We asked the people we work with in 36 countries around the world to send us photos that illustrate and celebrate our agricultural research for development programs. Here are 25 images that tell our story.
Building women to build hope. Photo: Arnab Chakraborty
Winner - Best Photo
“This is Rani Hansda standing in front of her tomato field with a divine smile conveying joy, determination and a dream for a better life.” Arnab Chakraborty Women in the Bankura district; West Bengal, India face patriarchal discrimination and were rarely identified as `farmers’ until PRADAN, a national NGO, worked with them on an ACIAR project. A new variety of tomato has given these poor women hope.
Image
Story of Baldaive. Photo: Munawar Kazmi
Winner - Farm to Market
“Young Baldaive sitting on bunches of onions he and his family harvested. After school he works with his family in the onion fields. “Baldaive dreams of becoming a government employee so that he and his children might be prosperous... leaving behind this tiring work. I am inspired by his dreams and wish him all the best for the future.”
Peter Kuniu spears a rabbitfish in Lau Lagoon, Solomon Islands. Rapid population growth, increased connections to global markets and climate change threaten the sustainability of coastal fisheries in the Pacific. ACIAR is building the capacity of regional institutions, national governments & rural communities to manage marine resources to ensure they remain sustainable.
Image
Hard work, watering shallots in Java. Photo: Richard Markham
Winner - Crop Systems and Horticulture
The hard work of producing and harvesting shallots generates income for smallholder farmers as an alternative to their usual rice crop. But excessive applications of agrochemicals makes their work less profitable, and dangerous to their health and environment. ACIAR’s projects are helping them to find better ways to manage pests and diseases, and to rationalise their use of chemical ‘inputs’.
Image
Bali cows eating rice straw. Photo: Dianne Mayberry
Winner - Livestock
An ACIAR project in Indonesia investigated more efficient ways to feed livestock. Rice straw and other crop residues would be fed to cows with low energy requirements, while good quality feed like tree legumes would be saved for young animals and growing or fattening bulls. With a small amount of supplementation, cows can maintain weight and condition on a rice-straw based diet.
Image
Net Practice. Photo: Rajesh Dhar
Winner - Fisheries and Aquaculture
A group of fishermen on the Bay of Bengal in West Bengal, India.
Image
Mornings Catch. Photo: Ian McLeod
Winner – People’s Choice Award
A villager with his morning catch in Gally Reach, Papua New Guinea.
Careful deliberation when piloting a household cattle survey in Ya Thar Village, Central Dry Zone, Myanmar Dr Bo Hein, University of Veterinary Science tutor (left), Masters student, Yadana Amh (right), and Dahat Pan Project junior scientist Ei Phyu (centre) piloting a household survey of cattle farmers participating in ACIAR’s Longitudinal Monitoring of Cattle Production in the Central Dry Zone Project.
Image
Know your enemy! Photo: Richard Markham
Fruitfly on mango in Java, Indramayu, Indonesia. Fruitflies cause enormous damage to mangoes (and many other fruits and vegetables), in Australia, Indonesia and around the world. By understanding their ecology and behaviour, researchers can devise new ways to reduce their populations (using traps that exploit the flies’ food and mate finding behaviour; removing alternative breeding sites etc) in an approach known as ‘area-wide management’.
Image
Story of Irrigation Training. Photo: Munawar Kazmi
Dr Tahir Khurshid, Project Leader for the ASLP Citrus Project from the NSW Department of Agriculture, explains soil profiling to Ms Naeema and Ms Hajra during a practical irrigation for horticulture training session.
Image
Setting off. Photo: Ian McLeod
Researchers depart for a morning’s fisheries research in Galley Reach, Papua New Guinea.
Image
Building the capacity of female farmers. Photo: Hafeez Ullah
Women smallholder farmers are trained to diagnose sub-clinical mastitis and help prevent dairy animal diseases.
Image
Double cropping. Photo: Alak Kumar Jana
Agriculture research, education, crop diversification and efficient water use are changing Hemlata Mandi’s life. Mono-cropped, rain-fed, transplanted rice paddy doesn’t provide enough food, nutrition or income. The adoption of double cropping, short duration paddy followed by a low water requirement winter vegetable crop provides Hemlata with a diverse diet, the ability to earn a higher income, and a chance to overcome poverty.
Image
Snout. Photo: Ian McLeod
Pigs are a vitally important part of the economic and cultural life of villagers in Papua New Guinea.
Image
Strawberry season. Photo: Mohmoh Phyu
Strawberry picking season in Myanmar. Even the youngest family members get involved.
Image
Kinnow mandarin. Photo: Gerard McEvilly
Citrus is Pakistan’s largest fruit industry and the Kinnow mandarin is the most popular, and over two million tonnes are produced annually. About one-third of the crop is never consumed, due to failings on-farm or after harvest. ACIAR projects are delivering technical solutions and research to investigate market conditions in Dubai, where Kinnow is shipped in both old-style timber crates and modern cartons.
Image
Mango trees. Photo: Mohmoh Phyu
Mango trees in Myanmar after painting with lime cream.
Image
Sea cucumber. Photo: Watisoni Lalavanua
Sea cucumber fishers with their catch in Vanua Balavu, Fiji.
Image
Sam with baby sandfish. Photo: Cathy Hair
A young boy from the village of Limanak (Tigah Islands, Papua New Guinea) holding a hatchery-bred sandfish (sea cucumber), part of a Papua New Guinea mariculture project.
Image
Story of Chandan Mai. Photo: Munawar Kazmi
Chandan Mai has worked in these onion fields for more than 35 years. Here she is surrounded by her grandchildren. She is hopeful that her family will earn a higher income from their onions with help from ACIAR. Chandan Mai believes agricultural research and development will provide a brighter future for her grandchildren.
Image
Graphical crops, Orissa, India. Photo: Rajesh Dhar
Women farmers spread rice husks to be dried on a concrete platform.
Image
Fill the pan - fill the stomach. Photo: J. van der Ploeg
Catherine and Syrilia sort the daily catch in the Lau Lagoon on Malaita. Fish are critical for the food security of coastal people in Solomon Islands. Research is improving our understanding of fisheries as a source of food for vulnerable communities in the Pacific.
Image
Dragonfruit sorting. Photo: Aljay Valida
Sorting freshly harvested dragon fruit on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Image
Women in wheat crop. Photo: Munawar Kazmi
Women are vital to the production of almost all crops in Pakistan. ACIAR is supporting projects that build women’s knowledge and capacity, helping to increase production and improve livelihoods.
Image
Berina in the maize. Photo: Chenai Tsorayi
Berina Vhurande, VIRL Microfinance loan beneficiary, in her maize field. Berina Vhurande shows off her lush maize crops that she grows in Mashoko Irrigation Scheme in Bikita district, Masvingo province, Zimbabwe. She has been farming for a living for more than four years now. With irrigation facilities at her disposal, she is able to grow crops all year round. She rotates maize, tomatoes, groundnuts and sugarbeans.
