Poultry farmers are set to benefit from an initiative by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with Kenya’s Pwani University that is aimed at enhancing responsible antimicrobial use in broiler chicken rearing.
Supported by the Fleming Fund of the UK, FAO planned a pivotal three-week regional Farmer Field School (FFS) Training of Facilitators, followed by an eight-week Training of Master FFS trainers program at Pwani University in Kenya focused on broiler production to address the pressing issue of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Prior to this comprehensive training, a four-day workshop was convened in Kilifi, Kenya, from 22 to 26 August, bringing together Master FFS trainers, AMR experts from FAO in Kenya and Rome, and poultry experts from Academia and the Ministry of Agriculture.
This initiative will revolve around evaluation and scale-up of FFS extension methods, integral to enhancing biosecurity and responsible antimicrobial use in broiler farms.
The project’s scope also encompasses a multiyear longitudinal evaluation, involving ten to 15 broiler FFSs in project countries, that will include Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
AMR, a complex global issue
AMR is an escalating global health threat, characterized by microorganisms developing resistance to antimicrobial drugs, affecting humans, animals, and the environment.
This issue is driven by various factors, including drug overuse and inadequate infection control practices along the food chain. Livestock value chain stakeholders, ranging from consumers, farmers, healthcare professionals to policymakers.
These actors make AMR decisions that are influenced by socio-cultural, historical, political, economic, and personal factors.
To effectively address AMR, comprehensive interventions are imperative. One such approach with significant potential in agriculture is the Farmer Field School (FFS) method, pioneered by FAO in the late 1980s.
FFS promotes adult-centered learning and knowledge exchange through group problem-solving. Farmers gather regularly at a demonstration farm under the guidance of trained facilitators to analyze their production ecosystem, identify challenges, and experiment with alternative practices.
FFS promotes adult-centered learning and knowledge exchange
The success of the FFS evaluation depends on the coordinated implementation of FFS across Fleming Fund project countries. FAO is spearheading this effort through a comprehensive training program, which includes training 18 FFS Facilitators in FFS fundamentals with a specific focus on broiler production over three weeks. Additionally, there will be an intensive eight-week training for six Master FFS trainers from the same group to train broiler FFS Facilitators within their respective counties.
This initiative also involves the development of a standardized Broiler FFS curriculum intended for use in participating countries, along with the implementation of a full cycle of a broiler Farmer Field School at Pwani University.
During the graduation ceremony for FFS Facilitators of the training, Dr. Charles Bebay, Regional Manager for ECTAD Eastern and Southern Africa, emphasized, “This collaborative effort with Pwani University represents a significant step towards combatting AMR in agriculture in Kenya and the broader region. By fostering responsible practices and promoting knowledge sharing, we aim to develop a sustainable solution to this pressing global issue.” Prof. Hemedi Mkuzi Saha, Dean of School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness at Pwani University added, “We are committed to continued collaboration with the FAO to scale up the Farmer Field School approach to strengthen biosecurity and encourage responsible antimicrobial use in farming communities”.
The FFS training approach incorporates several innovative frameworks, including methods and insights from behavioral science, enabling the training team to gain deeper insights into the diverse challenges farmers encounter beyond conventional knowledge and economic constraints when applying FFS lessons to their agricultural practices.
The project’s success will make a significant contribution to addressing AMR in agriculture, promoting sustainable farming practices, and safeguarding the health of both people and animals.
