Participatory IPM Learning for Chili Farmers: A Qualitative Case Study in Mundung

This descriptive qualitative case study examined how crop-protection concerns identified by chili growers were translated into integrated pest management (IPM) learning and decision-support activities in Mundung Village, Southeast Minahasa, Indonesia. The unit of analysis was the group-level learning and decision-making process within the Mitra Sukses Farmers Group. Case material consisted of baseline field-observation descriptions, group discussion topics, documented training and field-practice activities, and qualitative programme evaluation accounts collected over approximately four months in 2026. The reported evidence was organized into five analytical domains: pest diagnosis, routine monitoring, prevention and sanitation, biological and botanical options, and responsible pesticide use. Initial observations and discussions indicated reliance on pesticide spraying, limited routine monitoring, and difficulties distinguishing pests, disease symptoms, and beneficial organisms. The documented programme addressed these concerns through guided crop inspection, sanitation demonstrations, group discussions, and the introduction of natural-enemy conservation, Trichoderma, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, and botanical alternatives. The analytical synthesis yielded a six-stage IPM decision cycle: prevention, monitoring, identification, decision-making, integrated response, and evaluation. The findings characterize the structure and content of participatory IPM learning at group level, rather than demonstrating changes in individual knowledge, adoption, yield, pesticide use, or farm income. This case offers a transparent starting point for subsequent evaluation of IPM decision-making and application in smallholder chili cultivation.