Farmer discussion groups: exploring the dynamics between facilitators and participants

This article explores Farmer Discussion Groups (FDGs), a peer-to-peer learning method in Northern Ireland, and examines how facilitators and members alike perceive the effectiveness of these groups. FDGs, led by facilitators, aim to foster knowledge transfer, increase farm productivity and encourage technology adoption through activities like demonstration farm visits and workshops. Using survey data from two surveys of members and facilitators, respectively, we found that FDG members valued social interactions with other members as well as farm visits that demonstrated how the farm was run. Facilitators preferred small, flexible group sizes for more focused discussions. Both members and facilitators saw the advantages of the method in terms of improving social connections and in its potential to support learning through exchanging knowledge and skills with their peers.

Challenges that facilitators faced included motivating members to attend regularly and share financial information regarding their farm business. Future programme recommendations from members and facilitators included having greater delivery mechanism flexibility, maintaining smaller groups, and having a balance of in-person and digital meetings when possible. Overall, peer-to-peer FDGs offer a valuable mechanism for knowledge-sharing and relationship-building in farming, with policy implications that support adopting varied learning approaches.