In this section
Research
Print this page
  1. UC Website
  2. Research
  3. Research Centres and Institutes
  4. Centre for Sustainable Communities
  5. Past Projects and Publications
  6. International Development

International Development

Projects and Publications

Social Research to Foster Effective Collaboration and Strengthen Pro-Poor Value Chains 

Project Leaders: Barbara Chambers and John Spriggs (Co-leaders)

Project Team: Barbara Chambers, John Spriggs, Sandra Heaney-Mustafa and Robert Fitzgerald

Funding Body: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Category 1 Research Grant

Partners: University of Agriculture Faisalabad (Faisalabad, Pakistan) National Agricultural Research Centre (Islamabad, Pakistan) & Sindh Agricultural University (Tandojam, Sindh, Pakistan) 

Project Description: The overall aim is to encourage and facilitate pro-poor collaborative development in the Pakistan-Australian Agricultural Sector Linkages Program (ASLP 2) by using participatory action research and case-study approaches within and between four commodity-based value chain projects and industries (mango production, mango value chain, citrus and dairy). The Social Project will enhance understanding and opportunities for the poor, and investigate options for improving communication modalities and tools in order to foster more effective collaboration and inclusive outcomes. 

Publications and Refereed Conference Papers (see also ACIAR Reports http://aciar.gov.au/publication/latest):

Spriggs, John and Barbara Chambers (2011). 'Organic research and collaborative development (ORCD) of horticultural supply chains in the Asia-Pacific', Stewart Postharvest Review, Vol 7, No 2 Sept 2011 pp 1-9. (Published on line 01 September 2011 doi:10.2212/spr.2011.2.2)

Increasing Vegetable Production in Central Province, Papua New Guinea to Supply Port Moresby Markets (SMCN/2008/008)

PNG Women in Agriculture in the Central Province. 2009 - 2013

Project Leader: Barbara Chambers (University of Canberra) – Socio-Cultural Component. Colin Birch (University of Tasmania) – Horticulture Component and Overall Coordinator

Project Team: Colin Birch, Laurie Bonney, Barbara Chambers, Gomathy Palaniappan

Funding Body: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Category 1 Research Grant

Partners: Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Tasmania; National Agricultural Research Institute, PNG; Fresh Produce Development Agency, PNG; Pacific Adventist University, PNG.

Description of Socio-cultural Component: The project will enhance urban/regional equity, and address some of the gender inequities in the production and marketing of vegetables whilst incorporating sufficient flexibility to maintain socio-cultural practices. The collaborative approach will empower rural communities enhancing their leverage with urban wholesalers and other fresh marketers and enabling resolution of many of the current barriers to small-holders and women in vegetable marketing.

Publications and Refereed Conference Papers (see also ACIAR Reports http://aciar.gov.au/publication/latest):  Palaniappan, G., Chambers, B., Bonney, L., Simeon, L., Hopa, S. and Birch, C. 2011 Building social resilience through understanding capacities of smallholder farming in Papua New Guinea.

World Congress on Conservation Agriculture and Farming Systems Design Conference, Brisbane 26-30 September 2011  Palanappian, G., Bonney, L., Chambers, B. and Birch, C. 2011. Chain members perception of vegetable value chains in Papua New Guinea (PNG) p38 in Scott, J. (Ed) Research Development and Extension in the Vegetable Centre: sustaining vegetable production in vegetable and allied industries in Tasmania., Proceedings of the 2011 Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research Vegetable Centre Industry Communication Forum, 14th July 2011, Longford, Tasmania. University of Tasmania, Hobart.

Palaniappan, G, Chambers, B,  Simeon, L. Bonney, L,  Hopa, S, and Birch, C. 2011.Small Scale Vegetable Gardens to Local Markets – A Case Study from PNG. Horticulture for the Future. APHC/AuSHS/NZIAHS Joint Conference, Lorne, Vic. 18-22 September 2011.

Palaniappan, G., Birch, C., Chambers, B. and Bonney, L. 2011 Strengthening local vegetable production in Papua New Guinea using value chain analysis. Farming Matters Magazine (online) http://www.agriculturesnetwork.org/magazines/global Immediate Past Project (2011)

Improving Women's Business Acumen: Working with Women Smallholders in Horticulture (ASEM/2009/042)

Project Leader: Barbara Chambers

Project Team: Barbara Chambers and Barbara Pamphilon

Funding Body: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Category 1 Research Grant

Partners: Catherine McGowan Associates; National Agricultural Research Institute, PNG; Fresh Produce Development Agency, PNG.

This project  was an exploratory study which aimed to contribute to improving the livelihoods of PNG women by exploring the constraints affecting their participation in horticulture, reviewing key agriculture extension programs and facilitating the development of training programs in business skills for leaders in the PNG Women in Agriculture Development Fund (PNG WiADF).

Publications and Refereed Conference Papers (see also ACIAR Reports http://aciar.gov.au/publication/latest): 

Chambers, B and Spriggs, J, 'Organic Research: Challenging the log-frame approach to development in the Asia-Pacific Region', Development Studies Association International Conference: Contemporary Crisis and New Opportunities, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, September 1 – 3 2009