Research Priorities
Strengthening livestock production and biosecurity systems
The role of government at all levels is important in both limiting the effect of animal diseases and preventing the introduction of new diseases. The introduction of regional autonomy has created difficulty in implementing nationwide policies and strategies. ACIAR’s animal health program supports the development of evidence-based resource allocation, and the formulation and implementation of policy for prevention and control of trans-boundary animal diseases. Key diseases of focus include highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), classical swine fever (CSF) and foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD).
Livestock management and marketing systems
The major cluster of beef research projects has a focus on eastern Indonesia. The cluster includes several projects emphasising technology development for on-farm application by smallholder farmers, including improvements for better managed and timed reproduction and calf weaning, and use of nutrients (planted fodders and crop by-products). Factors affecting wider adoption of technical interventions are being assessed, and on-farm work is being integrated with projects that assess broader characteristics of the beef supply chain.
Increasing the productivity, profitability and competitiveness of Indonesian horticultural and other high-value plant products
The focus of ACIAR’s support to the horticultural sector in Indonesia is on tropical fruit and vegetable production and market systems, aiming to develop environmentally and socially sustainable and integrated production systems, and improve the market competitiveness of the industry. Tropical fruits research is focused on management of major diseases of banana and citrus fruits, and development of integrated area-wide systems for the management of fruit-fly infestation. For vegetables, the primary focus has been on improving returns to smallholder farmers for the major commercial crops of potatoes, brassicas, alliums and chillies, particularly through developing a more consistent supply of better quality product, fostering closer linkages to markets and implementing integrated crop production systems.
More-profitable smallholder aquaculture systems
A consultation held with Indonesian Fisheries R&D agencies in May 2010 and December 2011 determined the priorities for ACIAR’s fisheries program—capture fisheries, aquaculture and postharvest processing. In the near term, ACIAR’s focus in aquaculture will be on diversification, planning for aquaculture development, fish health in mariculture systems, and value-adding for the marine lobster industry through grow-out of postlarval lobsters collected in the wild.
Enhanced capture fisheries management
Indonesian marine capture fisheries are among the largest and most productive worldwide. They are critical to the nation’s economic development, and in providing food resources to millions of people. Indonesian fisheries production is at least 20 times that of Australia, but the capacity to investigate and control these fisheries is very limited, particularly at the provincial level.
ACIAR’s focus will be on improved management of important marine fisheries (tunas and other pelagic fishes). Interlinked studies into several commercially important common or cross-border fish stocks between Indonesia and Australia provide a shared and better view of the fisheries characteristics and resource status of a number of high-value, internationally shared stocks.
Enhancing livelihoods from forestry products and services
ACIAR’s forestry projects in Indonesia focus on enhancing and sustaining value from forest plantations, agroforestry systems and natural forests. Priorities include improving plantation management and investment decisions by smallholder farmers, adding value to wood products from plantations, and investigating systems for enabling payment for carbon sequestration by natural forests.
Profitable agribusiness systems
ACIAR’s agribusiness research program aims to improve smallholder access and competitiveness in rapidly transforming markets; identify and promote profitable market opportunities and agribusiness systems; and enhance smallholder access to market information, knowledge, skills and technology options. Through these priorities, the program will increase capacity in market, business and value-chain analysis. Current and proposed projects that will help achieve these goals are as follows.
Improved policies to underpin agribusiness development
The importance of increased agricultural productivity in Indonesia has been underlined by recent food price rises and concerns about food security. ACIAR continues to support the assessment and development of economy-wide and industry-specific policy options.
