Teaching good agronomic practices to strengthen pigeon pea cultivation and value chains through farmer-to-farmer education in Zambia

Summary Farmer field schools (FFSs) are transformative, participatory approaches to adult agricultural education that effectively promote farmers’ learning and capacity building and empower farming communities with practical knowledge. Here, we present a case study of FFS in the Katete district, Eastern province of Zambia, focused on good pigeon pea agronomic practices and the value chain. Three FFSs were established, focusing on a variety of trials, bio-pesticides, and a pigeon pea-specific rhizobial inoculant. Extreme weather conditions, an underdeveloped pigeon pea seed value chain, and a poor seed system hindered the implementation of the FFSs. To strengthen the pigeon pea seed value chain, a seed dehuller is now available to farmers. Our results highlight the importance of the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the FFSs. Pigeon pea FFSs will support crop and food diversification, improve soil fertility and sustainable agriculture, and may increase household income. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Footnotes Social Impact Statement Legume plants offer generous benefits for both the planet and people by supporting sustainable farming, food and feed systems through their unique ability to symbiotically fix atmospheric nitrogen. While legume cultivation and consumption are widely encouraged in the Global North, they remain less prevalent in the Global South. We implemented farmer field schools in the Eastern province of Zambia to introduce farmers to a resilient grain legume crop — pigeon pea — and to strengthen its value chain. Our findings highlight the importance of effective communication with farmers and the value chain’s key role in introducing a new crop species.