A Tale of Two Farmers This is a story of two women who are neighbours in the village of Sempor Lor, Probalinggo District, Central Java, Indonesia.  One of the women, Romini, participated in a Field School, the other, Sunani, did not.  Ms. Romini, 45 years old with four children, farms her family’s rice fields. Romini’s husband works as a trishaw driver, his farming activities are limited to field preparation and harvesting.  Romini takes care of all of the other farming activities.  She has been involved in growing rice since she was a child. “My husband’s income is not enough for us to live on.  The area I farm is only 750 m2 so I have been interested in finding a way to farm effectively so that my yields might be as high as possible.  I was happy when I was asked to be one of ten women to participate in a Field School in the rainy season of 1995-1996.  “Before I took part in the Field School I farmed the way my parents had taught me.  I used Urea and TSP and applied Diazinon two to three times a season.  I usually made applications just after transplanting to control brown planthoppers.  Later, when rice seed bugs would appear, I sprayed again.  Finally, at the point just before harvest, I would put on a final application to insure against damage before harvest.  My yields averaged between 200 and 300 Kg. “After attending the Field School I changed my approach to farming.  I learned that by applying pesticides I was increasing my costs as well as increasing my risks.  Pesticides kill both pests and natural enemies.  If I don’t spray, the natural enemies do my pest control work for me.  The Field School also helped me to learn about balanced fertilisation and planting distances.  I first started to apply IPM principles without telling anybody.  My yield for the first season went up to 350 Kg.  Since then I have averaged around 400 Kg. “I now meet with women’s groups and tell them about IPM principles and the dangers of pesticides.  I tell the farmers in the fields around me to watch what I am doing and learn from me don’t stick with outmoded ways.  No one near me is applying any pesticides. Ms. Sunani and her husband, Sumarto, have two children.  They live next door to Romini.  Sumarto works as labourer in construction and is available for farm work  only during field preparation and harvesting activities.  Sunani takes care of all of the rest of the fieldwork. “My rice field is about 1000 m2.   My yields in the past averaged from 400 to 500 Kg. per season.  What I know about farming I have learned from my parents, the extension worker, and my neighbours.  Many of my neighbours are well educated and have learned a lot about farming.  I had a chance to follow a Field School, but my mother was sick and I couldn’t.  Romini has told me much about IPM.  “For example, I am now using urea tablets, SP 36, and KCL.  KCL is something I never used in the past.  I am planting at a distance of 25 cm x 25 cm so that I can get more productive tillers.  I learned that pesticides are dangerous and a waste of money.  I am also planting the same varieties as my neighbours and not using pesticides.  Romini has taught me how to do field observations to look for pests  and natural enemies. “Since I have begun applying IPM principles my yields have gone up.  I am now averaging between 600 and 700 Kg.   I am very happy because of this.