This study assesses the impact of farmer field schools (FFS) on the productivity of vegetable farming in vegetable†producing areas of East Java and Bali, Indonesia. The FFS have equipped over 3,000 vegetable farmers with integrated crop management knowledge applicable to chilies and tomatoes. The FFS are expected to enhance farmers’ capacity such that they can increase production. This study employs a difference†in†differences (DiD) method to overcome selection bias. A survey of 250 FFS†graduated farmers and 250 non†FFS farmers were purposively randomly selected from the overall community of farmers. Focus group discussion was used to support the survey. The results indicate that FFS were successful for enhancing farmers’ capability in vegetable farming. Farmers who participated in FFS have higher productivity than those who did not. Farmers also could adapt and adopt the knowledge gained from FFS as they underwent a process of learning by doing. The impacts of the increase in farmers’ capacity can be more evident if weaknesses during the FFS preparation and implementation can be overcome, to ensure more participation, flexibility to fit different conditions/needs and continuous learning.

中文翻译：

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农民田间学校对印度尼西亚蔬菜种植生产力的影响

本研究评估了农民田间学校 (FFS) 对东爪哇和印度尼西亚巴厘岛蔬菜产区蔬菜种植生产力的影响。FFS 已为 3,000 多名菜农提供了适用于辣椒和西红柿的综合作物管理知识。预计 FFS 将提高农民的能力，使他们能够增加产量。本研究采用差异中的差异 (DiD) 方法来克服选择偏差。对 250 名 FFS 毕业农民和 250 名非 FFS 农民进行的调查是有目的地从整个农民社区中随机选择的。焦点小组讨论用于支持调查。结果表明，FFS 成功地提高了农民的蔬菜种植能力。参加 FFS 的农民比没有参加的农民有更高的生产力。农民还可以适应和采用从 FFS 获得的知识，因为他们经历了一个边做边学的过程。如果能够克服 FFS 准备和实施过程中的弱点，以确保更多的参与、适应不同条件/需求的灵活性和持续学习，农民能力提高的影响就会更加明显。