Indonesia - Achievements

1. Overview
2. Country Strategy
3. Priorities
4. Key Program Managers
5. Current Projects
6. Concluded Projects
7. Achievements
8. Relevant Publications
9. Country News and Stories
10. Project Locations
11. Country Office
12. Country Portfolio
13. AusAid and Other Briefs
14. Fellowship Statistics

Achievements

Key indicators and performance for 2008-09

Indicator: A new R&D strategy for improvement in productivity and competitiveness of the Indonesian tropical fruit industry agreed and implemented

Performance: Following the development of an industry strategic plan, ACIAR implemented three projects that address key fruit industry issues including improved market access and quality, improved policies for competitive supply chains, and building the capacity of the eastern Indonesia industry.

Indicator: A joint Indonesian–Australian major agricultural R&D initiative in Papua, Indonesia, designed and implemented

Performance: A new project, ‘Improvement and sustainability of sweetpotato–pig production systems to support livelihoods in highland Papua and West Papua, Indonesia’, designed through a series of workshops and consultations, commenced in March 2009.

Indicator: Initial outputs achieved of the adaptive research component of the Smallholder Agribusiness Development Initiative used by participants in the agribusiness value chain to enhance profitability

Performance: Twenty adaptive R&D projects were funded to either work in existing value chains or promote new chains, with outputs now being used including: better timing of irrigation, resulting in 15% reduction in water usage in irrigated rice fields; selected cocoa clonal materials being used in more than 200 farm nurseries in Sulawesi, Indonesia's largest peanut company, developing a seed supply scheme that will be expanded to 18,000 farmers; and forage legumes able to produce 4,000 kg dry matter/ha in rotation with maize in Nusa Tenggara Timur to feed livestock during the late dry season in use.

Indicator: Development of improved approaches to technology assessment facilitates knowledge exchange between R&D and extension providers in eastern Indonesia

Performance: Pilot roll-out projects were implemented for developing improved approaches to technology assessment and knowledge exchange, with workshops held with provincial teams to evaluate and develop the approach, a study conducted to improve the effectiveness of communication through extension media, and workshops held with Provincial Technology Commissions to strengthen research and extension linkages.

Indicator: Improvements to Indonesia’s veterinary services system, policy and operations commenced through development, endorsement and piloting of INDOVETPLAN; and improvements to endemic disease control programs

Performance: Four projects have contributed to the Indovetplan: a new surveillance protocol for foot-and-mouth disease; training courses for 15 veterinarians in avian influenza risk analysis and control; a surveillance program for rabies control in Bali and three training workshops for zoonotic disease control in eastern Indonesia; and the creation of a government–donor–industry forum for poultry biosecurity.

Indicator: Redevelopment of Ujung Batee Regional Brackishwater Aquaculture Development Centre, providing effective delivery of technical services to Aceh farmers

Performance: The Centre has been rebuilt and revitalised under the Australia Indonesia Partnership, and opened by the Australian Prime Minister in 2008, and is the primary source of technical services for the aquaculture industry in Aceh.

Indicator: Aquaculture planning tools adopted by relevant planning agencies in South Sulawesi

Performance: Simple aquaculture planning tools developed under past projects are widely seen by stakeholder agencies as having significant potential to underpin sustainable growth of coastal aquaculture in Indonesia.

Indicator: At least 40 per cent of new projects designed with potential for significant farmer or policymaker impacts within five years of completion

Performance: Five of six projects commenced in Indonesia in 2008–09 are designed to have significant farmer impact within 5 years of completion.

Achievements from the 2008-09 Annual Report

Subprogram 1: Improved policies to underpin agribusiness development

In eastern Indonesia research has helped identify factors constraining livestock production in the region’s smallholder farming systems. Constraints include: availability and quality of forages, especially during the dry season; poor knowledge and/or capacity to implement optimum feed management practices; limited supplies of readily accessible stock water; bull availability; inadequate cattle housing; labour availability; extended and sub-optimal breeding cycles; diseases; marketing constraints and limited access of smallholders to the formal credit sector for acquiring cattle and livestock-handling materials. Most of the technologies needed to address these constraints have already been developed in Indonesia or elsewhere, and the project has opened the door to make them available to local farmers.

After the Asian currency crisis of 1997 Indonesian policymakers liberalised foreign investment in the retail sector, allowing rapid growth in foreign-invested supermarket chains. As a result, the share of supermarkets and convenience stores in retail food sales rose from 22% in 2000 to 30% in 2004. A study is examining the transformation of selected high-value supply channels in Indonesia and their impact on farmers, wholesalers and first-stage processors. The commodities are mango, mangosteen, chillies, shallot and prawns. Based on a series of scoping missions, an improved understanding of the supply chain relationships between supermarkets, processors and farmers has been developed. This has revealed that processors are not as focused on quality as supermarkets, instead relying on trader-level sorting and grading. Farmers are embracing technical change across a number of industries, much of it in response to domestic demand.

A new project commenced in January examining policy futures for economic development and structural adjustments in Indonesia. The focus is on integrating policy options to manage the growing global economic uncertainty with environmental pressures. Improving the capacity of Indonesian policymakers through the project is being achieved through their involvement in project activities.

A Collaborative Competitive Grants scheme was developed to help implement a new approach to adaptive research under the SADI umbrella. Using pilot roll-out activities, new agricultural technologies and management systems will be rolled out at a small scale, targeting farmer adoption. An additional $2 million was granted by AusAID through SADI to fund new activities in the production of fertilisers from seaweed and the production of high-value spiny lobster aquaculture. An institutional development program in collaboration with the World Bank-funded Farmer Empowerment through Agricultural Technology and Information will help link project activities with 14 extension agencies across Indonesia.

Subprogram 2: Livestock biosecurity

Indonesia and Australia are collaborating to develop a national surveillance system for classical swine fever, avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Indonesia. Guidelines for a surveillance program for FMD have been established and incorporated into a contingency plan for action, should the disease be detected in Indonesia. This improved plan is of significant benefit to Australia and helps maintain confidence in Indonesia's status of freedom from FMD. If all of Australia's immediate northern neighbours are free from FMD, it reduces the risk of disease incursion into northern Australia.

A study for classical swine fever (CSF) in Alor is ongoing. Project research has determined that syndromic surveillance (using health-related data that precede diagnosis and warn of potential outbreaks) cannot be effectively implemented on Alor until farmers are able to recognise signs of disease and report it to an animal health authority. Alor farmers spend most of their time tending to crops, up to 5 km distant from their households, with the husbandry of animals a low priority. As a result, education relating to pig health, husbandry and nutrition is not embraced, culminating in the farmer’s inability to recognise signs of disease.

A suite of projects examining the epidemiology, pathogenesis, control and vaccination options of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in ducks in Indonesia and Vietnam has made significant progress. HPAI is a transboundary animal disease. Ducks are a known reservoir of the infection and, as migratory birds, have the potential to spread HPAI. In Indonesia serological data show that the prevalence of HPAI infection in sampled ducks and in-contact chickens was relatively low, but that the birds are highly susceptible to infection. About 20% of the duck flocks and 2% of the in-contact chicken flocks had at least one bird exposed to HPAI virus. Outbreaks were common, with nearly half of the monitored flocks experiencing at least one outbreak and mortality high among the chickens. By comparison, in Vietnam, most of the birds in the study flocks were reported to be vaccinated. Serological results indicated that 50% or more of birds per flock had protective levels of antibody. However, no mortality due to HPAI was reported in any of the study villages, suggesting adequate protection.

The H5N1 strain of avian influenza is now endemic in Indonesia, and vaccine failures leading to disease in vaccinated birds must be expected. A project is investigating vaccine efficacy and failures in order to improve the effectiveness of vaccination in commercial Sector 3 in West Java. Sixty farms in three districts with the highest concentration of poultry in the province were visited and data collected on flock health, vaccination and management. Analysis showed variable vaccination practices but, importantly, disease outbreaks due to H5N1 are uncommon. This finding supports the current vaccination policies.

Essential to control of HPAI in Indonesia is the management of animal and animal product movement. Research examining policy options has demonstrated that prevention of further HPAI spread and eradication from specific provinces (such as Bali) relies on identifying high-risk poultry movements and formulating policy to restrict, manage and/or monitor these movements. In the first year of the project activities were focused on investigation of the poultry markets in Bali and Lombok. The researchers detected low levels of biosecurity practiced by collectors and vendors at times of increased volumes of chicken and duck trading, such as during religious celebrations and festivals. The continued lack of biosecurity in the non-industrial commercial poultry sector (NICPS) ensures that HPAI cannot be effectively controlled in Indonesia. Lack of biosecurity past the farm gate, limited trace-back, multiple production cycles, low level of understanding of biosecurity, and minimal price differentiation between healthy and sick birds lead to poor implementation of farm biosecurity systems. Project work is developing cost-effective biosecurity measures with a demonstrated benefit to NICPS farmers. An Indonesian Biosecurity Consultative Group has been set up to develop an industry-driven and supported approach to improving on-farm biosecurity, including creation of a Poultry Biosecurity Centre.

A project is directing efforts to improving veterinary service delivery in Indonesia, addressing the challenges posed by the decentralisation of the political system in 2000. The discovery of rabies in people and dogs in Bali in 2008 illustrates the need for greater coordination of veterinary, quarantine and human health services. Objective 1 of the project, to develop a comprehensive INDOVETPLAN for Indonesia, has been customised to accommodate the Bali rabies situation. Progress to improve regional control programs for brucellosis in West Timor, anthrax in the Eastern Islands and rabies in Flores continues. For each disease both technical and economic perspectives of control are being introduced, with action afoot to develop options for improved control and subject them to prospective benefit–cost analysis.

Subprogram 3: Research to underpin development of competitive horticultural agribusinesses

New cropping models and water management systems have been developed to support the higher value vegetable production industries of the eastern provinces of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) and Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB). But despite the significant investment and efforts to encourage uptake of the new systems, very few significant changes of practice have been observed. A study undertaken to discover the reasons for the lack of adoption found a multitude of answers. Constraints included lack of capital and access to credit, market price risk, production risks and inadequate incentives for maintenance of water infrastructure capital assets. The study team also identified a range of cultural, social and institutional problems, resulting in recommendations that extension efforts should focus on smaller farms and on female members of the households.

Rodents are the number one pest of rice in Indonesia and one of the top three pests in Vietnam. Traditionally, farmers have relied heavily on the use of rodenticides, electrocution and spreading sump oil mixed with insecticides onto flooded rice fields to manage the rodent problem, but these can be expensive, are often applied after significant damage has already occurred, and cause environmental problems. ACIAR-funded research has introduced ecologically based rodent management (EBRM), encouraging farmers to manage rodents through community approaches. These have been shown to reduce rat damage, increase yields and reduce the reliance on rodenticides. The level of rodent damage to rice crops has reduced (now less than 4% losses), and higher rice yields are reported in areas where EBRM has been implemented. Project work is now quantifying the significant adoption and dissemination of EBRM that has occurred, and completing the post-implementation survey on farmers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices in Indonesia (Karawang, West Java; and Pinrang, South Sulawesi) and in Vietnam (Ha Nam, Red River Delta; and An Giang in the Mekong Delta).

The temperate highland climate in the provinces of West Java, Central Java, South Sulawesi and NTB enables predominantly small-scale growers to grow potatoes, brassicas and alliums as cash crops. A project aims to develop potato, brassica and allium (shallot) production and postharvest systems. Baseline surveys have so far identified constraints to production in potatoes and cabbage, leading to the identification of potential best-bet management recommendations. These are being tested and validated through learning-by-doing plots run through the Farmer Field School system. This research links with a project to improve incomes and promote sustainable livelihoods among vegetable farming households in West and Central Java through integrating farmers into profitable supply chains and enhancing their capacity to adopt market-driven technology and innovative practices. The project has established and formalised a broad, diverse partnership among stakeholders in the Indonesian potato/vegetable sector; assessed needs and opportunities for linking farmers with markets through rapid market chain assessment; strengthened capacity of project partners through training on a participatory market chain approach; and facilitated contacts and established working relationships between farmers and other market chain partners.

The diseases anthracnose and Phytophthora blight and whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses have been studied in chilli pepper in Indonesia, affirming the severity of anthracnose and geminivirus. But losses due to Phytophthora wilt have been less than expected. Seeking solutions through integrated disease management (IDM), trials have progressively moved from research stations to farmer fields. Several lines of chilli have been identified as resistant to Java isolates of Phytophthora, including several of the ‘cabe rawit’ type. Of some 92 lines screened for resistance to whitefly-transmitted geminivirus, 15 were found to be immune to infection.

Work has commenced during the year on a project to improve the international competitiveness of the mango and mangosteen industries in Indonesia. It seeks to develop systems that will allow these industries to meet the requirements for technical market access and therefore deliver high-quality fruit into the market.

Fruit flies are a major pest in Indonesia, causing significant losses to fruit and vegetable crops. They are also an impediment to fresh fruit exports. Indonesia lacks much of the infrastructure to manage this pest. A research team has determined the geographic distribution and host ranges of the flies by conducting surveys using traps and host fruits. A list of fruit fly species occurring in West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, North Maluku, Maluku, Papua and West Papua has been completed after extensive sorting and study of thousands of fruit fly specimens sent to Griffith University. Scientists now have a complete picture of the fruit flies of the Indonesian archipelago, and have listed the seven species of economic importance. A workshop has trained sufficient Indonesian project staff to now enable independent identification of Indonesian fruit flies. The protein bait plant at PT Multi Bintang Brewery in Tangerang, West Java, which was commissioned in March 2008, is now producing fruit fly bait for the field control trials in Indonesia. The bait, registered under the trade name Indo Prima, is an affordable solution for Indonesian farmers.

In Indonesia over 140,000 farmers grow sugarcane, but over the last 40 years productivity has been declining. A project studying the influence of the most important pests and diseases in the Javan sugarcane industry, and the development of appropriate management strategies to minimise their economic effects, has been active during 2008–09. Extensive preliminary surveys (over 930 individual crops) in western, central and eastern Java were undertaken, providing foundation knowledge of the distribution of pests and diseases and also refining pest and disease monitoring methods. Information on biocontrol species attacking the major borer pests has also been collected. The incidence of the borer species varied with location and site. A field manual is being written on pests and diseases of sugarcane and management options.

Subprogram 4: Productive smallholder aquaculture and agroforestry systems

A suite of projects to improve the productivity of smallholder shrimp farming is underway. Shrimp is the most important export product in the Indonesian fisheries sector, making product quality and food safety important issues for meeting market demands. Two projects are working to increase profitability for smallholder farmers through introducing and improving better management practices (BMPs). The first is working with volunteer farmers in central Java and South Sulawesi to implement BMPs, before scaling up programs to introduce these practices to larger groups of farmers. The Central Java provincial and Pinrang district administrations will fund independent, parallel BMP programs once trials of the practices have been completed successfully. The second project is working at the regional level, in Indonesia, India, Thailand and Vietnam, to create a networking approach for implementing BMPs to smallholder farmers in the region. The Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia Pacific is leading the work, including the development of methodologies for farmer group certification.

Another regional project, linking Indonesia, Thailand and India, is working to develop a clearer understanding of the transmission mechanisms for the pathogen white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). The project is improving the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods to test for the presence of the virus, with researchers from Indonesia, India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Burma involved in training on using the methodology for testing. Complementing this focus on shrimp health is research in Indonesia to classify land suitable for aquaculture farming. Some soils in Indonesia, once disturbed, become toxic to fish as they release acid sulfates. Using land classification and mapping, areas suitable for aquaculture production in South Sulawesi have been identified. Site selection criteria for farmers have also been developed. This project has links to another, focusing on sea cage aquaculture, which concluded in December 2008. Both projects operated under the auspices of the National Steering Committee and Local Advisory Committee in South Sulawesi. The results of the project include a computer-aided design tool for help in assessing potential impacts from sea cage aquaculture operations.

Marine finfish aquaculture is a potentially lucrative industry, with live fish particularly in demand. The biggest barrier to production has been poor survival rates of fish reared from the larval stage. Significant problems have been caused by limited management options for effective larvae rearing, lack of appropriate feeds, and diseases. Using a combination of techniques, significant progress has been made towards improving survival rates. The use of ‘trash’ fish as a feed has shown that this technique can match or surpass pellet feeds, with survival rates of around 75–95% for selected high-value species. A new project, focusing on yellowfin tuna culturing, has trialled a number of methods to improve the sustainable capture of broodstock, and on larval rearing to identify possible improvements. Viral nervous necrosis, a nodaviral disease, affects diverse marine finfish species and is a barrier to increased aquaculture production. Control strategies for the disease are being developed by a new project using PCR assays to detect the presence of the disease. Biosecurity measures are also being assessed within project activities, along with diagnostic capacities.

Aquaculture of caged fish in inland reservoirs is widespread in parts of Indonesia, but overstocking of fish threatens survival rates of both caged and wild fish. Research is developing management strategies that address both issues, including the development of management practices that have been disseminated among farmers.

Subprogram 5: Sustainable management and profitable use of fisheries and forestry resources

The capture fisheries within Indonesian waters are among the largest in the world and represent a food and income resource for tens of millions of people. This highly diverse set of fisheries supports a range of activities undertaken by small artisanal family groups to highly industrialised and mobile fishing fleets targeting high-value products. The collapse of fisheries (currently a worldwide phenomenon) could have severe social, economic and environmental impacts in Indonesia. Collaborative research is seeking to develop new, innovative fisheries policy and management frameworks; develop new, fishery-specific stock assessment processes; and improve monitoring, scientific and policy frameworks for sustainable management of stocks within Indonesian waters.

Two projects are focused on gaining a clearer understanding of fishing practices. The first is developing the capacity to monitor and analyse tuna fishing levels in response to downward trends in catches. As a result of this research, Indonesia has been able to produce catch estimates for key tuna species caught by Indonesian longline boats, and submit this to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission. Coordinated regional action is essential to managing these and other fisheries. Determining sustainable catch levels is also hampered by illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. A new project is piloting a program designed to help manage IUU fishing using capture and market data, with work beginning to develop a baseline of fish numbers in several fisheries. Already the research has produced new information about the fish catches in several fishing ports and developed a revised approach to data collection for selected fish stocks.

Deforestation and forest degradation are major global challenges. Indonesia has an annual deforestation of 1.5 million ha/year, amounting to an estimated 14% of global deforestation. Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) is a challenge for Indonesia, with ramifications for post-Kyoto climate change protocols. An ACIAR-funded project is building capacity in Indonesia to better understand and manage REDD, with mechanisms being developed based on project research into the impacts of fiscal decentralisation in the forestry sector. Mapping of deforestation in two districts in Riau province has also begun, and will contribute to the development of policies to manage REDD.

Scientists involved in managing fungal root rot in plantation acacias have uncovered a diversity of fungi associated with root rot in Eucalyptus pellita (and clones of E. pellita hybrids) planted as an alternative species on land previously growing Acacia mangium. Two species of Ganoderma fungus have been recovered from areas where both the previous acacia and the current eucalypt crop have suffered high losses from root rot. Pathogenicity tests are underway to provide definitive assessments of the pathogenicity of Ganoderma philippii against Acacia mangium, Eucalyptus pellita and Alstonia solaris. A risk assessment tool has been developed to provide risk ratings of the infection at sites based on age, rotation, soil type, slope and GPS coordinates. Additionally, ground-penetrating radar has been used for the first time in the Indonesian pulpwood industry to assess root structure and its implications for disease spread.

Acacias are fast-growing species suitable for wood fibre production, capable of achieving high growth and producing high-quality pulp and timber product. At 22 field sites across Indonesia and Australia scientists are exploring the interactions between genetically improved acacia material and management. Results thus far have supported the hypothesis that productivity gains will require a combination of both improved management and improved genetics. The combined management and improved genetics gave a 177% increase in productivity in the first year over baseline productivity (no phosphorus (P) fertiliser and unimproved genetics), compared with P fertiliser and unimproved material (65%) or use of improved material with no P fertiliser (32%).

ACIAR-funded research to improve economic outcomes for smallholders growing teak in agroforestry systems in Indonesia has three main objectives: to introduce and adapt silvicultural technologies that improve returns for smallholder teak producers; to identify and design financing schemes providing incentives for smallholder participation in profitable teak production; and to enhance market access by smallholder teak producers. The project team has identified some common obstacles faced by smallholders to improving their management practices, including the lack of access to high-quality seedlings, and a lack of knowledge and technical skills to apply proper silviculture techniques. Six farmer demonstration trials established on selected farms are being used to trial best-bet options to demonstrate the benefits of silviculture practices.

Jepara in Java has a long tradition of high-quality furniture making, coupled with ready access to high-quality teak. Inefficiencies throughout the value chain currently result in plantation overharvesting, leading to poor incentives for producers and misuse of resources. A project has commenced to specifically enhance the structure and function of Jepara’s furniture industry to benefit small-scale furniture producers. A survey has revealed that incomes earned by furniture producers were generally higher than those of average households, while urban and semi-urban areas have varied sources of income. An earlier survey revealed that around 30% of workshop owners surveyed had abandoned their businesses as a result of high input costs and low selling prices for their products. The project is addressing these problems, and in December 2008 the International Center for International Forestry Research officially launched the local Furniture Value Chain project office in Jepara to facilitate research activities and stakeholder engagement.

Subprogram 6: Profitable agribusiness systems for Indonesia (SADI)

Projects under this subprogram are further divided into livestock research; field and horticultural crop production, processing and marketing; and estate crops and forest products.
Livestock research

There are prospects of a more nutritious diet for both the human population and their livestock in West Timor through modification of the traditional maize-based farming system. Scientists have identified annual and semi-perennial forage legumes adapted to West Timor’s semi-arid tropical environment, which includes a long dry season in which food becomes scarce. The project has identified unused soil water at maize harvest, supplemented by late wet season rainfall, as an opportunity to increase productive capacity. Forage legumes able to use these resources have been introduced for growth on fallow lands. A new project, focusing on improving the sweetpotato–pig livestock system commenced in the second half of the financial year. Technologies developed in an earlier related project are included in a new International Fund for Agricultural Development project investing $10.5 million into livelihood improvements in Papua and West Papua.

In South Sulawesi a suite of projects is helping build capacity in the knowledge and adoption of Bali cattle improvement technology. Best-bet activities have been consolidated in 12 study villages across three regencies, establishing a framework for social research, supporting and tracking scale-out, and building capacity. The best-bet process tailors options with individual farmers before design and establishment of on-farm trials. The trials incorporate village nurseries, cattle and forage monitoring and dynamic calendars of activities. In Lombok scaling-up of herd management strategies in crop–livestock systems has focused on community and institutional engagement, implementing improved infrastructure and breeding and feeding practices. Breeding management activities were focused on controlled mating through provision of a bull. Project bulls serviced over 1,000 cows in the 6-month period—58% from project kandangs (91% of the total number of mature females) and 42% from neighbouring farms. Small plots have been established at each study kandang to demonstrate new forages, management techniques and aspects of animal nutrition. The performance of calves receiving supplementation at weaning stage demonstrated that those supplemented between 1 and 6 months of age were 43% heavier than the non-supplemented controls. This practice makes the animals more valuable, as males require less time to fatten and reach target weight for export sooner, while females begin reproducing earlier and are likely to produce an extra calf during their lifetime.

The supply chain of the eastern Indonesian beef sector is driven by an increasing demand for beef as a result of rising incomes. The high demand has resulted in a decline in cattle numbers and average slaughter weights because productive female cattle are killed and animals are slaughtered at premature weights. Regulations to prohibit the slaughter of females and breeding programs to rebuild herd sizes both seem to have a limited effect. A project to address these and other problems has conducted farm-level and customer interviews at the Jakarta market. The project members now have an insight into the most likely development of the supply chain.

In South Sulawesi there are a number of constraints that limit industry development and market improvements for goat production. Developing a more integrated supply chain, with improved production, management and access to markets, could help both the local and export market. A new project commenced during the year to address these constraints, with findings to date indicating a strong demand, tied to cultural and religious requirements, for goats.

Field and horticultural crop production, processing and marketing

A project to enhance productivity and profitability of tropical pulses in Indonesia and Australia began with mungbean varietal trials in the Belu district of NTT. The trials identified two new varieties (Vima and Siriti) with yields 30–40% higher than local varieties, suggesting scope for improving productivity. On-farm trials to evaluate peanut varietal and improved management practices in lowland irrigated systems in Lombok demonstrated scope for achieving fresh pod yield of up to 8 t/ha by implementing improved practices, compared to less than 3 t/ha from conventional practices. Research into quality management to enhance effective supply chains for mangoes and rambutans in NTB commenced in September 2008, with the major quality constraints in both crops under investigation. A range of appropriate management interventions were introduced to deal with observed quality constraints, and trials on postharvest fungicides commenced.

Opportunities for marketing citrus from eastern Indonesia are the subject of a project that began with preliminary mapping of the marketing system. The mapping assisted the project team to select three localities with citrus of superior or ‘desirable’ characteristics—Selayar Island in South Sulawesi (Sulsel), Buton Island in South-east Sulawesi (Sultra) and the Soe region in NTT. All regions grow different and superior quality mandarins (keprok), which are predominately or exclusively consumed locally.

A study of integrated tropical passionfruit production systems addresses common issues of production in both South Sulawesi and northern Australia. In South Sulawesi the primary market driver is consistent monthly supply for processing fruit, while northern Australia seeks to fill a high-priced market niche for fresh fruit. Comprehensive disease surveys have been undertaken in Sulawesi and are continuing in north-western Australia. In South Sulawesi the team has identified the disease fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum var. passiflora) and confirmed that it is a key barrier to production.

A project that aims to generate sustainable, profitable productivity improvements in the irrigated rice-based farming systems of South and South-east Sulawesi carried out a rapid rural appraisal of the constraints to rice production in four villages under study. Four control villages were also selected. Major constraints encountered included limited water availability and pest problems like stem borers, weeds and rodents. Nutrient management is also a problem because of the increasing cost of fertiliser and soil fertility problems associated with too much water at certain times of the year.

Estate crops and forest products

Efforts are under way to improve cocoa production through farmer involvement in demonstration trials of potentially superior and pest/disease-resistant genotypes and integrated management practices. Trials established in five districts of Sulawesi, each testing 12 cocoa clones, are providing data on flowering and incidence of vascular-streak dieback, the most important disease affecting the vegetative stages of cocoa. Members of the Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute, accompanied by Australian project staff, conducted farmer group training sessions on cultural methods of pest and disease management. Project staff members also assisted a farmer group in North Luwu to establish demonstration plots.

NTT, Indonesia’s driest and poorest province, has a long history of interdependence between local livelihoods and the international, regional and local trade in non-timber forest products. A study of agroforestry systems in West Timor, Flores, Sumba and on Savu has generated a dataset, with the results being collated to inform future research recommendations. T

he international specialty coffee market is the focus of a project to generate value chain solutions for smallholder farmers in two provinces of eastern Indonesia—South Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara. The project is actively coordinating with international coffee buyers at various stages of project implementation. There are two principal foci for the project: the socioeconomic institutions that underpin smallholder coffee production and trade in eastern Indonesia, and quality assessment that will deepen the understanding of the physical determinants of taste (cup) characteristics of coffee in the region. A socioeconomic survey involving 796 coffee-growing households was completed in March 2009 to generate a comprehensive baseline account of farming practices, household budgets and farm-gate markets in each district.

Subprogram 7: Technical cooperation to underpin medium-term rehabilitation and development of agriculture and fisheries in Aceh

Work continued in efforts to restore annual cropping in tsunami-affected areas of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) province. The project team developed and demonstrated soil management practices to increase productivity of annual crops and strengthened the technical capacity of extension services in Aceh. The main factors affecting crop production immediately after the tsunami were social dislocation and high soil salinity. Salinity levels have been assessed and monitored with electromagnetic induction instruments (EM38), with recommendations to delay cropping until rainfall had leached the salt through the soil. Crop experiments and demonstration trials compared the performance of rice, peanut and soybean varieties; agronomic management practices; organic amendments; fertiliser packages; and local farmer practice, with significant yield increases reported in rice, peanut and soybean crops.

Efforts to introduce integrated soil and crop management for rehabilitation of vegetable production in the tsunami-affected areas of NAD province bore fruit over the past year. Compost, animal manures, lime and appropriate use of inorganic fertilisers have been identified for soil remediation and have been tested in farmer-participatory research trials. Eight trials were successfully completed, four with chilli and four with cucumber, in farmers' fields in four districts. Composts are being recommended in adapted farmer field schools and extension publications. Data collected are now yielding an extensive analysis of the vegetable sector in five districts. Initial results showed that, among the project-targeted vegetables in Aceh, chilli production provided better income and employment to farmers than other crops.

A project aims to build more profitable and resilient farming systems in NAD province. The research team has initially surveyed farmer and market activities in four villages in Aceh. The Indonesian Soils Research Institute is examining the landscape and climatic constraints to the local farming systems, and research activities related to soil amendments have commenced. Six NGOs working in agriculture in Aceh have expressed interest in participating in project activities, and training workshops are helping new field extension staff working in the villages targeted for the farmer surveys.