Technical capacity building and research support for the reconstruction of tsunami-affected, brackishwater aquaculture ponds in Aceh

The project has continued to deliver a program of technical capacity building-based workshops at the Centre for Brackishwater Aquaculture Development (known as Balai Budidaya Air Payau). BBAP staff are now skilled in soil assessment, soil remediation, pond engineering and pond management, and have applied these skills to collaborative French Red Cross, GTZ, FAO and ADB-funded projects. Training in alternative farming practices for severely degraded ponds has also been provided. The training program is based on the principles of a 'train the trainer' approach to enable BBAP staff to train staff from other MMAF agencies and international programs operating in Aceh. Trained staff who have passed competency tests have participated in extension roadshows to train district Dinas Perikanan (Bureau of Fisheries), NGO staff and farmers. The community and agency-based training activities have been undertaken in collaboration with Component 2 of the Aceh Aquaculture Rehabilitation Project (AARP) funded by AusAid and ACIAR (FIS/2006/002).

During 2007/2008 the project conducted two 4-day training workshops at BBAP as well as two 1-day refresher workshops on soil assessment, soil remediation and pond engineering. Workshop participants also developed their skills in hydrological measurements, surveying, farm planning and dyke and pond design. BBAP staff have also participated in one-on-one training during soil mapping activities conducted by the Research Institute for Coastal Aquaculture (RICA) and Gadjah Mada University (GMU). The field-based training focuses on soil assessment, surveying, tidal measurements, the redesign of canals, ponds and dykes, and the collection of geospatial data for map production.

The project team at BBAP was revised to include new staff. The team is now divided into core field and laboratory team members and supporting staff. Core team members are also responsible for community extension activities. The AARP-funded laboratories are now close to completion; the environmental laboratory will be equipped for soil analyses in 2008. BBAP laboratory staff will undertake further training at RICA in Maros, and will complete their analytical training program at BBAP once the laboratories are fully equipped. The environmental laboratory will provide a soil assessment service for farmers and agencies involved in the rehabilitation programs. Basic soil assessment will be provided at farms using the AARP-funded mobile laboratory. The BBAP team is developing a workplan to assess soils and provide technical and management advice to farmers at selected areas on the north east coast. Field-based training of farmers will be conducted at two AARP-funded pond demonstration sites.

A recent impact assessment of ACIAR's fisheries program in Indonesia recommended the expansion of the training program to deliver similar skill building workshops to other Technical Implementation Units (TIUs). A project variation to deliver technical training to 4 other TIUs was approved in May 2008 and the training program will commence in August.

The research support component of the project has continued to characterise and map soils and aquaculture ponds in the rehabilitation areas. The project has mapped over 470,000 ha of acid sulfate soils and has provided more accurate data on the extent of brackishwater aquaculture in Aceh. A soil texture model, based on fuzzy logic, was developed to map the distribution of sandy soils; these sediments cause significant pond engineering problems. A hydrological model was developed to predict tides and describe wave properties at selected locations. These models have provided important data for pond, dyke and canal design, and to identify appropriate soil remediation and pond management strategies.

The project has continued to deliver a program of technical capacity building-based workshops at the Centre for Brackishwater Aquaculture Development (known as Balai Budidaya Air Payau). BBAP staff are now skilled in soil assessment, soil remediation, pond engineering and pond management, and have applied these skills to collaborative French Red Cross, GTZ, FAO and ADB-funded projects. Training in alternative farming practices for severely degraded ponds has also been provided. The training program is based on the principles of a 'train the trainer' approach to enable BBAP staff to train staff from other MMAF agencies and international programs operating in Aceh. Trained staff who have passed competency tests have participated in extension roadshows to train district Dinas Perikanan (Bureau of Fisheries), NGO staff and farmers. The community and agency-based training activities have been undertaken in collaboration with Component 2 of the Aceh Aquaculture Rehabilitation Project (AARP) funded by AusAid and ACIAR (FIS/2006/002).

During 2007/2008 the project conducted two 4-day training workshops at BBAP as well as two 1-day refresher workshops on soil assessment, soil remediation and pond engineering. Workshop participants also developed their skills in hydrological measurements, surveying, farm planning and dyke and pond design. BBAP staff have also participated in one-on-one training during soil mapping activities conducted by the Research Institute for Coastal Aquaculture (RICA) and Gadjah Mada University (GMU). The field-based training focuses on soil assessment, surveying, tidal measurements, the redesign of canals, ponds and dykes, and the collection of geospatial data for map production.

The project team at BBAP was revised to include new staff. The team is now divided into core field and laboratory team members and supporting staff. Core team members are also responsible for community extension activities. The AARP-funded laboratories are now close to completion; the environmental laboratory will be equipped for soil analyses in 2008. BBAP laboratory staff will undertake further training at RICA in Maros, and will complete their analytical training program at BBAP once the laboratories are fully equipped. The environmental laboratory will provide a soil assessment service for farmers and agencies involved in the rehabilitation programs. Basic soil assessment will be provided at farms using the AARP-funded mobile laboratory. The BBAP team is developing a workplan to assess soils and provide technical and management advice to farmers at selected areas on the north east coast. Field-based training of farmers will be conducted at two AARP-funded pond demonstration sites.

A recent impact assessment of ACIAR's fisheries program in Indonesia recommended the expansion of the training program to deliver similar skill building workshops to other Technical Implementation Units (TIUs). A project variation to deliver technical training to 4 other TIUs was approved in May 2008 and the training program will commence in August.

The research support component of the project has continued to characterise and map soils and aquaculture ponds in the rehabilitation areas. The project has mapped over 470,000 ha of acid sulfate soils and has provided more accurate data on the extent of brackishwater aquaculture in Aceh. A soil texture model, based on fuzzy logic, was developed to map the distribution of sandy soils; these sediments cause significant pond engineering problems. A hydrological model was developed to predict tides and describe wave properties at selected locations. These models have provided important data for pond, dyke and canal design, and to identify appropriate soil remediation and pond management strategies.

The technical training program was reviewed in June 2008 to address the evolving needs of the staff at BBAP. Master Trainers were also involved in competency testing to ensure that their technical skills are developing and to maintain a high standard of technical support and training. RICA and UNSW staff monitored the Master Trainers to ensure technical accuracy and to mentor the trainers, especially new staff with less experience in technical extension. Previous training modules were repeated for new staff appointments at BBAP, and one-on-one training was used to facilitate the progression of new staff with no prior experience in environmental assessment. The core Master Trainers were involved in refresher courses and introduced to more challenging course materials on mapping methods. New planning tools from FIS/2002/076 were also introduced into the training program. The focus of the program has shifted towards more practical training now that theory is well grounded in the Master Trainers.
The environmental laboratory, established by Component 1 of the AARP, was also commissioned in this reporting period and staff of RICA commenced training laboratory staff from BBAP, Ujung Batee, in soil analytical methods. BBAP staff also participated in training at RICA.
During 2008/2009 the project conducted further training on soil assessment and remediation, with a focus on the AARP demonstration ponds and surrounding areas. The demonstration ponds are being developed as training nodes for farmers and Dinas Perikanan staff. The goal is to demonstrate best management practices in collaboration with other ACIAR projects operating in Indonesia. The collaboration is managed by the AARP and the Master Trainers from FIS/2005/009 are part of the joint training team. The collaboration will produce integrated farming packages that cover environmental assessment, disease management, pond design and engineering, soil remediation, pond management and nutrition.
The research support component of the project has continued to characterise and map soils and aquaculture ponds in the rehabilitation areas. Data collected by the project team has been used to assess the effects of BMPs at selected sites and to improve pond management strategies. The project has mapped over 470,000 ha of acid sulfate soils and has provided more accurate data on the extent of brackishwater aquaculture in Aceh. This information has been made available to other programs in Aceh (eg. ADB, FAO, GTZ and French Red Cross). A soil texture model, based on fuzzy logic, was developed to map the distribution of sandy soils; these sediments cause significant pond engineering problems. A hydrological model, developed in earlier in the project, was refined to more accurately predict tides and describe wave properties. These models have provided important data for pond, dyke and canal design, and to identify appropriate soil remediation and pond management strategies.
Mr Tarunamulia graduated from UNSW with a Master of Science. His thesis focused on developing and applying mapping methods on soil properties in Aceh to support aquaculture pond rehabilitation. The project used the technologies to map environmental constraints, design ponds, identify appropriate methods of soil remediation, and select pond engineering techniques to minimise pond degradation. Mr Tarunamulia's research findings were widely disseminated at workshops, seminars and conferences, and incorporated into technical guidelines.