Resources

The Indonesian Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programme aims to develop ôIPM Communitiesö, whereby farming communities are organised to expand and practice agriculture, using an ecosystems approach to pest management. Recognising the wealth of knowledge that local farmers have, the IPM Programme encourages farmers to conduct studies, which are defined as ôstudies that are conducted by farmers, to answer farmersÆ questions, based on problems farmers faceö. This document explains what is meant by farmer studies, how they are conducted and disseminated, while providing case study examples. The impacts of farmer studies are discussed, which include ecological impacts such as decreased pest attacks and increased natural predators, as well as decreased pesticide use. The process has also empowered farmers, who have developed critical analytical skills, heightened self-confidence and increased technological capacity.