PESHAWAR: The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations under the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs-funded project conducted training of trainers (ToTs) on Farmer Business Schools (FBS) approach for the officials of agriculture extension department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A statement issued here said that a group of 16 master trainers from Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber and Torghar districts attended the five-day course. It was stated that the first such training was organised on Farmer Field Schools (FFS) approach in March 2021.

It said that through such trainings the FAO wanted to enhance the capacity of the agriculture department to assist farmers in sustainable crops’ cultivation by conducting market surveys, developing business plans and maintaining records for alternative crops’ production.

The participants also learned basic training delivery techniques i.e. group facilitation skills, time management, learning by doing, etc. The training course, apart from theoretical sessions and group work, also consisted of visits to farmers’ fields and fruit and vegetable market in Peshawar. The market visit was of particular interest for the master trainers where they held discussions with different market actors and observed the auctioning process.

“For maximising benefits, understanding market and marketing dynamics is the need of the hour,” said Mujibur Rahman, deputy programme coordinator, FAO-KP.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2021