Recently, much attention has been given to the failure of traditional extension programs in solving the problems of rural farmers. It has been noted that public extension is costly, the benefits of which are often not readily noticeable. Yet there remains an enormous back-log of research knowledge and case studies that have yet to be disseminated and applied by those farmers in desperate need of dynamic solutions.

The Farmer Field School (FFS) approach has been the success of the 1990s. The FFS approach emphasizes the importance of the farmer’s participation in the planning and implementation process. It acknowledges the constantly changing nature of agriculture, and recognizes that improving the farmer’s capacity to learn and adapt to change is the key to sustainable development.

The FFS has several important characteristics:

1. Farmer-centered approach: Local farmers know a great deal about the soils, crops, and insects that they confront every day. The FFS approach seeks innovative and intelligent farmers and includes them in the development process. Their skills and knowledge are cultivated, and then put to use for the benefit of neighbors and other nearby communities. Farmers assist in data collection and analysis, and all learning occurs in a relevant setting: their community, their fields, their woodlots and pastures.

2. Partnership: Scientists, researchers, and field workers view farmers as partners, and treat them accordingly. Farmers give lectures and lessons when appropriate; every team member is both student and teacher, determined by context and field of expertise. Teamwork is emphasized as the key to success.

3. Integrated Curriculum: Permaculture systems require a holistic and all-inclusive approach to agriculture. As the farm’s constituent parts are broken apart and analyzed in detail, farmers are encouraged to think about the whole system and the interactions between different system components.

Farmer Field Schools are successful because farmers are recognized as the solution and not treated as the problem. Not only is this method a superior form of extension, it is also more cost effective. Since few developing countries have the resources needed to confront production problems through traditional extension, the FFS approach is the single most important method to be developed and applied to achieve long term results in production and conservation.