Visit to Highlight Agricultural Research Partnerships between Indonesia and Australia

The importance of Australia’s agricultural research program in Indonesia will be highlighted this week during the visit to Indonesia by the new Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

Dr Nick Austin will visit Indonesia from 16 to 20 March 2010 for meetings in Jakarta and Bogor, in Java, and to visit ACIAR project sites in Lombok.

ACIAR is a statutory authority which operates as part of the Australian Government's development assistance program. The Centre funds research and development projects through partnerships between Australian and Indonesian researchers and other players.

“ACIAR has been supporting research projects in agriculture, fishery and forestry industries in Indonesia for over 25 years,” said Dr Austin.

“Our Indonesian program, with a budget of A$11.7 million in 2009-10, remains the Centre’s largest country program, supporting 59 projects in eleven provinces of Indonesia, in eastern Indonesia, and in parts of Java and Sumatra.”

“These international agricultural research partnerships aim to achieve more productive and sustainable agricultural systems to help meet the priorities of the Indonesian and provincial governments and of the Australia-Indonesia Partnership,” Dr Austin said.

As a close neighbour, Australia supports Indonesia’s endeavours to reduce the number of people living in poverty through agricultural development.

“The ACIAR research program aims to help boost farmers' incomes in two ways: by increasing the productivity of crops, livestock and aquaculture; and by fostering the development of integrated agribusinesses, focusing on high-value commodities which have strong market demand,” Dr Austin said.

ACIAR is also working in partnerships to help Indonesia manage pest and diseases, improve postharvest processing and market development of products, manage forestry and fisheries resources sustainably, and improve farmer links to markets.

While in Jakarta, Dr Austin will meet with key personnel at the Ministry of Agriculture, the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, along with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) at Bogor.

While in Lombok, Dr Austin will visit ACIAR research projects helping smallholder cattle producers, peanut growers and lobster farmers to increase their productivity and profitability.

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