Unable to copy Progress Summary from Annual Report because it is a PDF File. (17-01-08) MH

During this reporting period, good progress has been made against the stated objectives, activities and milestones. Key outcomes since the last reporting period include: completion of the soil analyses associated with the Soil Assessments (Activity 1.1), completion of two farmer-participatory research trials and initiation of three others (Activity 1.2), completion of the Regional Training Course in Thailand by one project team member from Aceh (Activity 2.2), and initiation of the baseline survey (Activity 3.1). A "Short Course on Chilli Pepper Integrated Crop Management" (Activity 2.1) was held in Banda Aceh. Preparations for the Vegetable ICM Workshop (Activity 2.2) and Training of Trainers (Activity 2.3), which are planned for October 2008 have also commenced.
Analyses of soil test results for the Soil Assessment were completed for all 21 sites across five Districts: Aceh Besar, Pidie, Pidie Jaya, Bireuen and Aceh Utara. Micronutrient analyses were conducted at the Indonesian Soil Research Laboratory in Bogor, while macronutrient analyses were conducted at the Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology (BPTP) NAD soil laboratory. The results are currently being analysed and used to prepare a short scientific communication for publication in a relevant scientific journal.
Several soil amendments have been identified for overcoming soil constraints, including manures, compost and lime. These are being evaluated in current research trials. One pepper and one cucumber trial were completed during this reporting period. The farmer-participatory chili pepper trial in Bireuen produced an excellent crop and was harvested 8 times. The farmer-participatory cucumber trial in Pidie Jaya also proceeded very well and was harvested 6 times. A cucumber trial was recently planted in Lhoknga, Aceh Besar. Two trial sites were abandoned due to neglect by our farmer cooperators; these have been replaced with more dedicated farmers. Preparations are now being made to plant a cucumber trial in Bireuen, pepper and amaranth trials in Pidie Jaya, and cucumber and pepper trials in Pidie.
The Short Course on Chilli Pepper Integrated Crop Management (ICM), held on 17 January 2008, had 23 attendees from BPTP NAD, the Food and Horticultural Crops Agricultural Service NAD and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
The project continues to facilitate linkages with research and NGOs in Indonesia and internationally, and build the technical capacity of Partner Country project team members. An example of this is the participation of Saufan Daud (BPTP NAD) in the Center's Regional Training Course (RTC) on Vegetable Production and Marketing in Thailand from November 2007 to January 2008. Project team members Peter Ooi, Chris Dorahy and Manuel Palada presented material to RTC participants, and Ooi coordinated the entire RTC.
Planning for the Vegetable ICM Workshop and Training of Trainers commenced in January 2008. Fifteen Resource Persons are already committed to present materials at these events.
Subhan has sent various IVEGRI germplasm to BPTP NAD - tomato, chili pepper, cucumber, eggplant, yard-long bean, caisim and kangkong. A demonstration plot at BPTP NAD was recently planted with chili pepper, tomato and cauliflower.
The baseline survey was initiated in January 2008, when Madhusudan Bhattarai trained the coordinator and six enumerators in various survey techniques. Data collection was conducted from January to May 2008, primarily through interview processes with questionnaires. There are 30 - 35 respondents per village, in 8 villages across five Districts. The survey focuses on chili pepper and other vegetables, with comparisons to rice. Data is now being entered for subsequent analysis.
An update on the project was published in the May 2008 edition of "Pertanian Pasca Tsunami - Agriculture after the Tsunami" newsletter.

Over the past year, substantial progress was made through a wide range of activities in the areas of research and technology dissemination. Data compilation for the Soil Assessment was completed in March 2009 and writing of results is in progress. Compost, animal manures, lime and appropriate use of inorganic fertilizers have been identified for soil remediation and have been tested in farmer-participatory research trials. Eight trials were successfully completed by January 2009, four with chilli and four with cucumber, in farmers' fields in four Districts. Composts are being recommended in adapted Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and extension publications.
A Training of Trainers (ToT) and vegetable Integrated Crop Management (ICM) Workshop (combined activity) was held at the Agricultural Extension Training Center, Saree, Aceh on 13-24 October 2008. This activity focused on chilli ICM. Participants included 25 men and 10 women, who were trained by 14 resource persons on a range of topics, including: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - Bio-control and farmers' perspectives; IPM - Differentiating between pests, natural enemies and neutral species; IPM - Disease management and producing bio-control agents; Communications; Farm record keeping; Chilli agriculture, seed production and handling; Drip irrigation; Starter Solution Technology; Nutrient deficiency diagnosis, soil analysis and how to make compost; Soil salinity. The Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology of Aceh (BPTP NAD) was the main organizer of the event. Participants came from the Food Crops Agricultural Service NAD, BPTP NAD and Austcare. Thirteen of them are now facilitating FFS.
The participants of the ToT and vegetable ICM Workshop indicated in their evaluations that these activities were quite valuable. When asked to rank the usefulness of the subject matter from 1 (not useful) to 10 (very useful), their responses averaged 9.06; when asked how much their knowledge and understanding of vegetable production had improved due to the ToT and Workshop, the mean response was 57% improvement.
FFS started soon after the ToT was completed, to apply new knowledge quickly. FFS are being held in all five project Districts (Aceh Besar, Pidie, Pidie Jaya, Bireuen and Aceh Utara). Each FFS has 20-25 farmers attending. All FFS focus on chilli ICM, but the emphases vary, from drip irrigation to composting to soil fertility to bio-pesticides to IPM. Farmers are not paid to attend so the FFS must motivate them to come based on the learning activities alone. Approximately 80 farmers have completed FFS training and 900 are in ongoing FFS.
Baseline survey data collection from 240 farmers was completed in June 2008. This survey was very detailed and is yielding an extensive analysis of the vegetable sector in five Districts. Initial results showed that, among the project-targeted vegetables in Aceh, chilli production provided better income and employment to farmers than other crops. On the basis of unit of land, net income of chilli was 1.5 times higher than tomato, 5 times higher than cucumber, and 10 times higher than paddy. Our study shows that an average market-oriented chilli farmer in Aceh obtained net return of about US$3500 per hectare of chilli cultivation; for this the farmer needed to invest about US$3700 per hectare, which is more than 3 times that of paddy cultivation.
Whitefly and geminivirus control methods practiced by farmers have improved due to this project. The project introduced the use of netting over the chilli seedling bed in our farmer-participatory trial in Bireuen and neighbouring farmers became convinced of its effectiveness after seeing the high pepper yields. Subsequently, several farmers borrowed the netting from our collaborating farmer for their pepper nurseries. Use of the netting is likely to reduce pesticide use because it controls whiteflies and other insect pests during the entire nursery period.
Publicity to a wider audience than just project participants was strong this past year. At the time of the ToT and ICM Workshop, Aceh TV broadcasted interviews with the Director of BPTP NAD, the Project Leader and a Soil Scientist. Radio Republic Indonesia also interviewed the former two. Aceh TV interviewed one farmer collaborator, one FFS Facilitator and the Project Leader in May 2009.
Several project team members participated in the International Workshop on Post-Tsunami Soil and Crop Management in Bogor, Indonesia, on 1-2 July 2008. Four posters were presented from this project.
The second participant from Aceh successfully completed the Regional Training Course at AVRDC's Asian Regional Center in January 2009. One field day was held at the site of our farmer-participatory chilli trial in Pidie.