ACIAR, through its Support for Market-Driven Adaptive Research (SMAR) program is supporting Indonesia's Smallholder Agribusiness Development Initiative (SADI) - established to address long-standing issues and constraints relating to agricultural production and rural poverty in Eastern Indonesia. This activity involves the following:
institutional assessments to determine the nature and effectiveness of current research-extension linkages and methods
strengthening linkages between R&D and extension providers
improving extension media and materials to assist in disseminating successful R&D outcomes
recommending approaches to agricultural technology assessment
utilising improved linkages, media and approaches for the pilot roll-out of promising technical options resulting from adaptive R&D activities.
Through this SRA project support services are provided to the Technology Assessment and Knowledge Exchange Adviser (TAKEA) and stakeholders of Component 2 of SMAR (ACIAR SADI, Indonesia) in the following areas:
General capacity building support to TAKEA and partners:
Intensive guidance has been provided to the TAKEA through almost daily internet communication, input to documents, and discussions during field visits. Support was provided to the establishment and training of the Innovation Team consisting of 3 BBP2TP and 12 BPTP partners. Supervision of one JAF PhD candidate was taken up and input was provided to research proposals of four new JAF applicants.
To strengthen approaches to agricultural technology assessment:
Input was provided to methodology guidelines, report outline and initial analysis and reporting of field data conducted by TAKEA, and to guidelines and a report outline for TAKE approaches case studies to be documented by the provincial Innovation Sub-Teams. Evaluation criteria for technology assessment approaches were defined during the first training workshop.
To improve linkages between R&D providers and extension providers:
A study on extension approaches was commissioned to a national consultant. Input was provided to the terms of reference for the consultant and feedback to the first draft report. A session was facilitated in the first Innovation Team workshop to unravel tasks and responsibilities of the various stakeholder organisations in the agricultural research and development spectrum. Possible research-extension linkage models were explored with provincial teams in Sultra and NTT in the context of PRO projects.
To improve communication/media materials and methods to help disseminate R&D outcomes:
Terms of reference were developed for consultants from Studio Driya Media (SDM) to run a session at the Innovation Team Workshop I on the use and effectiveness of media in agricultural development. An initial proposal for a training workshop to be delivered by SDM was reviewed and a decision is currently pending. The involvement of an Indonesian UQ graduate in Communication to consult in the area of media effectiveness and possibly conduct a study in the context of a PhD program has been explored and the formulation of a JAF application was supported.
To develop a model for initial roll-out of promising agricultural technologies emerging from research:
A discussion paper describing the principles and practices of Pilot Roll-Out was written and the PRO concept was introduced to the Innovation team during Training and Planning Workshop I. A set of criteria for the readiness of technologies for Pilot Roll Out was developed and incorporated in guidelines for PRO project development, together with criteria for the appropriateness of a community or farmer group to conduct PRO. Provincial sub-teams were supported in the development of PRO proposals. Initial project ideas were discussed and developed during field visits. Detailed comments were provided to proposals. PRO proposals will be further discussed and finalised during the upcoming training workshop (August 2008).
Links:
[1] http://www.aciar.gov.au/country/Indonesia