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AGWEST International Projects

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United Arab Emirates (2006-2009)

AGWEST International is in partnership with GRM International undertaking a major soil survey of the Abu Dhabi Emirate to produce comprehensive soil maps, a soil management database management system and key land use information.

Indonesia (2006)

AGWEST International is providing training in pests of stored products and wood for 9 senior officers from the Indonesia Indonesian Centre for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Research and Development (B.B.BIOGEN), the Agency for Agricultural Quarantine (IAQA), and Gaja Mada University. The training as an AusAID Public Sector Linkages project under contract to the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Botswana(2006)

AGWEST International is in conjunction with the Department’s Plant Health team and the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service providing training for Botswana Plant Quarantine officers. Two officers received training in April under a government to government agreement and a further 6 officers are receiving 1 months training under an AusAID funded project.

Thailand (2005-06)

AusAID project, “Enhanced bio-security for the Mekong region” AGWEST International, in partnership with Murdoch University is providing training in animal and plant bio-security for Livestock and Plant Quarantine officers.

United Arab Emirates (2005-06)

AGWEST International is providing high level advice and input for NATA accreditation for the Dubai Municipality Animal Health Laboratories.

Iran (2005)

Under contract to FAO, AGWEST International provided a Western Australia study tour for 4 officers from the Iranian Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Management Organisation engaged in the UNDP/GEF, Government of Islamic Republic of Iran, Carbon Sequestration Project in Hossein Abad Region. The objective of the tour was for delegates to observe how natural resources in dry-land and desertified areas are managed in Western Australia, discuss carbon sequestration methods and community participation.

Iraq (2004-2006)

AusAID-funded Agricultural Human Resource Development Project for Iraq. AGWEST International, in partnership with Curtin University, is providing training in agricultural management and specialised technical areas for middle managers from the Iraqi Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources.

Mauritania (2004)

AGWEST International carried out a review of options for Woodside Energy Limited investment in locust control, agriculture and natural resource management to assist the people of Mauritania.

Iraq (2005)

Under the AusAID-funded Reconstruction of Agriculture for Iraq project (RAFI), AGWEST International organised and managed a second study tour of Australia focusing on the role of government in rural development and community empowerment within a market economy.

Iraq (2004-2005)

Under the AusAID-funded Reconstruction of Agriculture for Iraq program (RAFI), 3 AGWEST International staff have supplied technical and policy advice to the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture in Baghdad.

Iraq (2004-2005)

United Arab Emirates (2004)

Under an agreement with the Dubai Emirate, AGWEST International worked with its Food Safety Unit to help apply risk assessment principles in regard to food testing protocols.

Mauritius (2004)

AGWEST International carried out a review of procedures and designed and implemented an enhanced system for seed testing and plant health certification.

China and South East Asia (2004)

AGWEST International was the lead agency in providing AusAID-funded training in the region, covering epidemiology and risk assessment to underpin the establishment of disease free animal zones.

Cambodia (2003-2006)

DAFWA, in partnership with Murdoch University is providing assistance in land use planning to support agricultural diversification in the Battambang, Kampong Cham and Takeo provinces.

Iraq (2003)

Under the AusAID-funded Rehabilitation Assistance Facility Iraq (RAFI), AGWEST International partnered with Primary Industries and Resources South Australia to organise and manage a study tour of Australia focusing on the role of government in rural development and community empowerment.

Kuwait (2002-2004)

AGWEST International staff worked as members of an international consortium to carry out a soil monitoring and assessment project to build a soil contamination map in Kuwait.

Egypt (2002)

AGWEST International completed a pre-feasibility study of productive capacity and economic returns for a new irrigated farm development for a private company.

East Timor (2001-2003)

AGWEST International had a lead role in AusAID-funded technical assistance project in land-use planning for the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests. The team provided counterpart training in soil survey, remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems, and land evaluation within a land-use framework. The project developed a Geographic Information Systems unit with capability in data collection, analysis and interpretation for agriculture, rural planning purposes, land use evaluation and mapping.

India (2001-2003)

AGWEST International managed an AusAID-funded technical assistance and capacity building project for the Sikkim Department of Horticulture to help rebuild its apple industry after it was decimated by pest and disease. The project helped plan for the long-term sustainability of the apple industry.

Middle East (2001-2002)

DAFWA is an international leader on animal risk assessment carried out a series of risk analysis workshops in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, UAE, Syria, Lebanon and Iran funded by the Australian Meat and Livestock Association and LiveCorp.

South-East Asia and the Pacific (2000-2004)

AGWEST International, in partnership with the Australian Youth Ambassador Program, has placed 10 of the Department’s younger staff in capacity-building projects involving Geographic Information Systems, market research, dryland management, and horticultural development in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China, East Timor, the Maldives and Fiji.

Vietnam (2000-2003)

DAFWA, in partnership with ,Curtin University and the Vietnamese Food Crops Research Institute carried out a project aimed at improved management and enhanced production of the potato industry in the Red River Delta.

South Africa (1999-2004)

DAFWA has provided capacity-building support to the South African Department of Agriculture in consultative land care work funded by AusAID, the Government of South Africa, and the Crawford Fund.

Indonesia (1998)

The Department of Agriculture, Western Australia assisted the Sulawesi Livestock Services to introduce improved genetic material and production systems for enhanced goat production.

China (1998-2006)

Under a MOU with the Chinese State Association for Foreign Expert Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia has placed staff on short-term technical exchange visits throughout China covering animal bio-security, post harvest technology and pasture and fodder production.

Pakistan (1988-2005)

Collaborative research programs with the Government of Pakistan and Department of Agriculture and Food, funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), have included selection and management of salt-tolerant grazing plants and soil and irrigation water management to improve crop production and irrigation efficiency. The projects involved the active support and collaboration of Pakistani farmers. One project developed grazing systems for saline land. The other introduced a furrow irrigation system in permanent raised beds that has increased wheat and maize yields by 20 - 30 per cent while decreasing irrigation water use by 30 per cent.

Kuwait (1995-1999)

As Sub-Consultant to AACM, the DAFWA implemented the ‘Soil Survey of the State of Kuwait’. The survey covered the entire state and provide a database for land use planning and management. A computer based Soil Information System (SIS) was established, consisting of Database Management.

Iran (1993-1995)

The DAFWA carried out a feasibility study for irrigated agriculture in the Caspian Region. The project provided counterpart training in the assessment of physical, social and economic suitability of the region for intensive agricultural development.

Iran (1991-1995)

The DAFWA designed and implemented a Land-use Planning Project for the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture. Introducing Geographic Information Systems to the Iranian regional planning process, the project was funded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and UNDP.

Jordan (1983)

The DAFWA carried out a feasibility study for a sheep meat development project under contract to the National Planning Council and the Jordanian Pension Fund.

Nepal (1981-1984)

The Australian International Development Assistance Bureau and the Government of Nepal funded the AU$8 million Nepal Livestock Development Project managed by the DAFWA. The project introduced improved systems of disease control and nutritional management, and provided a large training component for Nepalese veterinarians, agronomists and livestock extension specialists.

Thailand (1980-1991)

The DAFWA managed a major institution-strengthening project for the Thai Department of Agriculture. Funded with a US$30 million loan from World Bank and AUS$15 million development assistance from the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau, the project established a strong, regionally based, agricultural research system throughout Thailand.

Iraq (1980-1984)

Located at Jezira, the Agricultural Development Project Iraq established 10,000 hectares of cereal/pasture production with a related research program. The project demonstrated that pasture development based on annual medics selected from populations which occur naturally in the Jezira, and locally adapted rhizobia, coupled with modern cereal growing methods, have the potential to raise productivity in Northern Iraq significantly.

Saudi Arabia (1980-1984)

DAFWA designed and co-ordinated the establishment of a large scale irrigated cereal project for the Government of Saudi Arabia.

Nigeria (1978-1981)

The Sheep Meat Production Project established for the Government of Nigeria, large scale demonstration farms with integrated cereal and sheep production systems. The main component focused on nutrition and breeding of extensively managed sheep flocks, and involved the establishment of two sheep management-training centres and legume based pastures near Katsina.

Libya (1974-1984)

DAFWA in partnership with the Libyan Ministry for Agricultural Development managed a dry-land farming project, located on the Jefara Plains. The project developed 54,000 hectares of semi-arid dry-land, demonstrating an annual legume based cereal sheep production system. It led to the Libyan “Medic Ecotype Selection Program” introducing legume pastures to Libya’s rain-fed agriculture. The project initiated a continuing selection and breeding program leading to improved meat production from the Libyan Barbary sheep breed.

Page amended: 6th July 2007

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