EFFECT OF FARMER FIELD SCHOOLS ON SUGAR CANE PRODUCTIVITY IN MALAKAND AGENCY

Farmer field schools (FFS) are always aimed to help farmers to discover and learn about field ecology and integrated crop management. A study for sugarcane crop was conducted in 4 FFS villages namely Zoormandai, Baghicha, Sarogai and Haji Gulzada Kalay of Malakand Agency during 2004-05. From each FFS, 10 farmers were selected on the basis of equal allocation making sample size of 40. The research was based on primary as well as secondary data. Primary data were collected from farmers while secondary data were taken from Agriculture Extension Department, Dargai, Malakand Agency. Extensive interview schedule was designed and each farmer was interviewed personally. The study was based on comparison of cost, yield and income of sugarcane with and without FFS. Paired t-test and statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) were used for analysis. Results of this study show that Best Agricultural Practices (BAP) has brought a positive change in the attitude of farmers of the project area through FFS approach. In sugarcane 77.5 % of the respondents were between the age of 20 to 40 years, 25 % of the respondents had education of primary level, 20 % middle, 20 % matric level, 22 % at intermediate level and 12.5 % at graduate level. Average land holding size was 8 acres, while 80 % of the respondents were satisfied with FFS approach. Cost of fertilizer, crop protection and herbicide was reduced by 59.25%, 13.9%, and 1.04 % respectively while sugarcane yield was increased by 3469.5 kg acre-1