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Society of Facilitators
and Trainers
Founding member · SOFT

An institution for human resource development

Empowering people.

SOFT develops the capacities of individuals, groups and institutions to pursue sustainable and peaceful livelihood strategies — including agro-ecological conservation — through Farmer Field Schools and participatory learning across Pakistan.

Explore Our Work → Partner With Us
Since 2001First Training of Facilitators
Registered 2009Societies Registration Act 1860
RS/ICT/638Registration No., Islamabad
SOFT — Empowering People emblem
2,000+
Trained facilitators & trainers in the SOFT network
39
Smallholder farmer organizations in our network
35
District & provincial network offices
34
Founding members — scientists, professionals & farmers
Meet the founders →
Who We Are

The Society of Facilitators and Trainers (SOFT) is a non-profit national society, registered in Islamabad in 2009 under the Societies Registration Act 1860, to develop the capacities of individuals, groups and institutions to pursue sustainable and peaceful livelihoods, including agro-ecological conservation. Its roots go back to the first Training of Facilitators in Sakrand, Sindh, in 2001, which created Pakistan's core cadre of Farmer Field School facilitators.

SOFT was founded by 34 scientists, professionals and farmers from all four provinces, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan and the former FATA. Today it links more than 2,000 trained facilitators and 39 smallholder farmer organizations, and has worked in 68 districts with FAO, ILO, IFAD, ACIAR and other partners. Its participatory, community-driven approach continues to be replicated across Pakistan.

Meet our founding members →Executive Council
SOFT facilitators and farmers meeting in a circle in the field

Our journey

2001Training

The first successful Training of Facilitators (ToF) in Sakrand, Sindh, produces a team of professional facilitators from leading agricultural institutes.

2002–04Expansion

The network spreads to Punjab under the National IPM Programme and FAO-EU Cotton IPM Programme — ToFs in Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan train new cadres of facilitators and IPM farmers.

Nov 2004Association

A formal association of facilitators is proposed and adopted at the 2nd National IPM Facilitators Congress in Islamabad.

23 Jul 2009Registration

SOFT is registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 in Islamabad (Reg. No. RS/ICT/638).

2009–16Projects

A portfolio of FAO, ILO, IFAD, USAID, EU, Trócaire and AKPBS-supported projects: women's FFS, livestock, wheat rust, producer marketing groups, flood recovery and more.

2015 →Partnerships

Long-term research partnerships with ACIAR and Australian universities: irrigation field schools (FILM), salinity adaptation (R2EaLM), community-led climate adaptation (CoSEAL), the CALS programme (2026–31) and resilient banana systems.

2017Innovation

SOFT conceptualizes and begins developing the e-Farmer Field School (eFFS) application, a digital tool to support FFS facilitation, record-keeping and learning.

2026 →Digital era

SOFT enters the digital era of Farmer Field Schools, preparing to launch the eFFS ecosystem for participatory learning among facilitators, farmers and partners.

Where We Focus

Thematic areas

Seven connected areas of work, each delivered through participatory, field-based learning.

Agriculture & Food Security

Agriculture & Food Security

Season-long Farmer Field Schools that raise the productivity of wheat, cotton, maize, vegetables and banana through IPM, participatory varietal selection and sustainable crop intensification.

Farmer Field SchoolsIPMVarietal selectionCrop intensification
What We Do

Our programmes

Six programmes, delivered through participatory field-school approaches and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals for farmers and smallholders.

SDP

Skill Development Programme

Capacity building that brings together development organizations, government, donors, NGOs and the private sector.

  • Certified cadre of trained facilitators
  • Production, processing & marketing skills
  • Entrepreneurship & managerial training
  • Project planning, M&E and resource mobilization
SDG 4: Quality EducationSDG 4 · Quality EducationCertified facilitators and lifelong, field-based learning for farmers and extension staff.SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic GrowthSDG 8 · Decent Work & Economic GrowthProduction, processing and managerial skills that open decent rural jobs.
EDP

Enterprise Development Programme

Turning farmer groups into enterprises that add value and reach markets.

  • Demand-based product lines: seed, dairy, poultry, fruit & vegetable processing, honey
  • Organizational structures for commercialization
  • Production & marketing partnerships
  • Promotion at local, national & international levels
SDG 1: No PovertySDG 1 · No PovertyProducer Marketing Groups and enterprises that raise smallholder incomes.SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic GrowthSDG 8 · Decent Work & Economic GrowthAgribusiness training and market partnerships that create rural employment.SDG 10: Reduced InequalitiesSDG 10 · Reduced InequalitiesBringing women home-based workers and small producers into value chains.
PMEC

Production Management & Ecological Conservation

System-based learning that raises productivity while protecting the ecosystem.

  • Training modules for food & fibre crops, horticulture, livestock, fisheries and beekeeping
  • Validating and scaling farmers' own experiments
  • Organic and ecological approaches
  • Sustainable crop production intensification
SDG 2: Zero HungerSDG 2 · Zero HungerSystem-based crop, livestock and fisheries training that lifts productivity.SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & ProductionSDG 12 · Responsible Consumption & ProductionOrganic, ecological practices and farmer experimentation for responsible production.SDG 15: Life on LandSDG 15 · Life on LandEcological approaches that protect soils, biodiversity and farm ecosystems.
CARP New

Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programme

Community-led adaptation that helps smallholders anticipate, absorb and recover from climate shocks.

  • Climate-smart agriculture & salinity management
  • Early warning & anticipatory action
  • Village adaptation plans & disaster risk reduction
  • Access to climate finance for smallholders
SDG 1: No PovertySDG 1 · No PovertyReducing climate-related losses that push smallholders into poverty.SDG 13: Climate ActionSDG 13 · Climate ActionCommunity-led adaptation, early warning and access to climate finance.SDG 14: Life Below WaterSDG 14 · Life Below WaterSalinity adaptation and coastal livelihoods in the Indus Delta.
eFFS
RASDI New

Rural Advisory Services & Digital Innovation

Strengthening pluralistic, farmer-centred extension and bringing Farmer Field Schools into the digital age.

  • Institutionalizing FFS in public extension
  • Facilitator standards & certification
  • eFFS & digital advisory tools
  • Farmer-led research with universities
SDG 4: Quality EducationSDG 4 · Quality EducationFacilitator standards and certification for quality extension learning.SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & InfrastructureSDG 9 · Industry, Innovation & InfrastructureeFFS and digital advisory tools that modernize agricultural extension.SDG 17: Partnerships for the GoalsSDG 17 · Partnerships for the GoalsPartnerships with government extension, universities and research institutions.
IFSN New

Inclusive Food Systems & Nutrition

Putting women, youth and the landless at the centre of food systems, with their rights and voice protected.

  • Gender-transformative approaches
  • Youth skills & green jobs
  • Nutrition-sensitive agriculture
  • Safeguards, grievance redress & farmers' rights
SDG 2: Zero HungerSDG 2 · Zero HungerNutrition-sensitive agriculture and home food production for food security.SDG 3: Good Health & Well-beingSDG 3 · Good Health & Well-beingDiet diversity and nutrition education for healthier households.SDG 5: Gender EqualitySDG 5 · Gender EqualityGender-transformative approaches and women's leadership in food systems.SDG 10: Reduced InequalitiesSDG 10 · Reduced InequalitiesReaching youth, the landless and marginalized farming communities.

Technical expertise

Climate resilience & natural resources
  • Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)
  • Agroecology & regenerative agriculture
  • Nature-based Solutions (NbS)
  • Sustainable land & soil health management
  • Integrated watershed & water resources management
  • Water productivity & efficient irrigation
  • Ecosystem restoration & biodiversity mainstreaming
Sustainable production systems
  • Sustainable crop production intensification (Save and Grow)
  • Integrated Pest Management & pesticide risk reduction
  • Participatory varietal selection & climate-resilient seed
  • Integrated livestock & poultry management (One Health)
  • Protected & off-season horticulture
  • Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) & organic production
  • Diversified livelihoods: apiculture, aquaculture, mushrooms
Food systems, nutrition & markets
  • Nutrition-sensitive agriculture
  • Homestead & collective food gardens
  • Post-harvest management & food loss reduction
  • Inclusive value chain development
  • Agribusiness & enterprise development (FBS, PMGs)
  • Producer organization strengthening & market linkages
Risk, finance & inclusion
  • Anticipatory action & early warning
  • Disaster risk reduction & resilient recovery
  • Access to climate finance (GCF, GEF, Adaptation Fund)
  • Gender-transformative approaches & women's economic empowerment
  • Youth engagement, green skills & green jobs
  • Environmental & social safeguards and grievance redress
Learning, evidence & digital
  • Participatory curriculum development
  • Digital extension & e-Farmer Field Schools (eFFS)
  • Farmer-led research & co-innovation
  • MEAL & results-based management
  • FFS quality assurance & facilitator certification
  • Policy dialogue & institutionalization of FFS
Our Approach

Inspired by learning by doing

Rooted in the Farmer Field School, our approach takes learning to where farming happens. Guided by skilled facilitators, farmers observe, analyse, experiment, decide and share, building the confidence to act on their own evidence.

Observe

Groups study their own fields, crops, livestock, soil and water.

Analyse

Agro-ecosystem analysis helps participants identify problems together.

Experiment

Side-by-side trials compare local practice with improved options.

Decide

Farmers make informed decisions based on their own evidence.

Share

Graduates become facilitators, spreading learning farmer-to-farmer.

Participatory learning models

Hover over the wheel to explore · click a model for details

SOFT
Illustration of farmers learning together in a field school on an open book
Illustration of farmers learning together in a field school on an open book
FFSFarmer Field School
FFS
Farmer Field School

Season-long group learning in the farmer’s own field: farmers observe, experiment and decide together.

WOSWomen Open School
WOS
Women Open School

A field school adapted for women at village level, covering kitchen gardens, livestock and nutrition.

CECChildren Ecological Club
CEC
Children Ecological Club

School clubs where children learn ecology, gardening and care for the environment by doing.

3FSFamily Farmer Field School
3FS
Family Farmer Field School

The whole family learns together, linking farm, nutrition and household income decisions.

GFFSGroup Farmer Field School
GFFS
Group Farmer Field School

Clusters of field schools learning around a shared crop, value chain or landscape.

IFSIrrigation Field School
IFS
Irrigation Field School

Farmers test irrigation scheduling, soil moisture and water-saving practices in their fields.

ToFTraining of Facilitators
ToF
Training of Facilitators

A season-long course that turns extension staff and lead farmers into skilled FFS facilitators.

ToTTraining of Trainers
ToT
Training of Trainers

A short, intensive course that prepares trainers to cascade a curriculum to wider audiences.

FBSFarmer Business School
FBS
Farmer Business School

Helps farmer groups plan, budget and market, turning production into profitable enterprise.

PMGProducer Marketing Group
PMG
Producer Marketing Group

Farmers organized to buy inputs, pool produce and sell together for better prices.

FFBFarmers Food Bank
FFB
Farmers Food Bank

A community grain and seed reserve that protects households in lean seasons and after disasters.

AlumniAlumni Networking
Alumni
Alumni Networking

FFS graduates stay connected to share innovations, mentor new groups and serve as farmer facilitators.

CongressFacilitators’ & Farmers’ Congresses
Congress
Facilitators’ & Farmers’ Congresses

National gatherings where facilitators, FFS graduate farmers and partner organisations share experience, set standards and shape policy.

R2EaLMRural Research, Engagement & Learning Model
R2EaLM
Rural Research, Engagement & Learning

Grown from SOFT’s FILM model: farmers, researchers and agencies co-design and run on-farm research as equals.

CoSEALCommunity-led Adaptive Livelihoods
CoSEAL
Community-led Stakeholder Engagement

Villages build their own climate-adaptation and livelihood plans with government, NGOs and researchers.

In the Field

Learning where farming happens

View all albums →
Women farmers in a TOF session among trellised vegetables
Women farmers in a TOF session among trellised vegetables
Farmers presenting their agro-ecosystem analysis (AESA) charts
Farmers presenting their agro-ecosystem analysis (AESA) charts
Women farmers on a field walk through their crops
Women farmers on a field walk through their crops
Women farmers planting vegetable seedlings
Women farmers planting vegetable seedlings
Farmer ploughing with oxen
Farmer ploughing with oxen
Facilitators observing chilli plants and recording field data
Facilitators observing chilli plants and recording field data
Women working in a Kitchen Garden
Women working in a Kitchen Garden
Farmer facilitators' training programme, Sindh
Farmer facilitators' training programme, Sindh
Women drafting a village climate-adaptation action plan
Women drafting a village climate-adaptation action plan
Fruit-tree plantation on salinity-affected land
Fruit-tree plantation on salinity-affected land
Women farmers in a kitchen-garden plot on saline soil
Women farmers in a kitchen-garden plot on saline soil
Farmers on an exposure visit to salinity-reclamation sites
Farmers on an exposure visit to salinity-reclamation sites
Women prioritising issues by voting in a village workshop
Women prioritising issues by voting in a village workshop
A farmer facilitator shares the season’s learning
A farmer facilitator shares the season’s learning
Men’s group mapping adaptation options
Men’s group mapping adaptation options
Village women’s group, Sindh
Village women’s group, Sindh
Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad presents Pakistan’s Farmer Field School achievements at the FAO regional workshop on institutionalizing FFS, Bangkok, May 2016
Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad presents Pakistan’s Farmer Field School achievements at the FAO regional workshop on institutionalizing FFS, Bangkok, May 2016
The SOFT delegation beside Pakistan’s FFS institutionalization timeline at the FAO workshop in Bangkok, 2016
The SOFT delegation beside Pakistan’s FFS institutionalization timeline at the FAO workshop in Bangkok, 2016
SOFT members with regional FFS colleagues during the Bangkok workshop, 2016
SOFT members with regional FFS colleagues during the Bangkok workshop, 2016
SOFT Founder members and facilitators gather for a meeting, May 2010
SOFT Founder members and facilitators gather for a meeting, May 2010
SOFT Founder members and families on a field outing in the hills
SOFT Founder members and families on a field outing in the hills
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Track Record

Our projects

  1. NewUpcoming

    HORT/2025/126 — Agroecological management for resilient smallholder banana systems in Asia

    With SAU Tandojam & MUET JamshoroHyderabad & Matiari, Sindh
  2. 2026–31Ongoing

    CALS project — farming, enterprise & mobility-based livelihood adaptation (CLIM/2022/136)

    ACIAR, Australian GovernmentSouthern Sindh
  3. 2025–26

    Community-led & stakeholder-engaged adaptation for Southern Pakistan (WAC/2024/1536)

    ACIAR, Australian GovernmentSanghar & Khipro (Sanghar); Sujawal & Shahbandar (Sujawal)
  4. 2021–24

    Adapting to salinity in the Southern Indus Basin (LWR-2017/027)

    ACIAR; led by MUET Jamshoro with IUCN, MNSUAM and SAUMalwah (Qazi Ahmed), Mirpur Khas, Tando Muhammad Khan, Keti Bandar, Sujawal, Jalalpur Pirwala, Muzaffargarh, Yazman
  5. 2015–19

    Water management & Irrigation Field Schools (LWR-2014/074)

    ACIAR, Australian GovernmentSukkur, Ghotki, Bahawalpur, Sialkot, Sargodha, Quetta
  6. 2015

    Enhancing food security by empowering women to combat hunger & malnutrition

    Aga Khan Planning & Building ServicesThatta, Sindh
  7. 2015

    Business management skills for PMGs & home-based women workers

    International Labour OrganizationMirpur Khas & Dadu
  8. 2015

    Formation, appraisal & capacity building of 40 Producer Marketing Groups

    FAO PakistanMirpur Khas & Dadu
  9. 2014–16

    Strengthening sustainable livelihoods in southern Sindh

    TrócaireMirpur Khas, Thatta, Umerkot, Dadu, Badin, Sanghar, Hyderabad
  10. 2013

    Emergency livelihood assistance for flood-affected farmers

    FAO PakistanJacobabad, Sindh
  11. 2012

    Livestock FFS facilitators — Balochistan Agriculture Project (GCP/PAK/113/USA)

    FAO Pakistan / USAIDQuetta, Pishin, Zhob, Loralai, Mastung, Noshki and more
  12. 2012

    Hybrid maize production technology through FFS (GCP/PAK/113/USA)

    FAO Pakistan / USAIDBalochistan
  13. 2012

    Livestock production & vegetable seedling production through FFS

    FAO Pakistan / USAIDSherani, Zhob, Loralai, Musakhel, Killa Saifullah and more
  14. 2012

    Capacity building of agriculture officers on wheat production through FFS

    FAO Pakistan / USAIDSherani, Zhob, Loralai, Musakhel, Killa Saifullah and more
  15. 2010–11

    Wheat productivity & wheat rust management through FFS

    FAO Pakistan (IFAD-funded)Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
  16. 2010–11

    FFS/WOS facilitators & backstopping — EU Food Facility (GCP/PAK/115/EC)

    FAO Pakistan / European UnionBalochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh
  17. 2010

    Rural women in kitchen gardening & off-season vegetables

    FAO PakistanMansehra, Kohat, Buner, Peshawar, Gilgit, Muzaffargarh, R.Y. Khan, Muzaffarabad and more
  18. 2010

    Kitchen gardening, food processing & beekeeping for gender parity (UNJP/PAK/116/SPA)

    FAO PakistanRawalpindi–Islamabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Multan, Vehari, Muzaffargarh, Pishin, Naushahro Feroze
  19. 2010

    Off-season vegetable tunnel farming

    FATA Development ProgrammeSouth FATA
  20. 2009–10

    Integrated Poultry & Livestock Management

    FAO PakistanBahawalpur, Buner, Chakwal, Haripur, Karak
Where We Work

A network across Pakistan

SOFT emerged from a decade of IPM-FFS work under the National IPM Programme. Today it supports a network of smallholder farmer organizations formed through Farmer Field Schools — sharing responsibility and resources to empower their members.

0Districts reached
4Provinces, plus GB, AJK & ICT
SOFT Pakistan Alliance 2030

39 FFS farmer organizations

Smallholder farmer organizations formed through Farmer Field Schools, working together to combat hunger and malnutrition.

  1. 01Bhakkar Patient Welfare Society
  2. 02Buner Women Organization
  3. 03Chakwal Women Organization
  4. 04FAO Alumni Associations Network
  5. 05Farmer Agriculture Innovative Development Organization
  6. 06Farmer Facilitator Organizations
  7. 07Farmer Integrated Development Association (FIDA)
  8. 08Ghotki Agriculture Loyal Association
  9. 09Hasher Foundation
  10. 10Indus Development Foundation
  11. 11Indus Farmer Welfare Association
  12. 12Indus Welfare Association
  13. 13Karak Women Organization
  14. 14Kissan Dost Association
  15. 15Kissan Foundation Faisalabad
  16. 16Kissan Foundation Gujranwala
  17. 17Kissan Foundation Multan
  18. 18Kissan Foundation R.Y. Khan
  19. 19Kissan Foundation Sargodha
  20. 20Kissan Khushhal Tanzeem D.G. Khan
  21. 21Kissan Khushhal Tanzeem Sahiwal
  22. 22Kissan Welfare Association
  23. 23Life Development Organization
  24. 24Linkages Initiatives for Farmers Education
  25. 25Madni Women Development Organization
  26. 26Mianwali Shahzad Welfare Association
  27. 27Moen Jo Daro Agriculture Welfare Association
  28. 28One Society Pakpattan
  29. 29PAFO
  30. 30Participatory Community Development Program
  31. 31Promotion for Agriculture, Culture & Education
  32. 32Regional Agriculture Development Organization
  33. 33Rural Economy Uplift Program
  34. 34Sindh Agriculture Development Association
  35. 35Sustainable Agriculture & Friendly Environment
  36. 36Sustainable Agriculture Farmer Welfare Organization
  37. 37Sustainable Agriculture Organization
  38. 38Women Agriculture Development Organization
  39. 39Women Agriculture Facilitators Association
Knowledge Hub

Insights & resources

Guidelines, reports, articles, manuals and stories from SOFT facilitators and partners, plus our latest news from Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Partner with SOFT to design, implement and innovate field programmes, conduct research and access expert consultancy, or commission tailor-made training courses, curricula and monitoring & evaluation for your organization.

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Contact

Let's work together

Whether you want to partner on a programme, join our network or learn more about Farmer Field Schools, we'd love to hear from you.

SOFT SecretariatHouse No. 33, Chinar Street, Green Avenue,
Chatha Bakhtawar, Park Road, Islamabad 45000, Pakistan
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