Sub sections:
International Outreach
Cambodia
Bob Martin (24 January - 18 February, 30 May – 14 June, 27 September – 22 October). ACIAR Project ASEM/2006/130 “Enhancing production and marketing of maize and soybean in north-western Cambodia and production of summer crops in north-eastern Australia”.
Activities and outcomes
- In north-west Cambodia, we found that production costs exceed income for smallholder farmers. The project has demonstrated that improved production techniques can profitably increase yields of maize, soybean, peanut and mungbean.
- Three John Allwright Fellowships for PhD/Masters study in Australia: Mr Pol Chanthy, IPM in soybean (UNE); Mr Chea Sareth, PhD studies at the University of Queensland; Ms Srey Sinath, masters studies (University of Melbourne).
- Three publications in the ACIAR monogaph series.
Colorado USA
Subhadip Ghosh and Brian Wilson (6-9 July). International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter Dynamics: Land use, Management and Climate Change. The aim of the symposium was to present the latest research on soil organic matter (SOM) across the globe and highlight future research directions.
Presentations:
- “Opportunities and barriers for the estimation and prediction of soil carbon at State and catchment scales in New South Wales, Australia (B Wilson);
- “Impact of land use variation on soil C change in different agricultural soils in NW New South Wales, Australia (S Gosh).
Indonesia
Malem McLeod (3-11 November). ACIAR Project SMCN 2007/040 “Building more profitable and resilient farming systems in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and New South Wales”.
Activities and outcomes
- Synchronised protocols for biochar experiments in Aceh and Australia
- Presentation of a keynote paper at an International Seminar at the University of Jenderal Soedirman and public lecturers at University of Jenderal Soedirman (UNSOED) and University of Gajah Mada (UGM)
- Mr. Slamet Supryiadi to undertake PhD studies on biochar at UNE funded by the Indonesian Government
- The Trunojoyo University Madura has also sought collaboration with PIIC in other fields of research such as Food Science.
- Increased opportunities to develop collaboration with various Indonesian Universities, particularly on biochar research
Myanmar
David Herridge (14 September–3 October). ACIAR Project SMCN/2006/013 ‘Increasing food security and farmer livelihoods through enhanced legume cultivation in the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar’
Activities and outcomes
- Visited with Professor Bob Martin to Khon Kaen University and Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand, for discussions on rhizobial inoculants for legumes and their potential supply to Cambodia.
- Reviewed progress by the Rhizobium/inoculant production group at DAR, Yezin, in adoption of laboratory practices from the 2007 and 2008 training programs in Thailand and 2007 and 2008 site visits
- Reviewed development of the laboratory facilities of the Rhizobium/inoculant production group against a set of objectives;
- Reviewed in conjunction with Dr GV Ranga Rao and Mr AG Surender Reddy of ICRISAT, India, the groundnut, pigeonpea and chickpea varietal improvement and village seed bank programs at DAR, Yezin.