The Role of Farmer Field School Training in Improving Farmers’ Knowledge of Selected Cocoa Cultivation Practices in Edo state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the contribution of farmer field school training to the knowledge of Cocoa farmers on selected farm practices in Edo State. The specific objectives were to: describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, identify the practices where FFS has enhanced farmers’ knowledge, ascertain the level of contribution of FFS training to their knowledge of cocoa cultivation practices and determine the percentage of farmers who have benefited from FFS training in terms of improved knowledge. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to compose a sample size of 68 respondents. Various descriptive statistics such as means, percentages and frequency counts were used for data analysis. Respondents were also grouped into different categories based on the effect of FFS training on their knowledge. The results show that FFS has contributed immensely in improving the knowledge of cocoa farmers in the study area. It was therefore recommended that FFS training should be sustained in the area and extended to other states that have not implemented it as well as to other crop enterprises besides cocoa.

Keywords: Farmer Field School, Knowledge, Cocoa Cultivation Practices, Edo State