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

Section 2 • General Topics for Farmer Field Schools
3. Collect plants or plant parts at various growth stages showing morphological characteristics
and reactions to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses of organically-grown vegetables
4. Go back to processing area or session hall to further observe and characterize collected
specimens
5. With guidance from a facilitator, brainstorm in small groups to establish minimum data
necessary for decision-making in farmer field schools of commonest organically-grown
vegetables in FFS learning and adjoining fields, such as:
5 For all organically-grown vegetable crops (e.g., general data needed)
5 For specific organically-grown vegetable crops (e.g., additional data needed)
6. Present output of small groups to the big group and conduct participatory discussions to finetune
established minimum data necessary for decision-making in farmer field schools for each
group of organically-grown vegetables. A sample of minimum data required for decisionmaking
in agro-ecosystem analysis (AESA) for farmer field schools (FFSs) on organicallygrown
vegetables is shown below 29 :
For All Crops (Legumes, Solanaceous, Parsley and Cucurbits):
5 Insects, other pests, and their natural enemies (e.g., numbers on a weekly basis)
5 Diseases and physiological disorders (e.g., percentage incidence of total area)
5 Weather conditions (e.g., sunny, cloudy or rainy day)
5 Background information (e.g., variety, sowing or planting date, seeding rate, soil type,
planting distance, fertilizer rate, etc.)
5 Agronomic data (e.g., plant height, number of leaves and total yield)
5 General observations (e.g., water, weeds and cultural management practices)
For Specific Crops (Additional Data):
legumes (Cowpea and string Bean)
• Number of leaves (e.g., until tendril initiation only)
• Number of nodes (e.g., additional nodes every week)
• Plant height (e.g., until tendril initiation only)
29 Binamira, J.S. 1998. A Consultant’s Report: Refresher Course for Trainers of IPM in Crucifers and Other Highland Vegetable Crops. Cordillera Highland
Agricultural Resources Management Project, Department of Agriculture, CAR Regional Field Unit, Baguio City, Philippines. pp48-49.
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