Effect of integrated pest management farmer field school (IPMFFS) on farmers knowledge, farmers groups ability, process of adoption and diffusion of IPM in Jember district

Abstract

This research aims to explore the effect of the integrated pest management farmer field School (IPMFFS) on farmers’ knowledge, farmers groups’ ability, and process of adoption and diffusion of IPM in Jember District. The population of the research was 556 groups of farmers, with 22.240 farmers who are engaged in the IPMFFS in Jember District. The sample of this research consisted of 400 farmers selected with stratified area random sampling technique. Area or region will be used as basis for sub-district: from 31 sub-districts will be taken 8 sub districts by random, and each sub-district will be represented by 2 farmer groups. It means 16 farmers group can act as sample and 400 farmers as sample taken proportionally. The conclusion is rationalized with the following points: (1) the IPMFFS has significant effect on farmers’ knowledge, (2) the IPMFFS improves three aspects of farmer groups’ ability, that is the ability to plan activity for improving agribusiness productivity, to implement and obey agreement with other institution and to apply technology, information and team work, (3) The IPMFFS has the ability to improve the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) by the farmers, and (4) the IPMFFS has the ability to improve diffusion of IPM by the farmers to other farmers. Key words: Integrated pest management, farmers’ knowledge, farmer group ability, adoption, diffusion.