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. 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. 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.
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. 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.