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)