University of Queensland

This project uses value chain analysis through a series of pilot systems (case studies) as a unifying framework to identify constraints and opportunities for indigenous enterprise development using floriculture.
The project conducts its work through three key objectives and the following project initiatives have been achieved to date.
Objective 1: To identify and analyse floriculture value chain arrangements and opportunities.
Information was collected in the Nadi (Fiji) floriculture sector through in-depth interviews with industry participants and one consumer focus group discussion. Most of the interviews conducted surrounded the South Sea Orchids' (SSO) supply or value chain. Key value chain considerations included: insufficient supply of flowers to meet market demands, 'break-away' growers / marketers from the SSO supply chain and among non-project growers, insufficient knowledge and skills relating to growing flowers (particularly among small out-growers), lack of quality specifications, and a need to introduce new cultivars. [Non-project growers are those who are not in either the Koroipita or HART aid projects. Growers under these two projects must work with SSO, which harvests for them and 'stabilises' that supply chain. Growers not in these projects are free to sell to others.]

Opportunities for the Fijian floricultural sector were identified with recommendations for workshops on floricultural skills, introduction of new cultivars, a strategic alliance with tourism industries, promotion of floricultural products by local and national governments with targeted marketing to new customers (e.g. government departments, hotels, tourists), and a capacity building workshop on supply chain management.

A visit to Sydney's Flemington Flower Market was undertaken by Aboriginal Bush Traders (ABT) in November 2010 as value chain analysis research for cycad fronds. This activity involved preliminary work; including harvesting of fronds, postharvest treatment and packaging, pricing, and development of promotional material. Data collected as a result of this activity suggested that the local Darwin market is more viable in regard to cycads. Expansion to wider markets would require more research on freight options and competitive pricing.
Objective 2: To provide new and improved products and practices to floriculture enterprises.
Consultation with the landscaping industry of Fiji has provided a sound basis for identification of native plants suited to landscaping and nursery based enterprises. During consultation, further interest was shown from reforestation and landscape restoration programmes in Fiji that are seeking large volumes of native trees.
Surveying, collecting, trialling and multiplying selected native plants in Fiji is progressing according to schedule. A nursery facility has been established and is quickly filling with a range of native Fijian plants to constitute Fiji's first commercial native plant nursery. Adjacent to the nursery is the beginning of a demonstration garden set up to trial and showcase landscaping with native plants. A first step towards incorporating native plants in the urban landscape was made through a joint landscaping project at a major apartment complex in the heart of Suva comprising almost entirely native plants.
A catalogue of the ginger and allies (viz., Zingiber, Alpinia, Etlingera, Curcuma) accessions bred and developed by NTDoR is being developed. This catalogue will list the accessions available for exchange with the project partners in Fiji, Solomon Islands, and PNG towards providing new and improved plant species and cultivars.
Preparations for best practice field trials have commenced in Darwin in the context of investigating the following ginger production issues of red ginger decline, soil fertility, and appropriate production technologies.
Objective 3: To strengthen floriculture enterprises by building horticultural and business skills and fostering a positive environment.
Aboriginal Bush Traders has secured a regional Parks & Wildlife permit for the harvesting of cycad fronds, which has seen the harvesting of cycad fronds on a more regular basis. This has facilitated the promotion of floriculture as a potential activity for Indigenous people in the region. Flower arrangements using cycads and other native and tropical plants were crafted by a local Indigenous florist for display at three separate functions at Lyons Cottage in the Darwin CBD and foreshore. These demonstrations were accompanied by a leaflet on the ACIAR project. The activities resulted in a number of enquiries from prospective flower arrangement buyers.

Aboriginal Bush Traders also conducted a 2 day 'Introduction to Floral Arrangements' workshop which was attended by local Indigenous women. The workshop was well received in that feedback indicated that most of the participants would be interested in further floriculture activities. Some floral arrangements from the workshop were gifted to several local businesses in order to promote the project. Responses were good with requests for more information and commercial orders being received for arrangements Work is being underway on development of business and pricing models to scope the capacity to cater to these types of requests.

Activities under the current contract aim at providing continued support to the Indonesian Centre for Agricultural Technology Assessment and Development (ICATAD or BBP2TP) and the Assessment Institutes for Agricultural Technology (AIATs or BPTPs) towards the design and piloting of innovative technology assessment and knowledge exchange (TAKE) approaches in selected provinces in Eastern Indonesia. Specific tasks consist of:
Facilitation and mentoring of the Innovation Team through an online communication platform, field visits and possibly workshops, in close collaboration with the Innovation Team Coordinator.
Support in the design and implementation of pilot roll-out (PRO) initiatives within BPTP projects, and the institutionalisation of the PRO approach within the BBP2TP system.
Support in the development of effective media in TAKE activities, particularly pilot roll-out initiatives.
Support in the development of communication strategies at organisational and project level within the BBP2TP and selected BPTPs. This task will be assisted through the assignment of an AYAD at BBP2TP from July 2010 to June 2011.
Support in monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment of innovative TAKE approaches.
Facilitation of Indonesian and Australian student involvement in TAKE initiatives within the BPTPs for Master or PhD research projects.
Due to major changes in senior management at the partner organisation BBP2TP, workplan development was put on hold until the BBP2TP's reorganisation had settled and it would be clear who would be in charge of what tasks. Although general agreement to the proposed tasks was obtained from the new head of BBP2TP, a detailed workplan of and activities needs to be developed in collaboration with the BBP2TP team and taking recent institutional changes into consideration. This is planned for Aug-Sep 2011, which implies that implementation of tasks under this contract have been set back almost one year. Ms Istriningsih, a JAF scholarship recipient and recent graduate of the UQ Master of Communication for Social Change, was assigned as Innovation Team Coordinator.
An Australian Youth Ambassador in Development was assigned to BBP2TP as of July 10 to support the development of communication strategies. Due to health reasons, she could not finish the assignment, but a replacement will be sought. A UQ PhD student is currently working with the BBP2TP and two BPTPs (Banten and NTB) on the design and testing of a media development system to support the dissemination function of the BPTPs.

Through this contract, methodological and monitoring/evaluation support is provided to ACIAR project LPS/2008/054: "Improving cattle fattening systems based on forage tree legume (FTL) diets in Eastern Indonesia and Northern Australia" project to make a link with the Pilot Roll-Out processes developed by ACIAR-SADI. The support particularly relates to objectives 1 and 3 of this project, which involve (1) the identification of barriers to widespread application of FTL feeding practices in diverse cattle fattening systems in Eastern Indonesia, and (2) determining key factors and mechanisms required to achieve widespread adoption of FTL feeding practices. The project will apply the Pilot Roll-Out approach that was developed under the ACIAR-SADI program to design and test development models for the FTL innovations.
With the FTL project starting late, activities under the current contract were initiated in December 2010 but only commenced intensively in May 2011. Activities to date involved the mapping of the potential target areas in NTB and NTT provinces for the use of FTL feeding practices, and the design of a site selection and situation analysis methodology. A team of eight Field Researchers was trained on the principles of (participatory) Research for Development and the methodology for the situation analysis. Field work is conducted in June-July 2011 and an analysis workshop is planned for late August 2011. Well informed site selection and a good understanding of farmers' conditions and perceptions relating to cattle management is critical to the successful implementation of participatory trials and Pilot Roll-Out research that will be initiated in the second half of 2011.

Progress on this project has continued to address the problems caused by respiratory diseases of pigs, a major cause of economic losses to the pig industries of both the Philippines and Australia.
Over the period covered by this report, there have been activities that have involved the selected front-line Philippine diagnostic laboratory (the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory RADDL, San Fernando in Pampanga province), the field disease investigation staff in two Philippine provinces (Pampanga and Bulacan), the Philippine central reference laboratory (Philippine Animal Health Center), the regional University providing novel diagnostic technologies (Central Luzon State University) and the Bureau of Animal Industry (the group providing epidemiological expertise) with these activities being co-ordinated by the Philippines Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD). These Philippine based activities have been both supported and extended by the initiation of a detailed research program at the EcoSciences Precinct (Brisbane) that houses the laboratory shared by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) and the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) of the University of Queensland. Additional key expertise has been provided by staff from the Veterinary School at the Gatton Campus of University of Queensland (specifically in the areas of clinical medicine, epidemiology and virology).
Considerable activity and progress has been achieved in terms of setting up enhanced disease investigation procedures in the Philippines. These activities have involved strong collaborative links with the field staff from the Bulacan and Pampanga Provincial Veterinary Offices and the Australian team. New protocols for farm-based investigations, post mortems and lung scoring at slaughter have been established and training actively pursued (both in the Philippines and in Australia). The Philippines team has visited 17 farms (eight in Pampanga and nine in Bulacan) and 18 visits to slaughterhouses (eight in Pampanga and 10 in Bulacan). Training has also been extended to meat inspectors in the Pampanga area. Initial laboratory activities in the RADDL have also commenced with samples collected during the slaughterhouse visits being examined (three sites in Pampanga and four sites in Bulacan).
The important communication aspects of the project have also been a centre of activity in this period. A Project Advisory Committee has been formed and has already met. The Committee was formed after a stakeholder analysis had been completed. The Philippines team has been actively making stakeholders aware of the project - presentations have been made to the National Advisory Committee on Animal Disease Control and Emergencies and the annual consultation meeting of the Swine Prodcution Performance Project (a PCARRD project). As well, articles on the project have appeared in the PCARRD MONITOR newsletter as well as the PROPORK SWINE newsletter (an industry based newsletter). As well, fact sheets and brochures about the Project are currently being developed for dissemination to the commercial and backyard farms in the pilot areas. These materials will be produced in the English and Filipino languages. Other materials for the industry will be developed alongside the Project communication plan.