give me an example of an fgd with key crop farmers where they asked what pattern is best for planting their cassava; either fully buried or half way slanted and which pattern is best for more yield as they complained their fully buried method brings littl

Certainly! Here is an example of a focus group discussion (FGD) involving key crop farmers discussing the planting methods for cassava—specifically comparing fully buried versus halfway slanted planting techniques. ### Focus Group Discussion Example **Title**: Focus Group Discussion on Cassava Planting Methods **Date**: [Insert Date] **Location**: [Insert Location] **Participants**: - 10 key crop farmers from the local community - Agricultural extension officer (facilitator) **Objective**: To determine the most effective planting method for cassava that results in higher yields based on farmers' experiences. --- **Facilitator’s Introduction**: “Thank you all for coming today. We are here to discuss how we plant cassava and to explore different methods to improve our yields. Many of you have expressed concerns that your fully buried cassava plants are producing fewer and smaller tubers. I’d like us to share our experiences with both fully buried and halfway slanted planting methods. Let’s start by discussing how each method works.” ### Discussion Points **1. Current Planting Practices** - **Farmer A**: “I usually plant my cassava by burying the cuttings completely. I’ve been doing it this way for years. However, the tubers are often smaller than I expected.” - **Farmer B**: “I also fully bury my cuttings, but I’ve noticed the same problem. Sometimes they don’t even grow as well as I want.” **2. Experiences with Halfway Slanted Method** - **Farmer C**: “Last year, I tried the halfway slanted method. I placed the cuttings at an angle. It was new to me, but I was curious to see if it would yield better results.” - **Farmer D**: “I did the same and was surprised! My tubers were larger, and the yield was significantly better compared to my fully buried cassava.” **3. Yield Comparisons** - **Farmer E**: “What kind of yield difference did you observe between the two methods?” - **Farmer C**: “With the slanted method, I got about 30% more tubers than with full burying. They were also healthier overall.” - **Farmer D**: “I can agree. The plants seemed to grow more robustly. I think the angle allows for better air circulation and light penetration.” **4. Challenges and Concerns** - **Farmer F**: “Are there any downsides to the slanted method? I worry that it might not hold up in heavy rains.” - **Farmer C**: “I had some concern with erosion, but I used mulch around the plants, which helped.” **5. Conclusion and Next Steps** - **Facilitator**: “It sounds like the halfway slanted method has provided better yields for several of you. What do you all think? Should we try this method on a larger scale? Perhaps conducting an experiment with a set number of plots using both methods?” - **Farmers**: (Agreement) “Yes, that could help us gather data and see a clearer comparison.” **Facilitator’s Closing**: “Thank you for your valuable insights today. We will plan an experimental plot to test these methods side by side. Your experiences will lead to better farming practices for the future.” ### Recommendations Based on the discussion, it's clear that farmers are leaning towards the halfway slanted method for cassava planting due to observed increases in tuber size and yield. It would be beneficial to conduct a trial comparing both methods systematically to gather concrete data. **Follow-up Action**: Organize a follow-up meeting to discuss the results of the planting trial and refine the best practices for cassava cultivation.