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Objectives: 
1. Increase farmers knowledge and skill in rubber, cocoa and fruit trees cultivation especially in nursery and planting.
2. Develop group cooperation in farmer group organization

Venue: KPPKP Hall, West Aceh District.

Date:
Group 1. 6-9 September 2006
Group 2. 10-13 September 2006
Group 3. 14-17 September 2006

Participants:
1. ReGrIn Farmers
2. DisHutBun Aceh Barat
3. DisTan Aceh Barat
4. BAPPEDA
5. KPPKP
6. NGOs

Resources persons:
1. Dr. Nurhawati Siagian, IRRI Sungei Putih
2. Dr. THS Siregar, IRRI Sungei Putih
3. Dr. M. Ompusunggu, IRRI Sungei Putih
4. Ir. Angkasa Tarigan, IRRI Sungei Putih
5. Technical Assistants from ICRAF Muarabungo (Suyitno and Andi Prahmono)
6. Facilitator from DisHutBun North Sumatra District

Material: 
1. Establishment of nursery garden
2. Land preparation and planting
3. Maintenance and fertilizing
4. Taping system for rubber
5. Latex post harvesting process
6. Farmer group dynamic

Language: Bahasa Indonesia

Objectives: Brainstorming to farmers on the rubber and cocoa cultivation

Venue: Agriculture Education and Training Centre, PSE commission, Sibolga Bishopric, Miga-Gunungsitoli, Nias.

Date: 8-12 August 2006

Participants:
1. ReGrIn Farmers
2. DisHutBun Aceh Barat
3. DisTan Aceh Barat
4. BAPPEDA
5. KPPKP
6. NGOs

Resources persons:
1. P. Mikael Sitanggang, Pr.
2. Ama Tini Lase
3. Andreas Telaumbanua
4. Dr. THS Siregar, IRRI Sungei Putih.

Material: 
1. Farmer motivation and theory on rubber nursery, grafting, and tapping techniques.
2. Grafting practice and tapping practice.
3. Theory and practice of post-harvesting for rubber and cocoa.

Language: Bahasa Indonesia

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Summary: The salty sea water brought by the Tsunami has changed the chemistry of soil in the coasts of West Aceh. While the salt levels of these soils are going down, but a return to normality is likely to take more time. Any efforts to plant tree crops in these soils clearly require a clear assessment of the tolerance and adaptability of the economically important tree crops to salt levels. The study will include assessment of salt levels and other chemical and physical attributes of soils under home gardens, estuary mangroves and peat domes. Establishment of tree crops in terms of plant survival and growth need to be assessed in the field and compared with information in the literature.

Expected outcomes: Information on adoptability and adaptability of major tree crops (rubber, cocoa, coconut, oil palm and other fruit and timber species) in soils affected by the salt water during Tsunami.

Available data and resources: Digital aerial photographs and maps of West Coast of Aceh (pre and post Tsunami); data on soil salinity in Tsunami affected areas.

Profile of student: BSc or MSc student with a background in Soil Chemistry. Knowledge of the national language is a must; person from Aceh will be preferred.
Duration: 3 - 6 months
Supervisors: Dr. Fahmuddin Agus (ISRI)
Location: Meulaboh, Aceh Barat (Indonesia)

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Summary: The ReGrIn project pre-supposes tree crops such as rubber and cocoa for economic recovery and livelihood enhancement of the farmers along the coastal zone of West Aceh. Given the economic importance of these crops even before the Tsunami, this is probably correct. But probably many attributes of a range of tree crops, including rubber and cocoa, that West Aceh farmers consider important in selecting these crops. The economic and non-economic factors influencing farmers’ choice of tree crops need to be well understood along with whether their criteria have changed since the Tsunami of December 2004. The study will include farmers’ logic behind their wanting (or not wanting the range of tree crops that are currently being considered.

Expected outcomes: Local perceptions and criteria for choosing ‘beneficial’ tree crops and their potential in the economic recovery of Tsunami affected zones of West Aceh and Nias. A clear basis for recommendations of tree crops based on farmers’ needs, want and desire and their feasibility are expected results.

Available data and resources: Information on tree crops, their economic importance in West Aceh from an earlier survey is available. Land use maps for both West Aceh and Nias may be available.

Profile of student: BSc or MSc student with a background in rural development and social science. Knowledge of the national language is a must; person from Aceh will be preferred.
Duration: 4 - 6 months
Supervisors: Dr. Laxman Joshi (ICRAF)
Location: Meulaboh, Aceh Barat (Indonesia)

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Summary: Aceh had been a relatively difficult place in terms of access and market opportunities. Most local products have to be taken to Medan. The destruction of the infrastructure (roads, marketing channels, etc.) by the Tsunami of December 2004 has almost crippled the marketing systems that were available. How was the marketing before the Tsunami for the major tree crops (rubber, cocoa, coconut, oil palm) and how was this affected by the Tsunami. The current efforts to restore roads and other infrastructure are likely to influence how market mechanisms for important tree crops will develop and what this means to the farmers.

Expected outcomes: Marketing of major tree crops before and after Tsunami in West Aceh and Nias (probably two students separately), and how the Tsunami affected the marketing and production of these crops. A prediction of how soon and in which direction the markets will develop considering the current infrastructure development will be attempted along with recommendations for farmers and local development programs to benefit from these imminent changes.

Available data and resources: General understanding of how rubber, cocoa, oil palm are marketed in West Aceh.

Profile of student: MSc student or economics (emphasis on marketing or rural development). Knowledge of the national language is a must; person from Aceh will be preferred.
Duration: 4 - 6 months
Supervisor: Dr. Gede Wibawa/Mr. Uhendi Haris (LRPI)
Location: Meulaboh, Aceh Barat (Indonesia)

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Summary: The destruction of human lives and livelihoods earthquake caused by the earthquake and Tsunami of December 2004 in Nias and West Aceh also affected the farmer institutions in these areas. While rural development programs now adopt a group approach, this is a dilemma where the earlier institutions have become weak or non-existent. There are now cases of new groups formed only to trap the external support and after receiving the benefits, these groups disperse. There is little information on what was the situation of the farmer institutions in Nias and West Aceh prior to the Tsunami, how were these affected and how are they evolving in the context of the pre-requisites of the development programs. Obviously this has implications on the approach and plans of rehabilitation efforts of the government and NGOs in these areas.

Expected outcomes: A clear understanding of the farmer groups and other local institutions before and after Tsunami and earthquake and how these are evolving and reacting to the need of group-oriented development programs.

Available data and resources:

Profile of student: BSc or MSc student of rural development and social science. Knowledge of the national language is a must; person from Aceh will be preferred.
Duration: 4 - 6 months
Supervisor: Gamal Pasya (ICRAF)
Location: Meulaboh, Aceh Barat (Indonesia)

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Summary: External sympathy and support in the ‘relief’ phase of the reconstruction in the Tsunami and earthquake damaged areas in West Aceh and Nias have been very high and very important for the local people ‘to get back on their feet’. As with many indigenous communities, these affected people probably have their own ways and means to recover from the damage. What are these strategies and how different or similar are the strategies of the external agencies, whether government or NGOs? And were these external support supportive or destructive of local knowledge and local strategies? And what is the logic of the local peoples’ perspective/s about the immense external support they have received and those being planned?

Expected outcomes: A clear articulation of the local knowledge and local coping strategies to recover from Tsunami and earthquake in West Aceh and Nias.

Available data and resources:
Profile of student: BSc or MSc student of anthropology or another social science discipline. Knowledge of the national language is a must; person from Aceh will be preferred.
Duration: 4 - 6 months
Supervisor: Laxman Joshi (ICRAF)
Location: Meulaboh, Aceh Barat (Indonesia)

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Summary: The national and international assistance in the immediate relief operations following the earthquake and Tsunami of December 2004 was immense. Initial help focused on health, food and housing and immediate cash. Often land under rubber was cleared to make houses. ‘Food for work’ program attracted farmers to shift from farming to construction (as labour wage was slightly higher than average income from agriculture, e.g. rubber tapping). It is assumed that crops such as rubber and cocoa were influenced by the relief operations. How were these tree crops, their production, processing and marketing affected (both positively and negatively) is not yet well known. The information is clearly of value for future relief operations in Indonesia and elsewhere.

Expected outcomes: A clear understanding of the effect of immediate relief activities (health, housing, food for work programs) on longer term tree crops and recommendation on how to minimize damage and maximize benefits in future under similar situations.

Available data and resources:
Profile of student: BSC or MSc student of rural development Knowledge of the national language is a must; person from Aceh will be preferred.
Duration: 4 - 6 months
Supervisor: Suseno Budidarsono (ICRAF)
Location: Meulaboh, Aceh Barat (Indonesia)

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