Smallholders' acceptance of innovations depends largely on the approach used to take their needs and constraints into account. The adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies by smallholders can lead to a reduction in pesticide use in cotton, as soon as the recommended cropping practices are adapted to local conditions and associated with a threshold-based use of chemicals. To achieve this goal, farmers need to be trained on the biological basis of IPM. To ensure effective and rational implementation of IPM by farmers, it is essential to overcome constraints associated with pest scouting, identifying and preserving beneficial insects, and gaining access to the right inputs on time. In the current African context, where the extension system is sometimes in very poor shape, participatory methods fostered by the ‘farmer field school’ concept could enable farmers to implement an integrated approach to pest management, while keeping researchers informed about farmers' needs and constraints. Our paper is an attempt to use such a participatory method as a tool to explore farmers' needs and constraints when smallholders are asked to adopt an integrated approach to cotton pest management.