From: The Farmer Field School: a method for enhancing the role of rural communities in malaria control ?
Exercise | Methods | Purpose |
---|---|---|
1 Agro-ecosystem analysis | Comprehensive sampling of the crop ecosystem (using soup spoons, visual counts, plant measurements, etc.) and visual presentation and analysis | To monitor the agro-ecosystem and make context-specific decisions on necessary action related to crop production and human health |
2 Mosquito breeding habitat | Dipper sampling in, and characterization of, various aquatic habitats of mosquito genera | To study where different mosquito genera breed |
3 Adult mosquito sampling | Collecting adult mosquitoes at different times and habitats and identify major genera, i.a. using home-made aspirators | To monitor potential disease vectors and their activity |
4 Mosquito lifecycle | Rearing of young larvae in water jar covered with mesh | To understand the relation between maggot, pupae and adult, and the development time |
5 Mosquito identification | Observing larval behaviour and adult characteristics | To distinguish Anopheles, Aedes and Culex in the larval and adult stage |
6 Predation | Exposing larvae or pupae to a range of arthropods inside jars | To understand the role of predators in controlling mosquito developmental stages |
7 Analogy on disease cycle | Role play on the cycle of the parasite through human and mosquito hosts | To understand the role of the vector and the human reservoir |
8 Agricultural methods to suppress mosquito breeding | Alternate wet-dry irrigation of study field plots; land levelling at planting | To study how farmer practices influence mosquito breeding and crop development |
9 Source reduction | Farmer action to drain or fill water bodies, including in the peri-domestic environment | To practice measures to contain vector breeding |
10 Mapping | Drawing map of village environment with water bodies, crops, houses, etc. | To facilitate planning for coordinated action on environmental management |