Measuring Impact

Research that works for developing countries and Australia

 

8/2002: New aid package to diagnose agricultural ills

MEDIA RELEASE
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
THE HON CHRIS GALLUS MP
29 Aug 2002

Australian scientists will tackle agricultural problems in 11 developing countries as part of a new round of research projects.

The Federal Government today announced 12 grants, worth almost $7 million, to fund research over the next two to five years.

Among other things, scientists will focus on India's uncertain rainfall, dwindling trochus (shellfish) stocks in the Pacific and low-yield peanut crops in Papua New Guinea.

Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Secretary, Chris Gallus, says the program will harness Australian know-how to boost agriculture in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific.

Scientists will try to develop solutions for problems identified by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

ACIAR is part of Australia's overseas aid program.

Mrs Gallus said the grants represented good value for the Government, as they attracted additional funding and resources from State governments, universities, commercial organisations and the developing country partner.

Research could also be undertaken concurrently in Australia. 'For example, $1 million allocated over three years to research the impact of fire on land and forest management in Indonesia will also include research in northern Australia,' Mrs Gallus said.

As part of Australia's aid program, ACIAR co-ordinates Australian researchers, institutions and international research centres to develop ways to adopt a global approach to finding solutions for agricultural problems in developing countries.

The new projects are:

  • Water resource management in India - $399,937, duration three years
  • Improve peanut production in PNG - $398,824, three years
  • Tannery effluents in India and Australia - $671,644, three years
  • Poultry feeding systems in PNG - $399,975, three years
  • Disease in Bangladesh chickpea crops - $726,435, three years
  • Trochus fisheries in Samoa and Vanuatu - $396,863, three years
  • Impact of fire on land, forestry management in Indonesia and northern Australia - $1,062,551, three years
  • Crop diversification in Cambodia - $773,393, three years
  • Watershed management in the Philippines - $561,193, three years
  • Groundwater management in Fiji, Kiribati and Tonga - $399,904, two years
  • Oil palm crops in PNG - $617,510, five years
  • Sago processing in PNG - $406,224, two and a half years

Media Contacts:
Craig Bildstien (Mrs Gallus's office) 0407 604 437
Heather Briggs (ACIAR) 6217 0535 / 0418 313 845
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 6206 4960 / 0412 804 489