Final report for SAL21-002
Project Information
Organic and other Sustainable food production methods are typically more labor-intensive and more costly than conventional methods. The increasing awareness of the health benefits of organic foods and the quest to be better stewards of environmental resources have attracted some beginning farmers into organic agriculture. The low level of farming experience of these individuals as well as the labor intensive and costly nature of this type of food production usually result in financial losses that leaves these beginning farmers disillusioned about organic agriculture or farming in general. Given the fact that the average age of farmers and the number of young people interested in farming have been increasing and decreasing over the years, respectively, it is extremely important to train extension professionals to provide realistic and accurate information a as well as offer direct technical support to these farmers; Training on the use of realistic enterprise budgets must accompany other technical aspects such as pest management training to help reduce the number of disgruntled first-time farmers; disgruntled farmers sometimes become highly effective at dissuading others from venturing into sustainable food production. To prevent/reduce these incidents, extension professionals and peer mentors need to be trained to offer sustainable food production advice/information that is technically sound, realistic, and cost-effective. Sustainable farmers need information on cost-effective combination of available resources. Training of extension professionals on best practices in recruiting and guiding new sustainable crop producers must accompany their training in the delivery of important technical information/techniques such as pest management.
The main objectives are to equip extension professionals and peer-mentors with information, skills, and best practices in:
(1)the provision of both technical information pertaining to pest management as well as effective financial planning in organic crop production.
(2) Helping new sustainable producers to have realistic expectations
(3) Assisting sustainable crop producers to use research-based pest-management and other technical information that are relevant to their geographical location and scale of operation
Advisors
Education
Various educational approaches were employed for various aspects of the training program. A hands-on experiential training approach was employed to train interns (some of whom aspire to be extension agents), various extension professionals, farmers (including those who serve as peer mentors), and students at high school, undergraduate and graduate levels. This approach was used to train participants on practical aspects of pest management in organic crop production. The economic and financial aspects of the training program were conducted via zoom. Various visual aids were used to discuss bioeconomic concepts including economic injury level and economic thresholds in organic crop production. Participants were encouraged to share real-life experiences, some of which were then used as case studies for discussion. The presentation on bioeconomic principles and practices in pest management were typically preceded by a presentation by an agricultural economist on integrated approaches to improving the profitability and viability of small farm operations. The agricultural economist also joined the pest management specialist (i.e., the project director) in taking questions and discussing practical uses of the concepts discussed during the training session.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
The objectives of this presentation were to:
(a) Use research-based information to evaluate the performance of preventive and curative management of selected cucurbit-diseases in organic production systems.
(b) Elicit a discussion on the financial implications and effectiveness of various pest management decisions and actions in organic production systems.
(c) Cover best practices in sharing information and knowledge on financial evaluation of pest management decisions.
Research-based information on the management of selected diseases of cucurbits was used to train participants on how to identify the relevant indicators needed to conduct a financial evaluation of various disease management options. The information covered includes (a) the cost of doing nothing against the pathogen (b) cost effectiveness of selected preventive and curative methods. It also covered best practices in sharing information and knowledge on financial evaluation of various pest management decisions and activities using simple visual aids, examples, and case studies. The presentation was done in collaboration with an agricultural economist who expanded on some of the economic concepts covered in the bioeconomic discussions led by the pest management specialist. The agricultural economist linked the preceding pest management discussions to the impact of financial decisions on the profitability and viability of farms managed by limited resource farmers. Participants included extension agents , other extension professionals, students, and farmers (including those who serve as peer mentors to other farmers).
Participants gained knowledge and information on
(a) Recommended management methods for selected major diseases of cucurbits.
(b) Gained insight into how to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of selected disease management methods
(c) Learned some best practices in presenting financial aspects of pest management decisions or activities.
The objectives of this presentation were to:
(a) Use research-based information to evaluate the performance of preventive and curative management methods against a major insect pest of a commonly grown vegetable. .
(b) Elicit a discussion on the financial implications and effectiveness of various pest management decisions and actions in organic production systems.
(c) Cover best practices in sharing information and knowledge on financial evaluation of pest management decisions.
Quarcoo, F. 2021. Management of Cowpea Curculio on Cowpeas. Monthly Lecture Series on Integrated Approach to Improve the Profitability and Viability of Small and Limited Resource Farmers in Rural Counties, delivered via zoom to participants in East and Central Alabama Blackbelt Counties, August 23, 2021.
The same approach used in the previous initiative was used for the discussion on the financial evaluation of various insect pest management approaches. Research-based information on the management of a major insect pests such as the cowpea curculio was used to train participants on how to identify the relevant indicators needed to conduct a financial evaluation of various insect pest management options. The information covered includes (a) the cost of doing nothing against the pest (b) cost effectiveness of selected preventive and curative methods. It also covered best practices in sharing information and knowledge on financial evaluation of various pest management decisions and activities using simple visual aids, examples, and case studies. The presentation was done in collaboration with an agricultural economist who expanded on some of the economic concepts covered in the bioeconomic discussions led by the pest management specialist. The agricultural economist linked the preceding pest management discussions to the impact of financial decisions on the profitability and viability of farms managed by limited resource farmers. Participants included extension agents , other extension professionals, students, and farmers (including those who serve as peer mentors to other farmers).
Participants gained knowledge and information on
(a) Recommended management methods for the management of cowpea curculio in southernpeas.
(b) Gained insight into how to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of selected insect pest management methods
(c) Learned some best practices in presenting financial aspects of pest management decisions or activities.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
Proper timing of such training programs is extremely important to ensure high participation of mentor farmers in addition to making on-farm experiential learning possible.
Face of SARE
Information on SARE grants, factsheets and other agricultural resources are shared with participants during presentations. SARE website is shared with project participants even on projects that are not related to the current one.