PROJECTS
Myanmar Young Water Professionals Review
An intensive review of the achievements of the Young Water Professionals Program conducted in Myanmar and funded by The Australian Water Partnerships Program (AWP) and led by Dr Jay Cummins. The review involved assessing of the skills and capabilities of Alumni youth through on-line assessment techniques and focus group discussions. Discussions with key stakeholders engaged in the training identified both the critical success factors and opportunities for program enhancement. Recommendations provided to AWP focused on course curriculum design, management of the program and opportunities for broadening engagement of partners in delivery.
Krishi-Doot: Entrepreneurial Farmer Services
This project was conducted in the Eastern Gangetic Plains, and focused on developing farmer-led village based extension and information services. The aim was to develop a sustainable commercially focused extension service delivery model. The desired outcomes were to deliver quality and credible information and technology opportunities to farmers by locally trained youth, whilst also providing access to quality farm inputs and on-farm training support. The project proved to be an outstanding success, in terms of developing a commercially driven approach to extension service delivery.
Improving farmer group performance
A research study commissioned by AgEx Alliance and supported by PIRSA set out to review the network of farming systems groups across South Australia to help identify how their management and delivery of services could be improved. Focus group studies helped identify the vision and aspirations of groups, how they connected with local farming communities and the challenges and constraints that they faced. Outcomes from the study resulted in developing a strategic road map detailing how innovation could be best integrated into group activities, identification of strategic partnerships and opportunities for providing targeted leadership training and capacity building
Accelerating adoption of CA across India
A comprehensive research study was conducted to find out why farmers had not adopted Conservation Agriculture CA practices, instead opting to burn straw residues and contribute to serious air pollution. Farmers from across norther India were interviewed to get the answers. Many farmers were simply unaware of the technology, with many traditional in their thinking often preferring to see a field cultivated before sowing a crop. The study identified the need to support farmer producer organisations in the establishment of custom hire centres, as a means of capturing entrepreneurial and free-enterprise spirits. Gradually, the recommendations are now being integrated into government policy, and fortunately the air is slowly clearing.
