In this article, Da Silva and Murdolelono assess the feasibility of new maize cultivation technology in enhancing maize productivity, farmer income and food security among farming households in East Nusa Tenggara. The authors use data gathered through an experiment with 30 farmers in South Timor Tengah district during the 2007/08 rainy season. The new technologies were the open-pollenated maize variety Srikandi and recommendations on fertilizers and plant spacing.

The paper examines the adoption of site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) by maize farmers in North Sumatra and its impact on production and farmers' income. The SSNM introduced to farmers was recommended by a study conducted in the region in 2004-2007: 160 kg ha-1 N, 72 kg ha-1 P2O5 and 90 kg ha-1 K2O. The study also disseminated a new high-yielding variety of maize together with recommendations for planting density and the number of seeds per hole. Research was carried out in five sites in Tigabinanga sub-district—a dryland farming region located 600-700m above mean sea level.

This paper assesses the economic performance of mungbean in relation to productivity of the existing mungbean cultivar (Fore Belu) and management practices of local farmers. The research reveals that average mungbean productivity in the sample villages is 0.35 ton/ha, well below the national average of 0.75 ton/ha. This is largely due to local farmers using the low-yield Fore Belu cultivar. It also shows that the Sriti cultivar produces the highest gross margin compared to other varieties.

This study encompasses profiling of the Edamame supply chain management, analysis of value adding and performance at each part of the supply chain and concludes with recommendations to improve performance of the supply chain. The report includes a generalist literature review focusing on management, performance and added value analyses of perishable product supply chains and specifically outlining Edamame characteristics and production data. Primary data was sourced through in- depth interviews with supply chain participants and secondary data from a desktop analysis.

This working paper uses a multi-market model to assess ex ante the impact of yield increases for maize, soybean and cassava on cropping patterns, producer and consumer prices, household income and other variables related to maize policy. The findings reveal that raising maize yields alone reduces imports and has generally small but positive effects on output, consumption, income and purchasing power. Raising the yields of all three commodities stimulates production of these crops and reduces imports in particular of maize and cassava but not of soybeans.

In this report, Dipokusumo et al. examine the impacts of government policy on the profitability of wetland and dryland soybean in West Nusa Tenggara and the extent to which the province has a comparative advantage in soybean production. The research uses data collected through interviews with 90 soybean farmers, as well as policymakers, end users, extension agents and traders, in the districts of Central Lombok, Sumbawa and Bima. It uses the Policy Analysis Matrix as a data analysis tool.

This paper explores the experience of contract farming between Garuda Food—represented locally by PT Bumi Mekar Tani—and peanut smallholders in West Nusa Tenggara. The research uses data gathered from a survey of 713 smallholders (contract and non-contract farmers) from 72 farmers groups in seven peanut growing districts, as well as semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders.

This report reviews previous agroforestry, forage and livestock projects in eastern Indonesia to assess the potential for integrated timber-forage-livestock agroforestry systems to improve the incomes of smallholder farmers in West Timor. It identifies strategies for developing more acceptable systems, proposes methods for their implementation and provides an assessment and analysis of the constraints to adoption of research results. The scoping study included field investigation and a social survey in West Timor in 2007.

This report presents the findings of an ACIAR-funded project that aimed to develop understanding and insight of the goat supply chain in South Sulawesi and identify possible interventions that would improve smallholder and supply chain profitability. One of the main findings was that an iodine deficiency existed in the diet of goats, which was overcome by applying Providon solution to the skin of goats. The project also identified the need among goat producers to regularly weigh their animals for breeding, husbandry and marketing purposes.

This paper examines the impacts of contract farming on its smallholder participants in East Java, Bali and West Nusa Tengarra (NTB). Three contracts were selected for detailed analysis: seed corn in East Java; seed rice in Bali; and broiler chickens in NTB. The analysis was informed through key informant interviews and household surveys. The report includes a review of contract farming and detailed description and analysis of the three selected contracts.