FFTC Work Program for 2006
Seminars and Workshops
The 18TH Technical Advisory Committee (Tac) Meeting
Taiwan ROC, June 19-23
The Center's TAC which convenes every two years will hold its 18th meeting in Y2006. The meeting primarily aims to deliberate and review the past, current, and future activities of the Center. As in the past, the Center envisions to solicit from the TAC members who are leading agricultural scientists in the Asian and Pacific region, valuable suggestions and recommendations to help guide the Secretariat in planning and conducting its work program. This will ensure that FFTC's efforts are relevant not only to the present policies of agricultural development in the region but also in line with the Center's mandate of providing technical knowledge and information related to modern agricultural technology appropriate for small-scale farming systems, with the ultimate goal of increasing output and incomes of resource-poor farmers in the region.
Agricultural Cooperatives in Asia: Innovations and Opportunities in the 21ST Century
Korea, September 11-15
Co-sponsor: National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF), Korea
The challenge for agricultural cooperatives to play a vital role in enhancing farmers' economy and livelihood has become even greater in the 21st century. While agricultural cooperatives have contributed much to the promotion of farmers' voluntary economic activities, increase in agricultural production and development of the rural economy through their traditional methods in terms of organizational structures, business models and management procedures, now they have to cope with the challenges of the time. Amid rapid changes in the global agriculture, technology and trade environment which have persisted since the 1990s, agricultural cooperatives and farmers' organizations are now faced with new emerging needs and challenges from farmers, local communities and markets in the 21st century. This seminar aims to promote the sharing of information on successful innovation practices of agricultural cooperatives in the new era.
Area-Wide Management of Plant Insect Pests
Japan, October 03-08
Co-sponsors: Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS); Council of Agriculture (COA), Taiwan ROC; Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG), Japan
Over the last several decades, considerable progress has been achieved in the development and applicability of the area-wide approach for the suppression and control of some key insect pests.
As improved technologies in area-wide approach and control practices progress steadily, it is highly important to continuously share and exchange pest management and control strategies among participating countries through proactive updating of information on this approach. This symposium intends to provide a forum to share past experiences and exchange information on current status and successful practices on area-wide approach as integrated into insect pest management.
Innovative Technologies and Management Schemes for the Production of Eco-Friendly and Safe Aquaculture Products
Indonesia, December 04-08
In the Asian and Pacific region, there is an increasing demand among consumers for high-quality, eco-friendly, and safe aquaculture products. Hence, it has become more important than ever to adopt innovative technologies and management schemes that will ensure the preservation of the aquaculture environments, and which will guarantee food safety or the protection of the aquaculture products from any form of hazard or contamination.
This international workshop aims to serve as a venue for the sharing of knowledge and experiences on improved aquaculture technologies and management system to address the need for eco-friendly production processes and food safety concerns.
Urban/Peri-Urban Agriculture in the Asian and Pacific Region
Philippines, May 22-26
Co-sponsor: Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry & Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD)
This training workshop aims to provide a venue for the sharing of recent urban/peri-urban agriculture (UPA) trends, experiences and technologies. This project will cover urban/peri-urban agriculture technologies resulting from research and development (R&D) activities, such as, container gardening for high value crops and ornamentals, small-scale hydroponics system, solid waste recycling approaches, wastewater recycling techniques and organic fertilizer production, and other technologies which are possibly available but not are documented and do not flow into the mainstream of science and technology (S&T) in the region's R&D systems. It will also focus on the urgent needs of farmers, city dwellers and the government on the development of UPA in their respective settings.
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Sustained Management of Soil-Rhizosphere System for Efficient Crop Production and Fertilizer Use
Thailand, October 16-21
Co-sponsor: Land Development Department (LDD), Thailand
Good soil-rhizosphere system is the basic condition to ensure good crop production and quality. In order to maintain good growth condition, soil scientists, plant nutrition scientists, and microbiologists have spent much time in establishing theories and practical technology in monitoring and identifying the condition of soil-rhizosphere system and the optimum fertilizer use. Some countries in the Asian and Pacific region have developed innovative technologies that can be extended to other countries, particularly on soil fertility, root system, microbiological activities, and fertilizer use.
The primary objective of this workshop is to discuss recent innovative techniques for efficient crop production and cost-effective fertilizer use under a sustainable management system.
Development of Database for Biological Invasion
Taiwan ROC, September 18-22
Co-sponsors: National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences (NIAES), Japan; Bureau of Animal & Plant Health Inspection & Quarantine (BAPHIQ), COA, Taiwan ROC
The utilization of the Internet is indispensable in terms of sharing database information on biological invaders among countries in the region and/or in the international level. To help resolve such problems and minimize the damage caused by alien species, the Asia-Pacific Alien Species Database (APASD) was introduced by the NIAES (National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences), Japan, during the first meeting in 2003 and has been improved as an outcome of the second seminar in 2004; database input has continued since then. This Y2006 project is a follow-up activity of the past two seminars, with the intention of updating the APASD system to make it more functional and user-friendly.
Special Projects
Modern Corn Cultivation Technology Transfer in Caraga Region, Philippines
January - December
Co-sponspors: Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippines; Rural Development Foundation (RDF), Taiwan ROC
Corn is the main source of livestock forage in the Philippines, and corn production is an important source of livelihood for many small-scale farmers in the country. About 60% of the Philippines' annual corn production is from Mindanao, and among this island's six main maize production areas, the Caraga Region has the least average yield production.
The average yield of corn in Caraga is only 1.5MT/hectare. This low yield is attributed to the farmers' poor cultivation practices and lack of modern technology, as well as the use of inbred varieties. Therefore, there is an urgent need to extend modern cultivation techniques and introduce hybrid corn in order to raise the average yield and the farmers' interest to grow corn under this agricultural technical assistance program.
International Collaborative Project on &Quot;Evolution of Citrus Greening Pathogen (HLB) Strains in Aspac&Quot; (Y2)
April 2005 - March 2007
Co-sponspor: National Institute of Fruit Tree Science (NIFTS), Japan
In recent decades, citrus greening disease (HLB) has been devastating citrus orchards in the Asian and Pacific region, and causing serious strain to the citrus industry in these areas. Basic information on the evolution of HLB strains in terms of pathogenicity and disease resistance is primarily important in formulating adequate measures for controlling the HLB disease. This FFTC/NIFTS international collaboration project shall focus on the investigation of pathological and epidemiological natures of HLB pathogen strains in Taiwan and in the ASPAC region.
Establishment of Pathogen-Free Citrus Germplasm Repository for the Improvement of the Citrus Industry in Aspac
January - December
Co-sponspors: Rural Development Foundation (RDF), Taiwan ROC; National Institute of Fruit Tree Science (NIFTS), Japan; Southern Fruit Research Institute (SOFRI), Vietnam; National Taiwan University (NTU)
Citrus systemic diseases of greening (HLB), and viruses such as citrus tristeza closterovirus (CTV), citrus tatter leaf cappilovirus (CTLV) and citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), have been causing considerable damage to fruit yield and quality, and have become serious constraint for the citrus industry in the Asian and Pacific region in recent decades. These systemic serious diseases are effectively controlled by integrated measures of disease management such as: 1) establishment of virus-free citrus cultivar repository, which is primarily important in preventing prevalence of the diseases; 2) precise and rapid disease indexing techniques indispensable for management of pathogen-free (PF) nursery system through health certificate of PF seedlings; 3) establishment of shoot-tip micrografting technique for obtaining PF germplasm foundation; and 4) performance of health management for preventing reinfection of PF trees in the field through IPM of vector insects.
The above-mentioned integrated techniques have been well-developed and performed for the improvement and development of citrus industry in Taiwan. Also, Southeast Asian countries look forward to Taiwan's technological support to prevent growers losses due to the citrus greening and virus diseases.
Index of Images
Figure 1 2006 work program
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