- The visit and discussion were led by the farmers of the host group as resource
persons - Sharing of many planting materials during the visit
- Focused on farmer to farmer sharing and learning
- Group coordination by the farmers during the visit
- Sharing of learning from the visit each day in a group (forms were developed and
provided to the participants each day) - Sharing the learning of the visit to with non participants of the community through
organising a village level workshop in each site
PROCESS
During the process of each FTLW, the project team had facilitated in identifying 3-4 group
leaders from each sub-group of the participating farmers in order to co-ordinate the activities,
facilitate them in group mobilization during the activity and to monitor and evaluate the
participation of individual farmers.
At the end of each day's visit in the convenient time, farmers discussed on learnt/observed
practices within the sub-group and presented them in plenary session by respective group
leaders. Before this activity, they filled up the questionnaires with what they learnt and
observed, and what could be done to improve the status of home gardens using the good
practices learnt during the visit. Project team and group leaders guided the illiterate
individuals to fill up questionnaires. Then, they shared with each other within sub-groups and
concluded by incorporating each member's views. This activity had helped each participant
to become more conscious to explore new areas/issues during their
visit/observation/discussion. Therefore, immediate sharing of the observations made during
the daytime in a group is very effective in documenting farmers' responses on the activity.
Farmers of Ilam presented different plants and planting materials grown in their home
gardens (Akabare khursani-Capsicum spp., Binyee, tea, cardamom, Jaringo, Chinde sag,
Pakhanbed and pumpkin) as a gift to farmers of Jhapa, Gulmi and Rupandehi during
exposure visit (Annex 1). Planting materials are a precious gift for farmers, which was
perceived helpful in enhancing the species diversity in home gardens. Farmers shared the
knowledge/ideas/experiences on different aspects of home gardens (species composition,
use-value of chayote, Akabare khursani, Pakhanbed, Jaringo, Chinde sag, and tree tomato
along with the cultivation practices, processing and marketing of surplus) and the working
approach of the groups to each other during the interaction between farmers of different
sites. Farmer to farmer sharing was perceived by participants as an effective and
understandable process of information dissemination. The process helped farmers to
develop confidence and provided them an opportunity for sharing their own experiences.
The host farmers (Ilam) carried out a transect walk and briefed the composition of home
gardens to guest farmers by dividing them in 3 sub-groups. The direct observation of
farmers’ practices and system helped farmers to be convinced and motivated. Poems
(reflecting the importance of home garden during exposure visit) and devotional songs
(Bhajan) were adopted as means to disseminate message to other participants during the
exposure visit.
Farmers shared the experiences gained and good practices learnt through the FTLW with
non-participating farmers within the community through the village level workshop after their
visit. This process helped to disseminate the knowledge gained by farmers through the
exercise.