Philippines

ACIAR's program in the Philippines has been active since 1983. Initially the program had several projects dedicated to research on soil management issues: nutrient management, erosion control, rice cropping systems, biological nitrogen fixation and tree establishment on degraded land. Research on postharvest storage of grain and giant clam culture was also important. During the 1990s research cooperation moved towards livestock management and biotechnology. A shift to emphasise the poorer areas of Mindanao and the Visayas, while maintaining strong links to research and development expertise in Manila and Los Banos, will continue.

Improving uptake of research in the Philippines is a major priority. In collaboration with Philippine partners, ACIAR has increased its emphasis on better understanding extension processes and involving farmer and community groups in projects. There has been encouraging success with the adaptation of the landcare approach in Mindanao, management of catchments in the Visayas island of Bohol, and uptake of methods for successful tree establishment. New research projects are underpinned by design processes that involve the end users of the research and address their needs. Project design also accommodates additional challenges that have arisen from the devolution of management and governance of extension responsibilities to local government units, and the comparatively weak research-extension linkages that frequently exist.

Two major horticultural initiatives were designed involving researchers, government, NGOs and industry partners, commencing in 2007-08 with an investment from ACIAR of approximately $7 m. Both initiatives focus on the southern Philippines, specifically regions 8 (Leyte), 10 (northern Mindanao/Cagayan de Oro), and 11 (southern Mindanao/Davao). These are described below. Taken together, the initiatives address most of the agreed priorities in subprograms 1A, 1B and 1C. It is not anticipated that additional funding for horticultural projects will be available during 2008-09.

During 2006 a new initiative, the Community Agricultural Technology Program, commenced which aimed to link ACIAR-generated technologies and Philippines research providers with non-government and community-based organisations. This is ongoing in 2008-09.

One major international agricultural research organisation, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), is headquartered in Los Banos, Philippines. ACIAR provides core funding to IRRI and also supports additional initiatives aimed at maintaining rice productivity. The regional office of the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP), a bioversity network, is also headquartered in the Philippines.

Relationship to the Australia-Philippines Development Assistance Strategy 2007-2011

Australia's objective under the new Australia-Philippines Development Assistance Strategy (2007-2011) is to 'make a contribution to improving the prospects for economic growth, poverty reduction and national stability in the Philippines'. The strategy will focus on three pillars: economic growth, basic education, and national stability and human security.

ACIAR will contribute to the strategy particularly through the first (and largest) pillar, which includes engagement with the Philippine Government on policy issues and support for 'local economic development in poor areas so that the rural population shares in the benefits of a stronger national economy'. Linkages between the biophysical, economic and market development research support by ACIAR will be made with the new AusAID Rural and Private Sector Development Program, as well as between ACIAR projects and the AusAID-funded Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program.