A study conducted in three Tanzanian Districts in 2000 focused attention on stakeholders who have leadership, administrative, and various technical and development roles in relation to smallholders and cashew production. These stakeholders to a large extent shared the same perception of why and how sulphur fungicide must be used to ensure cashew production in the face of a perceived disease threat from powdery mildew disease (Oidium anacardii Noack). A standardised sulphur-based strategy for control of this serious disease was strongly favoured by the shared understanding, and by a coalition of organisational and financial resources of influential stakeholders. Major efforts to promote alternative knowledge and understanding about powdery mildew disease and its integrated control have, to a disturbing extent, not reached either the majority of producers or other stakeholders. Important factors limiting access to this knowledge were: poor integration of the knowledge and other resource networks of farmers and key non-farming stakeholders with official sources of alternative cashew crop protection and IPM information; ambiguity amongst researchers and development practitioners concerning the potential of IPM in cashew; deficient communication methods; and limited ideas on how to promote the active learning required for IPM. Researchers' understanding of the potential for IPM in cashew can be enriched through study of those farmers who have begun to practice their own local forms of IPM. Ways to enhance wider communication and testing of IPM concepts are suggested. These measures can help the emergence of a stronger consensus within the research establishment, and amongst intermediary and end-users of powdery mildew disease control information, for more vigorous development, promotion and use of IPM strategies in cashew powdery mildew control.