The agricultural production environment in Cambodia and southern/ central Laos is, in general, harsher than the fertile lowlands of other countries in the region. Soils are generally low in fertility with significant water limitations, and three-quarters of the agriculture is rainfed. The predominance of rice-based farming systems on infertile, poorly structured soils means that current agriculture has rather low productivity on both a labour and a land area basis.

Inle Lake is a place of significant ecological, social and cultural value. It is listed as an ASEAN Heritage site and on the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  The Lake and its catchments are a vital part of the economy of Shan State and the nation, providing many goods and services that support the diverse livelihoods of its agricultural, fisheries, forestry and tourism communities.  It also acts as the main water source for the Law Pi Ta hydroelectricity power plant.

This Small Research Activity (SRA) on “Can rubber-based cropping system improve productivity and income for smallholder farmers in Southern Philippines?” was aimed at establishing the current situation relating to the development of a full proposal for a potential ACIAR project that aims to contribute to the reduction of poverty in marginalized upland communities of the southern Philippines.

Understanding key soil constraints in Shan State and on-farm research trials to address soil fertility decline and soil erosion impacting on the Inle Lake catchment.

This project aimed to develop research as a core activity of Yezin Agricultural University and University of Veterinary Science, enabling these universities to meet Myanmar’s needs for agricultural and veterinary researchers, and to exploit the broader educational advantages of a research informed curriculum.

Boosting household incomes for indigenous smallholder farmers in the uplands of southern Philippines through the introduction of profitable rubber intercropping systems, sustainable management regimes and capacity building.

Commercial farming is an important source of employment and export revenue, while subsistence farming underpins food security for most rural areas. This project aimed to ensure soil knowledge was enhanced in the Pacific Island Countries Territories and provided a reliable foundation for sustainable intensification of agricultural systems.

Developing land evaluation methods and capacity to improve planning of agricultural development for productive and resilient landscapes in Myanmar's Central Dry Zone at the township and village scale. Contributing to national food security, improving the livelihoods of farmers, and providing ecosystem services.

Smallholder maize cultivation in the northern uplands of Vietnam and Laos is expanding onto sloping lands, a practice characterised by high rates of run-off, soil erosion and nutrient loss that quickly lead to declining soil fertility and maize yields. This project aims to promote the adoption of improved and diversified maize-based farming systems that reduce soil degradation and improve smallholder livelihoods and economic viability on sloping lands in the northern mountains of Vietnam and Laos.

This project was identifying and facilitating adoption of technologies and strategies for sustainable groundwater utilisation and developing options for improving the productivity of soils in South Central Coastal Vietnam (SCC VN) and Western Australia (WA).  Almost 70% of the nine million people living in SSC VN earn a living from agriculture. Given that rural poverty is high, improving returns from agricultural production is vital to improving livelihoods in the region. 

Improving soil management in selected upland farming systems of southwest and southeast Cambodia to increase yields and returns for diverse crop options. 

This project aimed to improve the livelihoods of the people living in the coral atolls of Kiribati and Tuvalu. Atolls of the Pacific islands are among the most vulnerable communities to the impacts of climate change and are facing major challenges to their food and income security.

This project aimed to improve soil and irrigation water management in Laos and Cambodia to achieve sustainably improved vegetable yields and household economies.  Laos and Cambodia are developing economies seeking to improve crop yields for domestic consumption and export markets. Enhancing these areas would align with their policy emphases on improving food security, overcoming rural poverty and enhancing economic development. 

This project aimed to increase the incomes and strengthen local food security of small-scale farmers and their families in central Myanmar through improved fertiliser use and associated crop management practices.  In Myanmar, rice growers have shifted from subsistence to semi-subsistence production, growing rice for household consumption and selling any surplus to boost their income.  With good prospects for increasing rice exports and profits, there is incentive to improve rice yields. The same is true for maize, a higher-value crop. 

Providing farmers with a range of nutrient supply options to underpin the sustainable intensification of the PNG Highland sweetpotato cropping system. 

Improving the profitability of lowland, predominantly rice-based farming systems in Cambodia and Laos by conducting research that leads to increased resilience of crop and livestock production through improved forage and fodder production and improved use of water and nutrients.

This project developed diversification and intensification options for crop systems to improve the nutrition, profitability and sustainability of rural communities in southern Lao and Cambodia. The emphasis was on improving the sustainable production of short-duration crop and forages during the dry-season by optimising water and nutrition management. ACIAR researchers aimed to establish dry season crop and forage production as an intrinsic component small holder farming system in the lower Mekong.

Reducing unwanted peatland fires in Indonesia through science to underpin peatland restoration and to develop gender-inclusive sustainable livelihoods in and around peatlands.