Jepara in Java has a long tradition of high-quality furniture making, coupled with ready access to high quality teak. With the adoption of environmentally and socially sound practices Jepara could be a strong competitor in international markets. But inefficiencies throughout the value chain currently result in plantation over-harvesting, leading to poor incentives for producers and misuse of resources. This project aims to improve the value chain for mahogany and teak furniture enterprises in Jepara, specifically by enhancing the structure and function of the furniture industry to benefit small-scale furniture producers, helping them and their organisations to make improvements to marketing, and monitoring changes regarding the effects and early acceptance of project innovations. Producers will benefit from project findings that identify inefficiencies of supply and define the value chains that improve efficiency and strengthen the furniture industry. The project team will also devise strategies and actions to strengthen market engagement and position, leading to enhanced value addition and capture of higher prices. Positive impacts will arise from improved value-chain efficiency, security for over 15,000 furniture enterprises (177,000 jobs) and enhanced incomes for these producers while giving them and their organisations a greater role in the value chains. The project will work in close coordination with another ACIAR-CIFOR project that focuses on improving the livelihoods of tree growers.
Links:
[1] http://www.aciar.gov.au/country/Indonesia
[2] http://www.aciar.gov.au/programarea/Forestry