Shallot farmers across 4 coastal provinces in Indonesia are experiencing significant growth in production and income through ACIAR-funded research promoting sustainable cropping systems.
Led by the University of Queensland (UQ), the research effort has introduced new methods to boost shallot production and reduce plant disease in coastal communities, increasing crop yields by as much as 33%.
Shallot is a significant commodity in Indonesia and an integral ingredient in the country's signature dishes. Despite the vegetable's importance for Indonesia, shallot production faces a range of constraints and is one of the Indonesian government's priority commodities for agricultural research.
Running since 2020, the project is fostering collaboration between Australian and Indonesian researchers, Indonesian government agencies, local universities, and farmers to improve shallot cropping systems in Indonesia's largest shallot producing provinces including Yogyakarta, Central Java, East Java and West Nusa Tenggara.
At a recent project meeting in Yogyakarta, Dr Arlyna Budi Pustika from Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) said smallholder farmers are facing multiple challenges in maximising production.
'The productivity of shallots has not yet reached an optimum due to constraints such as seed quality, crop nutrition, soil quality, salinity, pathogens, pests and excessive application of pesticides and fertiliser,' said Dr Arlyna.
'While the yield potential can reach up to more than 20 tons/hectare, the average yield of shallot in Indonesia is low, at 8-10 tons/hectare.'
Dr Stephen Harper, Principal Research Fellow at UQ project leader said, 'This project supports Indonesian farmers to develop a system where they can produce high-quality shallots with reduced disease and improved yield.'
During the early phase of the project, Dr Harper said the research team gathered data from the field to understand soil problems at the targeted sites and identify targeted solutions. The team found that carefully selecting the right bulb size to be used as 'mother material' is critical to the success of shallot productivity.
Farmers were then introduced to true shallot seeds (TSS) as an alternative to growing shallots from bulbs with sizes that are not the most suitable for the local environment, which resulted in low productivity. Compared with seed-bulbs, the TSS has a longer shelf life and is more resistant to disease.
The new approach increased yield from 12 to 14 tons/hectare in Yogyakarta, from 9 to 12 tons/hectare in Central Java, from 18 to 24 tons/hectare in East Java and from 17 to 19.5 tons/hectare in West Nusa Tenggara.
Mr Wasis Hartono, a farmer in Probolinggo, East Java, said the new system has greatly impacted him and his fellow farmers and helped them increase productivity by more than 30%.
Meanwhile, Mr Sudantoro, a farmer in Bantul, Yogyakarta, also shared the same sentiment, saying that the research is very valuable, as it gives them the skills to improve yield.
'Farmers at nearby shallot farms often seek his advice on how to grow high-quality shallot,' said Mr Sudantoro.
The project also enabled the farmers who participated in the research to meet, share best practices and expand their network nationally. After a workshop in August, farmers in Central Java started using net houses, which the research proved to be effective in controlling heat, air and moisture and reducing the damage from the main shallot pest, Spodoptera exigua. This has helped create considerably better conditions for shallot growth in East Java farms.
Looking ahead, the project team is working to improve pesticide application techniques and reduce the number of sprays needed. The team is also experimenting with intercropping, which involves growing shallots with maize and soybean, to improve yield and nitrogen use and to serve as additional benefits for the farmers, as it will provide animal feed.
Dr Harper said the findings will be helping smallholder farmers adapt and become more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
'Climate change poses threats to Indonesia's sensitive coastal agro-ecosystem, with risks of rising sea levels that will impact shallot cropping,' said Dr Harper. 'With this research, we now have a better understanding of how to work around these limitations.'
Dr Harper also added that the project is investigating virus management in shallots and chillis which will further improve Indonesia's production and help protect Australia's industry from incursions, particularly from pepper yellow leaf curl virus, which can cause yield losses of up to 80% in chili peppers.
Dr Steven Crimp, Acting ACIAR Research Program Manager, Soil and Land Management, said ACIAR is committed to working with Indonesian smallholder farmers and rural communities to boost productivity through sustainable use of limited resources in a changing climate.
'Sustainable agricultural production is part of a global challenge for long-term food security,' said Dr Crimp. 'ACIAR is proud to work with partners in Australia and Indonesia to undertake research on agronomic interventions to find systems that best suit local conditions.'
Learn more about the project via the ACIAR website.
