CONCEPT OF FARM SCHOOL

&
OPERATIONALISATION

MAK
1. The National Commission of Farmers has recommended that Farm Schools

may be established in the fields of outstanding farmers. Such Farm

Schools will be based on the principles of “learning by doing” as well as

‘seeing and harvesting is believing’ with focus on farmer-to-farmer

extension. The Farm School would help in developing a cost effective

extension system.

2. Setting up of Farm Schools was also recommended during the day-long

workshop held on 15 May, 2007 on Revitalization of Agricultural Extension

System.

MAK
 Key features of Farm School

      Farm Schools would be operationalized at Block/Gram Panchayat level.

 
       These would be set up in the field of outstanding farmers and also be
set up in a Government / Non Government Institution.
  
   “Teachers” in the Farm Schools could be progressive farmers, extension
functionaries or expert belonging to Government or Non Government
Sector.
 
       One of the main activities of Farm Schools would be to operationalize
Front Line Demonstrations in one or more crops on Integrated Crop
Management including field preparations, seed treatment, IPM, INM,
etc.
 

Cont…

MAK
 
    Farm Schools would provide season long technical
backstopping /training to target farmers.
 
    The “Students” of Farm Schools would be leaders of
Commodity Interest Groups (CIGs) formed in different
villages and other farmers.
 
 
   “Students” would visit Farm Schools as per specified
schedule or as may be necessary. “Teachers” may also visit
students as may be necessary.
 
Cont….
MAK
     Knowledge and skills of “teachers” would be upgraded on
a continuous basis through training at district / state national
level institutions and exposure visits, etc.

  In addition to technical support through Farm Schools,

knowledge and skill of “students” may also be upgraded
through training at district / state level and exposure visits,
etc.

      “Trainee farmers” would have the responsibility of

providing extension support to other farmers in the respective
village or neighboring villages.
  MAK
 Anticipated Benefits of Farm School

•    Enable innovative farmers to help other farmers to learn.

•         Cost-effective system for training approximately 20 million

farmers a year in advanced methods of agricultural production.

•     Improved dissemination of technology by demonstrating

advanced agricultural production practices on farmers’ fields in the
village.

•           Reduction of time gap in adoption of innovation among the

farming community

MAK
Cont…
• Timely feedback to research stations for technology validation

•         Periodical interface among the innovative farmers at district level

will create organic linkage among farmers, researchers and
extensionist to learn from each other

•         Fast diffusion of technologies in the social system

MAK
 Selection Criteria of Achiever farmers
 

• The achiever farmer will be selected in an open and transparent

manner by BTT/FAC and will be approved by the ATMA governing
Board.
 
• Achiever farmers who have received either state or national
  awards or who have recognized by other farmers for his/her success
in adoption of technologies, yield difference, and income raised
in agriculture and other allied sectors.

MAK
Selection criteria of Trainee farmers

• Leaders of Commodity Interest Groups,

• Practicing and interested farmers chosen by the Village Grama
sabha
• BTT with the help of FAC will ensure selection and participation
of 25 trainee farmers from the surroundings villages (Need not be
from the same village)

Attendance of Trainee farmers

•  BTT and FAC will ensure the participation of all the selected trainee
farmers on every pre determined Farm School day
• BTT and FAC has to ensure the participation of same individual in
every Farm School day.
• Achiever farmer has to maintain an attendance register
MAK
 Methodology for conduct of farm School
 
          Farmers with a common interest, who get together on a regular
basis to study the ‘how and why’ of a particular topic will be
trained on a critical period of the crops/enterprises
based on the need of the particular theme.

           The topics for training will be pre determined by the achiever farmer
based
on the success or achievement of that particular theme.

• The achiever farmers in consultation with BTT will decide the critical practices
and number of sessions to be delivered.

Scheduling of the training and number of days of training will be decided by the
achiever farmer not exceeding 6 visits in consultation with trainee farmers.

Cont….
MAK
•   The achiever farmer will impart knowledge and skill using suitable
teaching aids and demonstrations in the field.
•              The achiever farmer can take the technical support from KVK scientists
and extension personnel to explain the scientific rationale behind a particular
practice.
•            Printed study material may also be supplemented if needed and desired
by the achiever farmer 
•  If it is a prerequisite in the theme for IPM kits in crops and relevant kits
in other enterprises may be provided to trainees within the cost norms.
• An Interface between the achiever farmers with the BTT and KVK
scientists may be held quarterly to exchange ideas at district level.
•             Project Director ATMA will monitor and review the functioning of Farm
School regularly.

Cont…

MAK
• Trainee farmers will evaluate the process of conducting Farm School and
the learning achieved. The BTT will conduct the evaluation.        
• The BTT will take up the capacity building of achiever farmers by sending
them to suitable training and research institutions either within or outside
the states.
•                The BTT will document the process and outcome of the Farm School.
• The achiever farmer will be a resource person for organizing trainings
and other extension activities on his farm even after completion of one cycle
of farm School.
• As such the logistic support provided under Farm School will be continued
with the Achiever farmer.
• An achiever farmer may be allowed to conduct not more than two farm
schools.
•              Publicize the Farm School with display board at Gram Panchayat and at
the site of the Farm School giving all the details of the farm school
• Achiever farmer may act as resource person of a farm school if he/she is
MAK willing
 OPERATIONALISING FARM SCHOOL
Sl.No At Farm School (Block/GP Level) Rupees
1 Frontline demonstration at Farm School on a maximum area 7,500-00#
of 2.5 acres at same rates as approved under the Guidelines
of National Food Security Mission for the crops mentioned
therein. For other crops for which no rates are available
under any of the existing schemes and programmes of the
government of Indian, rates may be decided by ATMA MC
subject to maximum of Rs.4000 per acre covering items
mentioned in NFSM Guidelines
2. Grant towards logistics support to Farm School 1,000-00*
3. Contingency 2,000-00
4. IPM Kit to 25 Farm School trainees at Farm School 5,000-00
5. Details of interactions / training at Farm School
(a) Honorarium for maximum two external trainer for 3,000-00
maximum 6 visit @ maximum of Rs.250 per visit trainer
(b) Travel expenses for maximum two external trainer for 1,800-00
maximum 6 visits @ maximum of Rs.150 per trainer per
MAK visit
 © Food expenses for 28 participants @ Rs.30 per participant per 5,040-00
day for 6 events
(d) Printed literature @ Rs.50 per participant for 28 participant and 1,400-00
trainers
Total 26,740-00

6 Maximum service charge to achiever farmer/implementing 2,674-00

agency running the Farm School, as per decision of GB, ATMA
7 Either Training or Exposure Visit of Achiever Farmer for about **
a week
Grand Total 29,414-00

# Average tentative figure

* Lump-sum amount of up to Rs.4000 (once for a set of Farm Schools)
will be provided to the BTM so that capital assets are reused on a rotational
basis as far as possible. Savings on account of this circulation
of capital assets can be used for meeting shortfall, if any in travel
expenses of experts.
** Expenditure may be met from B2/B4 of cafeteria of activities.
MAK