ACIAR pledges more help for Indonesia
ACIAR pledges more help for Indonesia
JAKARTA (JP): The Australian Centre for International
Agriculture Research (ACIAR) said on Tuesday that it would
increase cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture's research
and development agency to improve Indonesia's agricultural
production.
ACIAR's director Robert J. Clements said that it was critical
to establish a research collaboration to develop sustainable
agriculture expansion in Indonesia and help the country begin an
economic recovery.
"ACIAR is committed to supporting research collaboration
between Indonesia and Australia, although it can at times be very
difficult to maintain enthusiasm for research and see the way
ahead for Indonesia in the current troubled times," he said.
Clements said that in addition to the existing projects in
Indonesia, ACIAR would look to develop new research into the
socio-economic impact of government policy and industrial growth
on the farming sector.
ACIAR representatives met Indonesian agricultural and economic
specialists on Wednesday to identify research needs for the
future.
Clements said the collaboration program would focus on
technology development in eastern Indonesia in the short term.
"Priority will be given to fisheries development, including
fish farming technologies, the development of beef cattle
industries as well as the production of major food crops because
livestock and marine fisheries play an important role in
supporting the development of eastern Indonesia," he said.
Clements added that research to improve the management of
grasslands and to optimize the use of the abundant marine
resources in eastern Indonesia would also be funded.
ACIAR, an Australian government body established in 1982,
conducts a wide range of agricultural research projects in
Southeast Asia and the Pacific region in close cooperation with
the host countries.
The agency disburses Australian agricultural research funds
and gives direct bilateral assistance to Indonesia under the
auspices of the Australian Development Cooperation Program.
Clements said 61 projects had been completed here since ACIAR
started cooperating with the ministry of agriculture in 1983.
There are currently 28 on-going projects.
He said the emphasis of ACIAR projects was usually on animal
production, particularly animal diseases and feed, crop
production, especially rice, corn and soybean, and on
agricultural development policies.
"The contribution from ACIAR to these projects during the time
has been approximately $20 million," Clements said.
Meanwhile, the head of the ministry's research and development
agency Joko Budianto said that ACIAR cooperation was important
because Australia had successfully developed its livestock
industry and had long experience of developing marine fisheries.
"But we suggest ACIAR seek support from the private sector
given the relatively small size of its budget," Joko said. (gis)