Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for - Aseanipm ...

materials
294
Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for Organic Vegetable Production
• Office supplies (e.g., Manila paper, notebooks, ball pens, marking pens, and crayons);
• Organic potato crops ready for harvesting in learning and adjoining fields showing late blight
infections; and
• Other supplies (e.g., bolo and scythe).
methodology
• Field walks, hands-on, and brainstorming
steps
1. Divide participants in small groups and ask them to conduct field walks and observe late blight
infected potato crops that are about to be harvested in learning and adjoining fields. Take note of
cultural practices employed. Interview other farmers, if necessary. List down all observations
related to the disease occurrence, degree of infection and characteristic symptoms, etc.
2. Go back to processing area; brainstorm in small groups and present output to big group. Conduct
participatory discussions to allow sharing of experiences among participants and facilitators.
Motivate farmers to share their best experiences in managing late blight disease of potato.
Develop an improved procedure in dehaulming potato.
3. Facilitate each farmer to do hands-on of dehaulming when potato crop ready for harvesting in
learning field is infected with late blight by improving the procedure below:
5 Get sample tubers, observe tuber skin, and determine if it is ready for harvesting;
5 Determine if rows are properly hilled-up and hill-up if necessary;
5 Defoliate crop leaving at least one-foot stem intact on potato tubers;
5 Dispose off all plant debris properly;
5 Leave tubers in field for at least 10 days then harvest; and
5 Take note of all relevant observations and experiences during this activity.
4. Synthesize and summarize output of small groups into one big group output. Draw up
conclusions and recommendations from this exercise.