To achieve Indonesia’s target of meeting 60% of national milk needs by 2025, Diponegoro University (UNDIP) is collaborating with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the Australian government’s RnD agency in the agricultural sector, ACIAR, funds Australian agricultural researchers and their cooperation with developing countries, one of which is through the IndoDairy Project Phase 2.
The collaboration entitled “Evaluating Participatory Extension Approaches and Value-Chain Interventions to Sustainably Grow the Smallholder Dairy Sector of Indonesia,” which took place in 2023-2028, was officially ratified through the signing of the MoU by Undip Rector Prof. Dr. Yos Johan Utama, S.H., M.Hum. and ACIAR CEO Prof. Andrew Campbell. The signing of the MoU was witnessed by the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Her Excellency Ms. Penny Williams, and was attended by Undip Vice Rector for Research, Innovation and Cooperation Prof. Dr. Ir. Ambaryanto, MSc. and Project Leader IndoDairy Project Phase 2 drh. Dian Wahyu Harjanti, DVM., PhD. This international agricultural partnership research program continues the IndoDairy Project Phase 1, which ACIAR and IPB implemented in 2016-2022.
The consumption of milk and milk-based products continues to increase in Indonesia yearly; however, the amount of fresh milk produced by Indonesian farmers can only meet 22% of national demand, and the other 78% is met through imports. Increasing the productivity of dairy farms is crucial, where more technology adoption and better farm management are needed. However, 90% of dairy farmers in Indonesia are small farmers, so efforts to improve livestock technology still need to be made.
In addition, the outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) have caused problems for all dairy farms in Indonesia. Dairy cows infected with FMD and LSD experience a drastic decrease in milk production (up to 70%) or even stop producing milk. Strengthening the health of dairy farms is currently focused on East Java, West Java, and Central Java, the main milk producers in Indonesia.
IndoDairy Project Phase 2 aims to strengthen the close relationship between the two countries by advancing the small-scale dairy industry and exploring new research activities in Central Java in partnership between ACIAR and Undip. ACIAR’s mission is to create a more productive and sustainable agricultural system for the people of developing countries and Australia, which in 2023 will begin its collaboration with Undip towards a World Class University. drh. Dian Wahyu Harjanti, DVM., PhD. (Country 2 Coordinator) as the coordinator leads the Undip team in partnership with Village Unit Cooperative (KUD), the private sector (milk processing industry), and the Provincial and Regency/City Governments, the centers of dairy farming in Central Java.
IndoDairy Project Phase 2 has a global goal by 2028 to sustainably expand the smallholder inclusive dairy value chain in Central Java and help farmers to recover together and recover stronger after being hit by FMD and LSD outbreaks. In addition, this program also supports the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely: SDG goals (1) overcome poverty, (2) overcome hunger, (3) healthy and prosperous lives and partnerships between breeders and industry to realize food self-secure, and (9) industrial development and innovation in the field of dairy farming.
Undip is building a food-secure future through the Dairy Research Center and the Animal Research and Teaching Farm at the Faculty of Animal and Agricultural Sciences Undip. FPP Undip has experts in milk production, animal health and welfare, food technology agribusiness, agroecotechnology, and food technology. Undip also has methane experts and facilities to measure methane output from dairy cows and beef cattle, which are closely related to the global issue of methane emissions. FPP Undip also formed a Task Force Team of Veterinarians to assist farmers and the community.
With a team led by Dian Wahyu Harjanti, DVM., PhD. it is hoped that the FPP Undip team can provide the best in IndoDairy Project Phase 2 with ACIAR for the welfare of farmers and breeders in Indonesia. (Titis – Public Relations)
