This report describes the first economic impact study of ACIAR’s plantation forestry research in Indonesia and Australia.

An assessment of the impact of an ACIAR–World Vision extension project that encouraged farmers in the hill areas of northern Thailand to grow high-value, low-chill temperate fruits. The impact was assessed on the basis of the economic returns that accrued to farmers adopting the extension advice.

This review seeks to capture the elements that contribute to a successful ACIAR project.

This study examines, in very broad terms, evidence of the returns on investment flowing from research undertaken by the various centres of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research across ACIAR’s mandated regions (North Asia, Papua New Guinea and Pacific island countries, South Asia, South-East Asia and southern Africa).

  An impact assessment on the effects of introduction of the barramundi fishery management plan on fishing practices and fishing communities.

An assessment of the impact of an ACIAR–World Vision extension project training farmers in northern Thailand on fish farming with low-cost feed. The impact was assessed on the basis of the economic returns that accrue to farmers adopting the extension advice.

As part of the continuing approach of ACIAR to assess the impact of its past R&D investments, this study presents a brief overview of ACIAR-funded forage research in Indonesia.

  A report on a reassessment of two ACIAR-funded economic research projects dealing with the reform of domestic grain markets in China.

ACIAR has a long history of assessing the impact of its research and development investments, which provides valuable lessons for improving the selection, design and delivery of projects, as well as demonstrating the value of ACIAR as part of Australia’s international development assistance program. This report is an update of a review of of the returns on ACIAR's bilateral R&D investments (http://aciar.gov.au/publication/IAS035), published in 2005.

This study looks at projects that focused on developing effective methods for treating stored grains for control of pests in several countries in South-East Asia, including the Philippines. There has been significant adoption of the outcomes, primarily by larger storage and handling sectors of the rice and other grain industries. The study found that the return on this significant investment by all parties was substantial, with a net present value of research gains to the Philippines of PHP65,544m or A$1,696m. This provides a benefit:cost ratio of approximately 174:1 and an internal rate of return of 46.6%.

This study examines research undertaken in India, where communities are suffering economically and socially from the salt pollution from tanneries. The estimated net benefits to Indian tanneries is A$47.3 million in present-value terms (using a 5% discount rate), of which $22.4 million can be attributed to ACIAR on a cost-share basis. They represent an impressive 32.4% internal rate of return.

This report describes the development of the ACIAR Database for Impact Assessments (ADIA) that will be the repository of information from impact assessments and PIAS forms. The database will record all projects funded by ACIAR, and build up the information for each project as adoption studies and impact assessments are undertaken.

Grain drying is a major issue in all grain-producing countries and presents particular problems in humid, tropical climates. ACIAR and PCARRD, in association with other Philippine research organisations, have supported a major effort in this area. The review indicated that the technologies developed in these projects had not been adopted and that little use was being made of them in the Philippines, however the same technologies had been adopted in other collaborating countries in the Asian region and in Australia. Therefore it was decided that the assessment resources should be used to look in detail at the reasons for this lack of adoption and impact. This report presents the results of this assessment study.

These guidelines are designed for all independent consultants to use as a basis for future impact assessments and adoption studies.

This study reviewed the full set of 17 projects on fruit flies that ACIAR has supported with many partner organisations and countries. Overall the study shows that the return on this substantial research and development investment has been significant. The net present value of all benefits was estimated as $208.1 million (in A$2007).

Goats are an important source of income for smallholders in the Philippines and were shown to be sustaining significant losses from internal parasites. In collaboration with Philippine and international organisations, ACIAR funded a program which developed a management package which effectively controlled internal parasites and enhanced goat productivity. This study found significant impacts with the estimated net present value of welfare gains of $66 million, a benefit to cost ratio of 10:1 and an internal rate of return of 25 per cent.

This study provided a review of all ACIAR-funded fisheries research in Indonesia and selected two different programs of research for detailed studies – tuna capture fisheries and shrimp aquaculture. The returns attributed to the ACIAR supported component of tuna capture fisheries was assessed to be $168 million, indicating a return on ACIAR and partner-invested funds of a benefit to cost ratio of 179:1. For shrimp aquaculture the net present value of the welfare gains from the impact was found to be $547 million with a benefit to cost ratio of 52:1.

This project looked at the problems caused by various species of white-grub pests in peanut production in India and Australia. The impact assessment study shows that the project has generated important benefits for a crop that is largely grown by the poorer farmers in this part of India.