Effectiveness of Integrated Pest Management by Farmers Field Schools (IPM/FFS) Approach: The case of Greenhouse Producers of Tehran and Alborz Provinces, Iran
الموضوعات :
Azadeh Ahmadvand
1
(Tarbiat Modares University)
Enayat Abbasi
2
(Member of scientific board, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, University of Tarbiat Modares)
Homayon Farhadian
3
(null)
Hadi Moumenihelali
4
(null)
Alireza Norouzi
5
(Tarbiat Modares University)
الکلمات المفتاحية: effectiveness, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), farmers field schools (FFS), greenhouse producer, Farmers Field Schools (FFS), Greenhouse Producer,
ملخص المقالة :
This research investigated the effectiveness of IPM/FFS project from economic, technical, social-communicative, environmental and psychological aspects in a descriptive-correlational design based on the survey method. The research population consisted of 70 greenhouse producers that had implemented IPM/FFS project in Tehran and Alborz provinces, Iran. Using Krejcie and Morgan (1970)'s sample size table and stratified random sampling method, 55 greenhouse producers were selected as the research sample. A questionnaire was the main tool for data collection. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of agricultural extension and education experts and its reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficients (0.77≤a≤0.86). The results showed that the IPM/FFS project has affected social-communicative, psychological, environmental, technical and economic factors, respectively. There were positive and significant relationships between effectiveness of the IPM/FFS project and education, the duration of IPM implementation, satisfaction with governmental support and the characteristics of IPM/FFS learning sites whilst the effectiveness of IPM/FFS project was negatively and significantly related to age and greenhouse area under IPM project. According to multiple regression analysis, the characteristics of IPM/FFS learning sites, education and satisfaction with governmental supports could account for 66 percent of variance of the effectiveness of IPM/FFS project. Finally, as implementation cost of integrated pest management is usually beyond greenhouse producers’ financial ability, it is suggested that the government provide greenhouse producers with more economic supports (e.g. granting loan and special facilities and guaranteed purchase of organic products).
Ahmadvand, A. (2012). Investigation the Effectiveness of Integrated Pest management by Farmers Field School Approach: Case of Greenhouse Producers in Tehran and Albors Provinces, Iran. Unpublished Thesis, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Ali Mirzaei, E., Movahed Mohammadi, H., & Tahmasebi, M. (2011). An investigation of the effect of farmer field school project on increasing date growers' Information Regarding Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research, 41-2(4), 413-576.
Anandajayasekeram, P., Davis, K. E., & Workneh, S. (2007). Farmer Field Schools: An alternative to existing extension systems? Experience from Eastern and Southern Africa. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 14 (1), 81-93.
Asiabaka, C. (2009). Promoting sustainable extension approach: Farmer Field School (FFS) and its role in sustainable agriculture development in African. Development of Agricultural Economic and Extension. Federal University of Technology P.M.B, Woori, Nigeria. Retrieved from http://www.Codesria.org.
Bartlett, A. (2005). Farmer Field Schools to promote integrated pest management in Asia: The FAO experience. International Rice Research Institute 16-18 August 2005. Retrieved from http://www.Comunityipm.Org/.
David, S.) 2007. (Knowledge improvement and Social Benefits among Farmer Field School Participant in Cameroon. STCP Working Paper Series Issue 2. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
Eicher, C. K. (2007). Agricultural extension in Africa and Asia. Literature Review Prepared for the World Aquino Project, Cornell University and Ithaca, New York. August 15, Retrieved from http://worldagifo.org.
Etehadi, M., Roosta, K., & Mohammadgholinia, J. (2011). Investigation of effectiveness of farmer’s field schools approach in integrated pest management: The case of Sistan and Balochestan Province. Iranian Agricultural Extension and Education Journal, 7 (1), 109-119.
Feder, G., Murgai, R., & Quizon, J. B. (2004). Sending Farmers Back to School: The Impact of Farmer Field Schools in Indonesia. Review of Agricultural Economics, 26(1), 45-62.
Ghorbani Piralidehi, F., Zarafshani, K., & Jalilian, F. (2011). Investigation of farmer’s field school approach effectiveness between Orchardmen in Kermanshah Province based on KASA model. Journal of Rural Research, 2 (4), 183-207.
Godtland, E. M., Sadoulet, E., de Janvry, A., Murgai, R., & Ortiz, O. (2004). The impact of farmer field schools on knowledge and productivity: A study of potato farmers in the Peruvian Andes. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 53 (1), 63-92.
Haddadi, S. (2004). Integrated pest management: Suitable solution in optimizing use of agricultural pesticides. Agriculture and Natural Resources Engineering System Organization, 2 (5), 50-55.
Hosseinzadeh, J., Shorafa, S., & Dashti, Gh. (2010). Economic analysis of the environmental benefits of integrated pest management programs. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research, 2(30), 127-155.
Jurgen. U. (2007). Learning together through participatory extension, Zimbabwe: Gaiter.
Kimani, M., & Mafa, A. (2002). The east African sub- regional pilot project for farmer field schools integrated production and pest management (IPPM FFS)., Report, Kenya. DARWIN Initiative.
Moumenihelali, Hadi, & Ahmadpour, A. (2012). The effective factors on the adoption of biological control in farmers' field school by rice producers: the case of Babol Township. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology, 1(4), 201-206.
Mukaka, M. M. (2012). Statistics Corner: A guide to appropriate use of Correlation coefficient in medical research. Malawi Medical Journal, 24(3), 69-71.
Osku, T., Chizari, M., & Rasouli, F (2007). Investigation of effectiveness of farmer’s field schools approach on knowledge and attitude of rice farmers regarding biological control of chilo suppressalis, Case of Mazandaran Province. Iranian Journal of Agricultural science, 2 (1), 109-119.
Povellato, A., & Deborah, S. (2006). The farmer advisory system: A challenge for the implementation of cross compliance. A Research Paper of the Compliance Network. INEA (Institutor Nationals did Economic Agrarian). Retrieved from http://www.ieep.eu.
Sharifi-Moghadam, M. (2007). Integrated pest management/farmers field school guideline, Operational approach to healthy and sustainable agricultural production. Unpublished report, Agricultural Extension and Education Organization, Jihad-e-Keshavarzi Ministry of Iran.
Soleimani-Omid, F. (2006). Investigation of facilitators’ communication skills of FAO’s IPM project with farmers in Iran. Unpublished thesis, University of Tehran. Faculty of Agriculture, Iran.
Van Den Berg, H. (2004). IPM farmer field schools: A synthesis of 25 impact evaluations. Prepared for the Global IPM Facility, Wageningen University.
Zuger, R. (2004). Impact assessment of farmer field school in Cajamarca, Peru: An economic evaluation. Social Sciences Working Paper, No. 2004-1, International Potato Center.
