The start-up workshop for the project was held in July 2008 at the Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technologies (AIAT), Mataram and was attended by project scientists from AIATs in NTB and NTT, ILETRI (Malang), Mataram and Nusacendana Universities, QPI&F, Garuda Food Ltd, and ACIAR agencies. The workshop provided an opportunity for the project team to develop a shared vision of the project objectives, deliverables and expected outcomes. Three separate working group discussions led to the development of technical work plans for the first year's on-farm adaptive and socio-economic research activities to achieve project mile stones. The progress made under each of the three objectives during the reporting period is summarized below:-
Objective 1: Forward planning of the team and resource mobilization from ACIAR led to initiating mungbean varietal trials in the Belu district of NTT in May 08, before the commencement of the project. These trials showed that two new varieties Vima and Siriti out yielded local varieties by 30-40% suggesting scope for improving productivity through new varieties.
During the dry season, Aug to Dec 08, a total of six on-farm trials were conducted to evaluate peanut varietal and improved management practices in low land irrigated systems in Lombok. These trials conducted on farmers' own production systems demonstrated scope for achieving fresh pod yield of up to 8t/ha by implementing improved practices compared to <3 tons from conventional practice. An economic analysis showed that the benefit : cost ratio was highest (1.66-1.77) in the most promising practices compared to 0.35-0.66 in the conventional practice. It appears that four major factors i.e., seed quality, row planting and spacing, foliar disease control, and nutrient management contributed to the observed yield benefits.
During Jan to May 08, peanut varietal and management practices trials were implemented at two sites in the high land rainfed production systems at Bayan and Sikatong.
In NTT, mungbean on-farm trials were established in Feb 09 at two locations in TTU district. The analysis of results from these trials is progressing.
Two baseline surveys were conducted to assess profitability of mungbean (NTT) and peanut (NTB) growers which will be used for assessing potential profitability from best bet practices at smallholders' level.
Regular visits by project scientists from ILETRI, AIATs and QPI&F agencies not only allowed to ensure quality of field trials but also to engage with farmers in the implementation of new management practices. At least four peanut farmer schools in NTB and one mungbean field day in NTT was held to demonstrate the effects of new varietal and management practices to growers.
In Australia a field trial to optimize row spacing, plant population and irrigation to realise the yield potential of newly released variety "crystal" is progressing at the Warwick research station.
The APSIM mungbean model was validated using the historical mungbean trials data sets. It was apparent that the model was able to predict phenology satisfactorily but not dry matter and yield. The model will be re-calibrated using the physiological data collected from the row spacing and plant population trials before applying to Indonesian environments.

Objective 2: In order to upgrade the skills of commercial seed producers, an accredited training course on production of certified seed of peanut has been jointly organised by AIAT-NTB and ILETRI, in May 09, in which a total of 8 selected (6 private and 2-Garuda Foods (GF)-nominated) commercial seed producers received hands-on training on production and quality control of certified peanut seed.
A draft operational model for supply of quality seed for upland - rainfed and low land irrigated peanut growers in Lombok has been developed in consultation with AIAT-NTB, Garuda Food and ILETRI agencies. This activity will form part of a cooperative effort to build a functional partnership of private and government agencies concerned with peanut development in NTB.
In Australia a field trial is underway at Bundaberg to identify most effective rhizobium management practice to improve crop establishment, nodulation, nitrogen fixation and yield performance of soybean.
Two techniques for rapid assessment of seed viability of peanut are being evaluated at QPI&F. Dr Anna Rahmianna (ILETRI) and Lalu Wirajaswadi (AIAT-NTB) have received hands-on training on the seed viability assessment techniques, during their visit to QPI&F, Kingaroy in April 09.

Objective 3: The first NTB-Peanut Industry Forum was inaugurated by Ir Badrul Munir the Vice Governor of West Nusa Tenggara Province on 10 Dec 08 at Mataram. About 65 peanut supply chain players representing growers, middlemen, researchers, extension officers, commercial agencies and related national and international R&D institutions, including ACIAR, IFC, SADI, DPI&F, Cocoa Forum actively participated in the Forum. The group unanimously endorsed the need for formation of the "Forum" to facilitate interactions amongst the supply chain players. A steering committee including a Secretary General was elected to define the scope and develop Peanut Industry Forum activities in NTB.
The operational model for certified seed production and supply of peanut seed to NTB peanut growers (described under Obj. 2) form a part of the Forum's activities towards building functional relationships between key players of the peanut supply chain in NTB.

In Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB), field trials were conducted at three locations in dryland regions in Lombok province, to evaluate performance of peanut varieties preferred by the local market (GF). The new varieties, Singa and Domba recorded the highest yields. It was also clear that seed quality played a positive role in the crops performance of new varieties compared to the local check, the seed which was accessed from local market. Two peanut on-farm trials conducted during the wet season of 2009 at Bayan and Sekotong demonstrated significant yield and economic benefits from the best-bet practices over local practices.
As a logical follow up from the successful peanut on-farm studies, mini-scaling up trials were implemented during July-Oct 2009, in the low land sub-districts of Pringgarata and Pengenjek involving four farmer groups with a total of 30 growers covering an area of >8ha. In these trials growers evaluated two Best Management Practices (BMP) selected from the previous on-farm studies. The scaling up trials reconfirmed earlier results demonstrating a 20-45% increase in pod yield due to BMP in 3 out of 4 farmer groups. The results from one group were confounded with different varieties used in the trials.
In Nusa Tenggara Timor (NTT), the varietal trials reconfirmed the superior performance of new varieties Siriti, Vima, and Marai, over local varieties.
On-farm trials with mungbean demonstrated significant yield benefits by dibbling in rows compared to broadcasting in dryland environments. These results demonstrated that local practice of broadcasting seed is fraught with risk of insect damage or loss of seed viability due to direct exposure to high temperatures and evaporation at the soil surface, resulting in suboptimal and uneven plant population.
In Australia, three field trials were conducted to examine if yield potential of recently released mungbean variety "Crystal" can be further increased by manipulating row and plant density configurations. Preliminary results indicated significant yield improvements in 30cm row spacing at plant density of 20 plants/m2.
The APSIM mungbean crop model was further improved to simulate dry matter production more accurately. The model simulated dry matter production correlated well with measured data with a R2 of 0.83. The model needs further validation using grain yield. The data from Kefa and Betun trials will also be used in conjunction with local weather data to validate the model for Indonesian environments.
The mungbean supply chain study has been successfully implemented during June 2009, by a team involving members from IFC, BPTP_NTT and UNDANA.
This study investigated mungbean value chain patterns in East Nusa Tenggara and another major inter-island market, Surabaya, to identify potential for enhancing the supply chain benefits to small holders. The study highlighted a strong need for grower co-operatives to gain expertise in production technologies, including post-harvest handling and value addition for effective marketing their product in wholesale & retail markets.

Objective 2: Developing efficient and sustainable seed system strategies including assessment of seed quality and novel seed treatment technologies that have the potential to lead to more efficient crop establishment of the pulse crops in Indonesia and Australia
A total of 6 candidates from NTT received training in the certified seed production of mungbean. The course was organised by the plant breeders from Indonesian Legume and Tuber Crops Research Institute (ILETRI). The participants were awarded with a certificate and a 5 kg breeders' seed of VIMA or Sriti, which were identified as promising varieties for NTT.
In Australia, a rapid method of assessing peanut seed viability (in 30 mins) has been developed. The technique is being trialled by the Peanut Company of Australia at intake point, to assess seed quality of farmer stock loads, with an aim of segregating poor quality product at the entry point.
A field trial demonstrated that the crop establishment and productivity soybean in coastal cane soils can be significantly improved by inoculating with the legume-specific Rhizoium, at planting. The biological N- fixation was significantly greater in the inoculated treatments than the un-inoculated control.
A scoping study to assess opportunities for improving soybean production in NTB was implemented by a 5-member team in July 2009. The study recommended strategies for improving soybean productivity in low lands and upland production systems in NTB.
Objective 3: Build functional collaboration between the national and provincial government agencies (ILETRI, AIAT, Dinas and Universities) and the industry stake holders in NTB and NTT regions to sustain effective on-farm research and extension support delivery services in Indonesia
The first annual review and planning meeting was held at the University of Nusa Cendana campus, Kupang during 21-22 July 09. The project stake holders representing the Assessment Institutes for Agricultural Technologies (BPTP) in NTB and NTT provinces, ILETRI, University of Mataram, Nusacendana University, Kupang, Queensland Department of Employment Economic Development and Innovation, Garuda Food Ltd, and International Finance Corporation, participated in the meeting. The meeting provided an opportunity for the team to review the progress made in the project and develop a technical work plan for the second year.
NTB Peanut Forum involving a partnership between BPTP, Garuda Foods and ILTERI is progressing, with regular meetings and joint monitoring visits to identify issues at grower and production systems level.
The NTT Mungbean Industry Forum involving about 60 participants representing growers, traders, researchers and state extension personnel, was successfully held on 10th Feb 2010 at Kupang. The Forum was inaugurated by the Vice-Governor of the Province.
The year 2 review and planning meeting is scheduled during 28-29 July at Mataram.

The project has been extended until Dec 2012 with a variation to the project activities. An annual review and planning meeting was held at Mataram on 29-30 July 2010 to review the progress of the project for the past 2 years and to develop a technical work plan for the variation component of the project.
The next 2-year phase of the project will focus on the following activities:
1. On-farm adaptive research to improve the soybean productivity in Nusa Tenggara Barat, by utilising the insights gained from the soybean industry scoping study implemented in the 1st phase of the project.
2. Increasing adoption of the promising varietal and management practices identified in the first phase of the project to improve the productivity of peanut and mungbean, including small holder's access to quality seed in the target regions in Eastern Indonesia
3. Fostering functional partnerships between the participating public and private sector agencies including growers to sustain effective on-farm research and extension support to articulate peanut and mungbean supply chains
4. In Australia improving peanut crop establishment in cane farming systems through Rhizobium management and developing artificial seed from peanut embryo to improve seed quality and minimise seed costs.
Following is the summary of the progress accomplished during the reporting period.
The first round of soybean varietal trials implemented at 3 sites in NTB identified the new variety "Anjasmoro" as most promising with 24% yield advantage over the local check varieties. The on-farm agronomic management trials revealed potential for significant yield improvements (up to 170% over local practice) with a package of specific management practices.
The Garuda Food Ltd (GF) and AIAT agencies in Nusa Tenggara Barat province implemented large scale demonstration trails over 15ha involving 89 growers in the west and central Lombok regions to improve adoption of peanut production technologies. It was encouraging to note that the provincial DINAS agency officially recorded a 13% increase of peanut yield in 2010 (from a static 1.2t/ha to 1.36t/ha) in the west Lombok region where the project has been active during the past two years. The peanut production in the west and central Lombok districts has increased from 11,266 tons in 2008 to 14,504 tons in 2010.
Garuda Foods Ltd has initiated an off-season seed multiplication strategy involving selected commercial seed producers, AIAT seed certification and ILETRI agencies. This is a major step forward developing an effective seed supply system for NTB peanut growers.
In Nusa Tenggara Timor the project established a new growers' cooperatives model to improve the visibility and effectiveness of the mungbean production technology transfer to small holders in Belu and Kupang regions. The first attempt of the grower cooperatives model was highly successful in the Belu District with 25 growers (covering 25ha) working together to implement a Best Management Package (BMP) with the new variety "Vima". An average yield of 950kg/ha was recorded with the BMP package compared to 470kg/ha from the local farmers practice. Large on-farm trials with two grower cooperatives involving 60 growers covering 50ha is under progress at Kupang.
The mungbean grower cooperatives model has been attracting micro-financing from local banks and policy support from the Government and market people with the NTT Governor announcing a micro financing scheme for Kupang mungbean farmers associated with this project through the NTT Bank.
In the extension phase of the project, there were some changes to the project personnel and the collaborating agencies in Indonesia and Australia. The project is being novated to the University of Queensland, following relocation of the Australian project leader to the newly commissioned institution, the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), under a Qld Government-University of Queensland partnership arrangement.