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IPM Farmers are doing research - they perform experiments with various inputs; they make field transects to collect data on local ecology; they gather detailed agro-ecological information; and they analyse resulting information. Understanding the ecosystem of their fields helps farmers reduce the amount of inputs, including pesticides, and practice sustainable agriculture. Taking a look at 2 places in Indonesia, Pangelangan and Ciamis, where IPM farmers have grouped together to do their own science, demonstrates the pressing need for agricultural institutions and governments to incorporate and value farmers' abilities and knowledge when creating agricultural programs.
Pangalengan sub-district is in the hills of West Java, about 40 kilometres south of Bandung. TP4 is an association of IPM Trainers in this sub-district. The primary aim of the group is to institutionalise IPM principles in the farming community and also to educate consumers about food produced in a more ecological manner. Farmers in this region face problems with:
 | High price of inputs |
| Low soil fertility |
| High incidence of pest and disease problems |
| Pesticide residues |
Cabbage is one of the major crops in this area. Generally, farmers and extension services believe that cabbage cannot be grown without the use of pesticides.
People further doubt that farmers can train other farmers to grow cabbage without pesticides. However, the TP4 farmer trainers in this area run Farmer Field Schools
(FFSs), teaching other farmers ecologically sustainable methods of agriculture. These Field Schools are held in farmers' villages, and conducted in the field itself. This direct method of learning encourages participants to do the same in their own fields - to observe, describe,
analyse, make action decisions and apply those decisions. (For more information on
FFSs, see fact sheet on Community IPM).
Farmers were facing problems with a cabbage disease, clubroot, so an IPM alumni group facilitated a study in order to find an appropriate solution. After various experiments it was discovered that an extract made from turmeric, traditionally used for healing wounds, could effectively eradicate the disease on cabbage as well. A new pest, the leaf miner, was also affecting potato yields, so farmers joined in a study with FAO, the International Potato Centre and several universities. This study revealed the existence of various natural enemies that proved to be more effective than pesticides. These two cases highlight how farmers can be an integral part of developing new approaches to pest management that is appropriate to their environment and their specific local problems.
TP4 farmers have established an IPM kiosk in their village in order to not only sell their products, but to also serve as a place where ideas can be exchanged between farmers. The kiosk is not profit-oriented; it offers non-IPM farmers a chance to find out more about the IPM program and the work the IPM trainers are doing. The kiosk sells vegetable seedlings, potato sprouts, equipment, fertilisers, compost and botanical and bio-agents (bacterial pathogens), which the farmers have made themselves. Chemical pesticides are also sold as part of the strategy to attract non-IPM farmers. When farmers come to buy chemical pesticides, TP4 farmers inquire about the problem the customer is having in the field. They ask about the age of the crop, what inputs have already been used, and try to offer explanations for the problem that the farmer is facing. If the farmer is unsure about the advice that is given, field evidence of the TP4 experiments is not far from the shop. In some cases, non-IPM farmers are invited to join various studies to learn ecologically sustainable methods themselves.
Iwan enjoys the opportunity to study IPM, and to research issues relevant to his life. Before he joined IPM, Iwan sprayed pesticides 12 times in a season, often resulting in acute poisoning: he felt itchy and tired after spraying. After attending a FFS, he only sprays according to his analysis of the field, maybe 1 or 2 times in a season, sometimes not at all. If and when he does think pesticides are required, he always uses protective clothing. For safety reasons, Iwan stores his pesticides underground, hiding the chemicals from his children and avoiding contamination of his family's environment.
Before IPM, pesticides comprised 40% of Iwan's production costs. He now saves enough money from his reduced pesticide use that he has expanded the area that he cultivates. Iwan sees many benefits of IPM. He not only protects his health and environment from his reduced pesticide use, but has saved money by also reducing his fertiliser use. Before he used 100 grams per plant, but with a deeper understanding of the nutritional needs of his crops, he learnt that 20 grams was sufficient. He also benefits from the end product, claiming that his vegetables are healthier and taste better. Iwan enjoys taking his children to the field and teaching them the difference between beneficial insects and pests.
Agus joined IPM in 1992. After graduating from a FFS, Agus sees various alternatives to using chemicals to control pests: better management of cultivation; different irrigation systems; mulch; knowing when to plant which crops according to the climate, and many more.
Having understood how pesticides leave residues in the soil to be absorbed by the next crop and contaminate water, Agus has decided to plant crops that can be grown with very few inputs, such as carrots. While other farmers have killed their animals by feeding them grass and weeds from their pesticide-sprayed fields, Agus is confident that his stock grazes on wholesome pastures. Agus feels he no longer needs to rely on agricultural extensionists; he is confident of his own knowledge and judgements about his farming.
Ciamis is a district in West Java that has many strong IPM farmer groups. There are about 23,000 IPM farmers in this area and from this group over 300 have been trained as farmer trainers.
A 'science learning' (action research) facility has been established in one of the sub- districts, Cikoneng, and farmers have:
| established a rice nursery and a field laboratory |
| produced compost and organic fertiser to sell in their own kiosk |
| advocated for pesticide-free products |
| experimented with different kinds of plants and fertilisers suitable for their fields |
| focused on soil fertility and identified reasons for why fertility has been decreasing |
Farmers in Ciamis acknowledge that understanding the ecology of the field entails more than gaining knowledge of bugs and plants. Here farmers are learning about soil properties because they are concerned about the fertility of their fields.
The group in
Rancah, Ciamis have a cooperative similar to the kiosk in Pangalengan where they sell pesticide-free rice, seeds, and compost. Farmers did comparisons between the farmers' seeds and the commercial seeds and found that their seeds were of better quality. They sell their products to other districts in the hope of encouraging other farmers to produce pesticide-free rice and therefore, pesticide-free seeds.
Recently, farmers also organised a series of discussions with the Bupati, the Head of the District. The aim of this dialogue was to gain a common understanding between the farmers and the local government about sustainable agricultural development, and to gain support for empowering farmers. The farmers' main principles are:
| To develop critical thinking capacities to deal with agricultural and other rural socio-economic issues |
| To conserve the environment which is central to farmers' livelihoods |
| To use democratic and participatory principles to achieve these goals |
As a result of discussions with the local government, the farmers' acquired 100 million rupiah in 2001. This money will be used to support various IPM farmer activities:
| compost making and other action research initiatives, including community campaigns about separating garbage into 'green' and 'plastics' |
| strengthening IPM networks through regular meetings, workshops, FFSs and field activities |
| holding district congress meetings for farmers to share ideas and results of their experiments and research |
Iik has graduated from a rice FFS and done training at the Farmers' Science Facility. Before joining IPM, Iik sprayed her crops with pesticides and used a lot of chemical
fertilisers. She has experienced many benefits from IPM:
| reduced environmental, health and monetary costs, from an increased understanding of agro ecosystems, resulting in less chemical inputs |
| increased knowledge about other crops, such as low-land vegetables, which she now grows and sells |
| experience in training and facilitating farmer groups |
| knowledge about making compost from local materials (banana stems and palm flower juice) which means she no longer needs to buy the decomposing agent |
| confidence about managing her own field in an ecologically sustainable manner with a greater awareness about insects, soils, micro organisms, water and much more |
Like other women in Cikoneng, Iik has lead various field studies and encourages other women to participate. She has gained tremendous support from her family because their farming practices have also improved from Iik's experience with IPM. FFSs and field studies are very important to Iik because the soil fertility in her area is declining from years of chemical inputs. Iik sees IPM as a program that can halt this process and help protect her environment from further damage.
For further information, contact:
Simon Tambunan at 'FIELD Indonesia' (NGO)