FAO Farmer Field Schools project is one of the most influential projects the international organization leads in Egypt with the authorities for achieving the 17-goal agenda, UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
These schools give rising and junior farmers the chance to exchange their experiences and knowledge in a practical way to enhance their abilities for making the best use of their lands.
The concept of schools is simple, it is like a gathering at a piece of land which is the scene of the experiments that will be conducted by farmers and facilitators. It also creates a useful channel of active interaction between the farmers and facilitators to form a significant common agricultural awareness.
Female farmers or women are considered the most beneficiaries from the latest rounds of those schools to achieve a number of targeted objects related to UN 2030 Ajenda, and Egypt 2030 vision such as zero Hunger, Responsible consumption and production, no poverty, decent work and economic growth, clean water and sanitation, life on land, and gender equality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHm__MrStAs&list=PLzp5NgJ2-dK47dP13ffgzQGlCIyoILaC8&index=8
Rawya Eldabi, the communication expert at FAO Egypt, told SEE News that the concept of farmer field schools was developed in 1980s by the FAO in Indonesia for the promotion of integrated best management and show it to be effective in sharing knowledge with farmers.
method of farmer field schools started in Egypt since the organization initiated its work in the state, however, the means of instructing and educating the participants changed through years. Now, it depends more on the participatory methodology in awareness-raising.
This means building a channel of communication between the participants and facilitators to exchange and share experiences.
She added that the current farmer field schools for women give them more enhanced experiences and knowledge in several domains to empower them socially, and economically.
Next, Eldabi listed that educating women to plant their essential needs of food such as vegetables and fruits could support their families' needs of food and provide the families with cheaper and healthier options, in addition, they can sell their fresh products which can give the women extra financial aid.
Furthermore, they can establish minor, and medium projects based on the crops they plant especially jams, perfumes, dried fruits, and packed vegetables, that's why the schools provide women farmers with administration, management, and communication classes to assist them to moderate their own projects and understand the mechanism of their communities markets.
Other projects included in the initiative just as giving the women more lessons about landless gardens, livestock upbringing, and smart and safe poultry upbringing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUGgCCpzjxM&list=PLzp5NgJ2-dK47dP13ffgzQGlCIyoILaC8&index=1
Moreover, the lessons give care for teaching farmers the methods of making use of less amount of water, and the smart using of water resources, and making use of solar power in various activities.
And, due to the success of the farmer field schools, FAO established last year Junior farmer field schools for children more awareness regarding farming and their environment. It was established under the umbrella of the project on water efficiency that is funded by the Swedish Development Agency
Follow the latest news on Google News
