Preparation before the field exercise on internal inspections
Before the participants go out to conduct the field exercise on internal inspections, give them the following guidance on how to conduct the exercise.
Go around the farm first before starting to ask questions on the checklist.
It is not necessary to start with the first question on the checklist and go down one by one. You can start with any question on the checklist, as you observe the farm.
Some questions can be answered by visual observation. You do not need to ask the farmer.
Everybody in the group should have a chance to ask questions to the farmer. If there are around 10 people in the group, each person can take charge of one principle and ask the questions under that principle.
TESA should be careful not to ask the question on behalf of the participants, and not to answer the questions on behalf of the farmer.
Do not act like a policeman. An internal inspection is an opportunity for training. An internal inspector is also a trainer, and his/her job is to identify points of improvements on the farm and to teach farmers how to improve.
Do not just criticize the farmer for what he is NOT doing well. Congratulate the farmer for what he IS already doing well, and encourage him to continue.
During the preparation time, read the checklist together with the participants, and
ensure that the participants understand all the criteria. Let the participants ask questions if they did not understand well any criterion.
While going through the criteria, identify the criteria that could be checked visually together with the participants.
