Integrated crop and dairy systems in Tibet Autonomous Region, PR China

Project ID:

LPS/2006/119

Collaborating Countries:

China

Commissioned Organisation:

University of Adelaide, Australia

Project Leader

Professor David Coventry
Phone: 08 8303 7954
Fax: 08 8303 7730
Email: david.coventry@adelaide.edu.au

Collaborating Institutions:

NSW Department of Primary Industries, Australia
Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Sciences, China
Tibet Livestock Research Institute, China
Tibet Agricultural Research Institute, China
University of Queensland, Australia
Department of Primary Industries and Resources, South Australia, Australia

Project Budget:

$1,414,230

Project Duration:

01/04/2008 - 31/03/2012

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Dr John Skerritt

Project Overview

Increasing the output of dairy products in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the Peoples' Republic of China (TAR) is identified by local and central government as a high development priority. Current milk supply is well below demand and deficits are predicted over the next decade. Grain production in TAR, whilst sufficient to satisfy demand for human consumption, will also need to be increased to support supplementation of livestock diets (particularly dairy cattle). This project is directed at increasing household income and industry productivity and at developing community-based initiatives in dairy, crop and fodder production for farmers in the central valleys of TAR (Shigatse, Lhasa, Shannon and Linzhi Prefectures). The objective of the project is to understand and utilise the key factors affecting the adoption of improved technology, this includes identifying the attitudes of farmers, practical constraints and opportunities in implementation of recommendations, and initiating strategies and structures for extension.