The Department of Agriculture (DoA), through the ROOTS Project, on 12 August 2026 concluded a seven-day training for 20 Second-Generation Farmer Field School (FFS) Facilitators at the Genoi Farmer Training Centre.
The participants were drawn from six garden communities and 14 rice beneficiary communities supported by the ROOTS Project.
The Second-Generation FFS Facilitators were identified from among existing Farmer Field School participants and equipped with the knowledge and practical skills needed to become facilitators themselves. Following the training, they will support the establishment of new Farmer Field Schools with new groups of farmers, thereby extending the FFS approach to more beneficiaries.
The initiative forms an important part of the FFS sustainability strategy, aimed at building local capacity and enabling farmers to progressively take ownership of, manage and sustain Farmer Field Schools within their communities.
The seven-day training strengthened participants’ knowledge and facilitation skills, preparing them to effectively guide peer-to-peer learning, facilitate field-based training and support farmers in applying improved agricultural practices.
Building farmers’ capacity to train fellow farmers is key to sustaining knowledge, strengthening local ownership and ensuring that the benefits of Farmer Field Schools continue beyond the life of the Project.