Our Farmer Field School model is proving transformative — graduates are sharing conservation agriculture practices with neighbours, multiplying impact beyond the classroom.
The Farmer Field School (FFS) model has a proven track record across sub-Saharan Africa. Rather than top-down extension services, FFS brings farmers together in a learning group that meets regularly on a demonstration plot, combining practical experimentation with peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.
REMEI's FFS Program
Since 2022, REMEI has facilitated 12 Farmer Field Schools across Elgeyo Marakwet, with a total of 360 participants — 65% of them women. Each school runs for a full growing season, covering topics ranging from soil health and composting to integrated pest management and post-harvest handling.
The Multiplier Effect
What makes the FFS model particularly powerful is what happens after graduation. Our monitoring data shows that FFS graduates share what they've learned with an average of 8 neighbouring farmers — meaning the reach of each school extends well beyond its registered participants. In one case, techniques from a single FFS have spread to over 100 households in a two-kilometre radius.
Youth and Intergenerational Learning
REMEI has also piloted a Junior Farmer Field School model, bringing secondary school students into the learning process alongside adult farmers. This intergenerational approach ensures that conservation agriculture knowledge is embedded in communities long-term, not dependent on any single generation.