EFFECTIVENESS OF FARMER FIELD SCHOOL (FFS) IN ENHANCING CROP PRODUCTION AMONG FARMERS IN BORNO STATE

Abstract

The study assessed the effectiveness of Farmer Field School (FFS) in enhancing crop production among farmers in Borno State. It identified the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers, assessed the intensity of farmers participation in FFS activities, ascertained farmers knowledge of FFS activities, identified farmers source(s) of information about FFS, ascertained the percentage increase or decrease in farmers’ crop yield after joining FFS, and identified constraints associated with participating in FFS activities. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 102 respondents across 5 Local Government Areas (LGAs). Data was collected through questionnaire administration and triangulated using Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. The result shows majority () of the respondents were male, married, and educated in one form of education or the other. Majority of the farmers highly participated in most of the FFS activity except for graduation, registration and linkage. Farmers experienced increase in crop yield after participating in the FFS. High cost of input, lack of access to credit in the formal lending sector and inadequate fund were among the constraints considered “very serious” by farmers in FFS participation.