facilitation Activity
• Decide on type of field day- pig production?
• List a variety of people who might attend a
field day and staff roles
• Nominate roles
• Decide on program for the day
• Develop range of scenarios that might
happen to challenge facilitation
• Do role play
• Reflect on process and tips to improve
Why Evaluate Extension?
Have we been effective with farmer
learning?
How can we improve our extension
methods?
How can we help farmers gain more
benefits?
How can we report to our managers?
How can we demonstrate our impacts?
How to Evaluate Extension
• What do we want to know?
• Write a list of the information you need (eg what did
farmers learn? Were there any problems? what did
staff learn?)
• Choose the best method for getting the information
(eg observe, interview, survey, photo points, meeting)
• Use the information to IMPROVE extension
Evaluation of Meat Market
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
How many sellers are there?
How many women and men sellers?
What type of meat/fish are they selling?
Where does the meat/fish come from?
How many head per day do they buy?
Do they buy direct from farmers or traders?
What is the range of prices?
How much profit do they make per day?
How many hours per day are they selling?
What do they think of the quality of product?
Difference between upland and lowland?
11. Other information from observation or photos?
Observe
only
Interview 2 Take
sellers
photos
Pig meat
2
2
1
Cow/Buffalo
meat
2
2
1
Fish
2
2
1
Chicken
meat
2
2
1