Intervention study has improved chicken rearing and on-farm biosecurity in the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar

As part of an Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Centre (ACIAR),
University of Queensland (UQ) animal health project in the Central Dry Zone (CDZ) of Myanmar, a year-long intervention study has improved chicken rearing and on-farm biosecurity.

The study, which was completed in November 2015, included vaccinations against Newcastle disease administered in three-monthly intervals. Interviews with village chicken farmers were conducted in December 2015 to explore changes in their perceptions, beliefs and practices towards Newcastle disease and its prevention and to follow-up on the outcomes of the intervention study. (A similar survey was conducted before the commencement of the intervention study.)

Why agricultural research matters - the aid perspective

An argument for agricultural research

Extending agricultural productivity is an important catalyst of broader economic growth. The benefits of investment in agricultural research can be substantial, as demonstrated by growth in Australian agriculture over the past four decades. Multifactor productivity growth (growth in output relative to the combined contributions of inputs) in Australian agriculture between 1974–75 and 2003–04 averaged 2.8% a year.

Productivity growth has accounted for the entire increase in output by the agricultural sector over the last thirty years and has produced sizeable benefits–an estimated productivity dividend of just over $170 billion (page 115 of 'Trends in Agriculture' Productivity Commission Research Paper 2005).

Astounding images from PNG

Photojournalist Paul Jones recently visisted some of our project sites in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The superb images feature in a photo set on PNG and in one on PNG women agricultural researchers on our Flickr site.

The pictures capture examples of ACIAR's investment in PNG and how our work is making a difference to the lives of smallholder farmers and their communities.

Celebrating International Women's Day in PNG

We're so very fortunate to work with some remarkable women in ACIAR. These include women within our organisation, the researchers who help undertake our programs and projects, and importantly, the inspirational farmers involved.

On International Women's Day, 8 March 2012, the theme is "empowering rural women: ending hunger and poverty". This theme resonates strongly with the work we do.

Our Country manager for Papua New Guinea, Ms Emily Flowers, extended her busy-as-usual schedule to arrange for some of the women involved in ACIAR projects to meet with Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, The Hon Richarld Marles MP, as part of Australia Week celebrations in PNG.

Some of these women are farmers, and some are members of the nations leading female agricultural researchers. They participated in a photo shoot, the results of which we take great pleasure in sharing with our blog readers.

Fish farm future for PNG

A/Professor Jes Sammut (c), with lead farmer Mr A1 (r) who is fostering aquaculture technologies with other farmers in the Eastern Highlands Province (Photo: Cathy Hair)

The experience of ACIAR project leader Dr Jes Sammut helping people in Papua New Guinea grow fish inland, is featured in the February edition of the Qantas ‘Australian Way’ magazine in a story about scientists working in remote locations.

The Associate Professor at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of New South Wales travels to a range of locations in the Western, Eastern Highlands and Morobe provinces of PNG on a regular basis.