8/2002: Visit by Australian agricultural experts to strengthen research and development links

MEDIA RELEASE

ACIAR BOARD OF MANAGEMENT TO VISIT INDONESIA

The Board of Management of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research will visit Indonesia later this month as part of strengthening agricultural research and development links between Australia and Indonesia.  The Board will visit a number of key Ministers and Research Institutions as part of its schedule.

ACIAR is responsible for planning, funding and managing collaborative research and development projects in agriculture and natural resource management, as part of Australia’s official development assistance program.  The Board establishes policies that guide collaborative research programs in Indonesia and throughout the region, that are delivered through specifically targeted research projects that share Australia’s research expertise with developing country partners.

The Board delegation will be led by Professor Beth Woods, ACIAR Chair and includes senior representatives from Australia’s scientific, policy-making and farming sectors, who also hold seats on the Board.

“ACIAR’s contribution to agricultural research in Indonesia has been substantial, and includes improved fisheries management, sustainable forestry and improving the breeding of cattle livestock,” said Mr Richard Smith, Australian Ambassador to Indonesia.  “Cooperative research projects funded by ACIAR have been delivering benefits to both countries for almost twenty years, an achievement built on scientific and administrative partnerships during this time.  The visit by the Board of ACIAR is an important opportunity to further strengthen these ties through bringing together senior decision makers in agricultural research and development.”

In Indonesia ACIAR has completed almost 90 bilateral projects worth almost A$40 million since the early 1980s.  There are currently 38 projects underway with A$4.9 million being contributed by the Australian Government through ACIAR in 2001-02.  ACIAR’s projects operate under a partnership model, which brings together Australian and Indonesian expertise in a number of agricultural areas and ensures all projects have substantial Indonesian contributions. 

Current projects include the management of rodents in rice through a trap barrier system, integrating production systems for cattle in Eastern Indonesia and optimising crop-livestock systems, improved management of shared fisheries, improving plantation management in the forestry sector, post-harvest management of key produce and improved soil management.

“The Board has made a deliberate effort to ensure ACIAR’s program in Indonesia is targeted to the areas most likely to produce real benefits,” said Board Chair Professor Beth Woods.  “During its visit the Board will be meeting with key project partners and seeing project sites to view the impact of ACIAR funded work.  These visits and meetings will be valuable in informing the Board of how ACIAR might support future agricultural research and development activities in Indonesia.”

As part of its schedule the Board will meet with several Indonesian Government Ministers, including Agriculture Minister Bungaran Saragih, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Mr Rokhmin Dahuri and Forestry and Forestry Research and Development Agency Minister Prakosa.  The Director Generals of these agencies will also be present, along with representatives from a number of research institutions under these Ministries.

The Board visit will include Jakarta, Bogor and Gondol, as well as project locations in Bali, Lombok and Java.