Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for - Aseanipm ...

Section 3 • Living Soil, Integrated Soil Nutrient and Crop Managements
INTEGRATED CROP MANAGEMENT 87
Integrated Crop Management (ICM) is a crop cultivation approach in which a balance between
ecological and economic aspects of farm management is continuously sought to ensure
sustainability of the enterprise. With this principle of balance, the diversity of management
among farms must be given particular attention. Integration of farmer’s indigenous practices with
other compatible organic farming technologies allows a farmer to develop appropriate management
schemes applicable under his or her specific farm conditions.
ICM employs farmers’ capacity to integrate technologies and adapt strategies. This is the only way
that will ensure successful, farm-specific development of cultivation practices, hence improvement
of farm management and output. One ICM element that farmers are perhaps not fully aware of, or
using, is the principle of establishing an ecological and economic balance, requiring some additional
problem-solving and decision-making skills.
To implement ICM options relevant to organic vegetable farming, farmers should be given the
opportunity to gain more experience and improve their existing knowledge through observations,
experimentation, and analysis directly in the field. This sub-section is designed to provide such
opportunities.
87 Fliert, E. van de and Bruan A.R. 2000. Farmer Field School for Integrated Crop Management of Sweet Potato: Field Guides and Technical Manual.
Yogyakarta, Indonesia. pp III-1 to III-2.
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