Agroteknopark UNSRAT

Agro-Techno Park: An Integrated Coconut-Beef Cattle Farming System

A Cooperative Program by Sam Ratulangi University and Central Queensland University

Main objectives/activities

1. Genetic preservation of coconut varieties.

2. High-yield coconut trees for commercial seed source

3. Breeding projects for high-yield coconut varieties

4. Various integrated coconut cropping systems for higher production

5. Coconut economic reliability

6 Agroforestry for land protection and productivity

7 Improved growth and yields of coconut palms

8. Integrating animal husbandry on coconut farm.

9 Increased and diversified farm income

Strategy

1 Mapping the existing coconut trees. Maintenance.

2 High-yield coconut seed collection from various resources.

3 Planting the coconut trees considering the 9 objectives.

4 Inter-cropping coconut with coffee and pineapple.

5 Database development and procedures for data sharing.

6 Developing technology for coconut produce processing, food and non food..

7 Research and data collection.

Food crops and forage feed systems under the coconut plantation

Mono-cropping coconut plantation provides low incomes for farmers even with an optimum planting density. However, there is a large area of land beneath the canopy of coconut plantations that may be used for other agricultural production. Diversifying the farming system by cash crop inter-cropping and/or multi-storied cropping systems, can generate higher returns. Planting forage crops under the coconut canopy may be an option to optimize land use.

Cropping systems based on climate, soil and water availability have to be evolved for realizing the potential production levels through efficient use of available resources. The cropping system should produced food crop, and fodder to the beef cattle and generate sufficient cash income for domestic and cultivation expenses.

In intensive cropping, interactions between crops component must be considered, either crops are grown in association (inter-cropping) or in sequence (sequential cropping). In such situations there is possibility of interaction between the component crops. The interaction is mainly due to response of one species to the environment as modified by the presence of other species. Interaction may be competitive or non-competitive or complementary.

Adoption of forage – legumes (which fix of N) in the systems, can provide high quality of feed, enhance both the level and rate of nutrient cycling in the system, leading to increased soil fertility, improve animal nutrition and increase overall production and protect environment.

There are advantages and disadvantages of inter-cropping animal food plants on coconuts plantations.

Advantages:

a) Increased and diversified farm income.

b) Reduced dependence upon coconut products with unstable market prices.

c) Improved growth and yields of coconut palms and ease in finding the fallen nuts due to management of inter-crops through weed control, use of fertilizers, etc.

d) Inter-crop plants such as bananas and pineapples provide income in the short-term, as it takes young palms six or seven years to produce economic yields.

e) Better use of good quality land located close to settlements.

f) Canopy lowers air temperatures by 4–6°C lower and gives higher air relative humidity. These reduce evaporation from the soil and lower crop transpiration rates maintaining higher level of soil water availability for inter-crops.

Disadvantages:

a) Competition between inter-crops and coconut, for water or plant nutrients.

b) Inter-crops may incur losses to farmer if planted where light is insufficient.

c) Inter-crops may harbor diseases or attract pests harmful to coconuts.

d) Fertilizers needed for inter-cropping may not be affordable.

e) Tillage for inter-crops may damage shallow-rooted palms reducing copra yields.

f) The growth habit of some inter-crops may cause difficulty in harvesting coconuts.

g) Inter-cropping demands a higher level of skill from the farmer.

Practical Challenge and Integrated Scientific Questions on Inter-Cropping

1. What is the optimum landscape and farming design for maximum beef and coconut production?

2. To what extend the coconut varieties and shading effects the cattle’s health and production?

3. Would shading also a factor to cattle food crops?

4. Does the presence of cattle have an impact to coconut production?

Beef rearing and finishing system

The rearing and finishing beef system which is more suitable to be applied under coconut plantations is a semi-intensive system, which is will be carried out on forage based system with rotation grazed grass and supplemented high quality ration being the main source of nutrition (silage and concentrate).

Manure Management System

Handling of agricultural waste and animal excreta can be done by recycling the organic waste through a biodegester system. Through an aerobic fermentation process, renewable energy will be obtained, such as: biogas energy and improved nutrient status of the effluent as fertilizer for crop land, in addition to reducing health risk and facilitating control of pollution

ANIMAL BREEDING TECHNIQUES

Achievements 2020 to 2024

This section contains a summary of the achievements in cattle breeding over the five year period ending in 2024. The Sam Ratulangi University’s achievements will be regularly reported in its Annual Report. The report covers calendar year 2020 and, along with all next Annual Reports. The Sam Ratulangi University’s Annual Report lists its achievements against the Sam Ratulangi University’s strategic plan as will be established in 2020 and updated annually.

Objectives for Period 2020 – 2024

Unsrat will conduct periodic reviews and incorporate the results in their respective strategic plans.

Objectives and strategies of beef cattle coconut integrated farm 2020-2024

1. Cattle Genetic evaluations -ensure ready availability of accurate genetic evaluations for all traits, breeds and animals (national & international) of significance to Indonesian local farmers.

a. Beef

• Through the Inter-beef project obtain access to genetic evaluations for foreign animals of particular relevance to Indonesian local beef cattle farmers.

• Research and implement enhanced across breed evaluations for Beef Linear Type Traits that use foreign evaluations and docility data from the Center Queensland University (CQU).

• Support and participate in research by the Center Queensland University (CQU) into ways to improve feed conversion efficiency.

• Consult with industry and implement enhancements on an annual basis.

b. Knowledge and information

• Review and update the genetic evaluation information available through the Unsrat website.

• Provide training and support to field personal on genetic evaluations and breeding schemes.

• Hold economic breeding index (EBI) competitions for discussion groups and provide full publicity to enhance farmer understanding of the EBI and the benefits for farm profitability.

• Develop a competition that enhances farmer understanding of the benefits for farm profitability.

c. Service quality

• Publish annual timetable, in advance, for genetic evaluations and monitor performance against this timetable.

• Achieve substantial reductions in turn-around time for genetic evaluations.

2. Uptake and cost of services - increase participation (from 2019 levels) and substantially reduce unit cost of cattle breeding services to farmers.

a. AI Services

• Support and enhance AI handhelds service provided to AI industry in North Sulawesi province.

• Research and implement lower cost options for handhelds for technicians servicing smaller numbers of herds and cows.

• Implement revised software and updated systems that deliver significant benefits to Indonesian farmers and the Indonesian AI industry.

• Implement revised and enhanced web-based information services for AI companies (active bulls, AI codes, local beef germ-plasm).

b. Herd Book (HB) Service

• Support and enhance web based herd book (Bos Taurus, Bos indicus,Bos sondaicus) processing service.

• Ensure services to herd books are of high quality.

• Integrate breed improvement programs for herd books in the local beef germ-plasm service.

c. Herd Plus

• Expand usage of Herd Plus service to beef herds.

• Enhance service features to ensure customers to be highly satisfied and the service will be attractive to new customers.

• Maintain high quality growing service to beef herds and expand into commercial suckler herds.

d. Advisor service

• Review marketing of Herd Plus services to advisors and implement findings.

• Enhance information services to Discussion Groups.

e. Health services

• Support initiatives to establish whole herd health scheme(s) in Indonesia.

• Support University research initiatives for beef herd health.

• Lead in development and provision of herd health services for beef breeders.

• Implement herd health service for breeders supplying bulls.

f. Best practice

• Implement a promotion campaign to ensure farmers follow best practice is all aspects of cattle breeding.

3. Breeding Schemes - ensure cattle breeding industry delivering optimal economic returns from genetic improvement for Indonesian beef cattle farmers.

a. Procurement Service

• Establish local beef germ-plasm procurement as the central element to the operation of optimal breeding schemes for beef breeds in Indonesia.

• Expand local beef germ-plasm web based procurement service to meet needs of AI Companies and Breed Associations that actively participate in breed improvement programs.

b. Progeny Test

• Annually review the local beef germ-plasm progeny test and implement findings.

• Efficiently Operate the local beef germ-plasm progeny test schemes from recruitment of herds to completion of progeny test.

c. Research Station

• Ensure best practice is followed to minimize risk of bulls failing health criteria for entry to AI.

• Ensure bulls tested at research station are only those that are actively involved in the local beef germ-plasm procurement for a breed improvement program of an AI company and Breed Association.

d. Genomic Selection

• Provide active leadership to the cattle industry in the harnessing of DNA technologies for the benefit of farmers and the breeding industry.

• Establish a DNA bank for use in future beef cattle breeding research.

• Secure a facility for DNA storage, extraction and genotyping on a long term basis to underpin both research and the provision of DNA based services.

• Extend the Unsrat database to support research into genomic selection and the provision of DNA technology based information services to the breeding industry.

• Review the optimal breeding scheme for beef cattle utilizing the latest DNA technologies and implement adjustments to operational the local beef germ-plasm procurement and progeny testing service.

4. Service development and other services - develop and market a range of information services that make effective use of the cattle breeding database, compliment the services provided by members and spread the overhead cost of maintaining and operating the Unsrat database and genetic evaluation systems.

a. Cattle trading

• Develop information service for cattle sales in association with service providing members.

b. Research and technical

• Support genetic conservation programs.

• Provide data and technical support for research conducted by research organizations including Universities.

• Contribute expertise and support to collaborative projects.

• Establish mechanism for industry good and national good benefits of Unsrat to be funded in longer term.

c. Information

• Develop information service for provision of performance indicators.

• Establish the market and a commercial service model with the objective of increasing number of beef herds fully participating in cattle breeding services.

• Review website design to facilitate access to improved and more extensive information.

• Provide relevant and timely information to key sectors in cattle breeding.

MARKET CHAIN ANALYSIS

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INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM

Coconut Plantation

Coconut production is determined by three main factors i.e. seed quality, plantation maintenance, and land management. It is an advantage to combine beef cattle under the coconut trees. There must be an optimal combinations of production factors to satisfy high yields of coconuts and beef.

The objectives and strategies for coconut farming research are as this follows.

The proposed programs range at 2020-2024.

Central Queensland University and Sam Ratulangi University have a partnership commitment to gain knowledge and develop best practices for beef and coconut production to meet the market demand in Indonesia and beyond.

The collaboration is an advancement of the cattle breeding programs by Sam Ratulangi University annual grant. The existing programs covers cattle breeding at the North Sulawesi cattle breeding center. The funding is provided by way of a a North Sulawesi goverment grant to Sam Ratulangi University. The programs commences in 2020 and it may be develop with increasing role by Central Queensland University (CQU). When the program starts, Sam Ratulangi University provides management and executive support under contract. At the first year of operation, CQU may be involved by provide technical and finacial support.

The government support for 2021 is to develop agro-techno-park.

Sam Ratulangi University (Unsrat) is a good place to develop the academic consortium to do the integrated farming system. Unsrat has the academic capacity to establish a world-class cattle breeding infrastructure in combination with coconut farming system. There are sume existing facilities but much potential for new development. Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Animal Husbandry would be the core for the project. Unsrat has a good reputation to do international collaboration. Unsrat is an A accredited national university and retains a high rank university in Indonesia.

Government of North Sulawesi has prioritized the agricultural development for economic development of the region and committed to support the academic advancement for higher production of local agriculture. The government has shown a strong support for the international partnership to advance knowledge and economy through cattle-coconut integrated farming systems. There has been an intensive communication between the Sam Ratulangi University (UNSRAT), University of Central Queensland (UCQ) and Indonesian Government in National, Provincial, and Regency levels. National government would include Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Research and Higher Education, and Coordinator minister of Economic Affair. In the local level, there is strong supports by the Governor of North Sulawesi and the Regent of Bolaang Mongondow.

The area under the canopy, which can be productive, is mostly left unused. With a proper, advanced technique, the use of the area under the canopy might significantly contribute to the local economy. Farmers in North Sulawesi has an excellent practical experience to do animal farming and coconut plantation. Area of concern may be related the efficient and advanced practices to achieve higher production.

North Sulawesi has a potential to develop an integrated farming system that combines cattle and coconut production. North Sulawesi has a substantial area of fertile soil that is suitable for agriculture and an extensive coconut plantation. The plantation is distributed in all 15 regencies. Coconut trees are known to produce food products from the nuts (kernel/meat, coconut milk, coconut oil, coconut water/juice) and the sap (fresh sap, vinegar, coconut nectar/honey and natural sap sugar). Coconut trees may also produce high value non-food products from the husks, shells, trunks, and leaves.

BACKGROUND

There is an increasing demands of beef in Indonesia and there is a prospect to develop value-adding industries to coconut production.

Summary

This is a proposal that the Central Queensland University (CQU continues to provide support in the form of Grant Aid to the Sam Ratulangi University (Unsrat) and local government of Bolaang Mongondow Regency (BMR) in North Sulawesi province. The case made is based on:

• An excellent track record. The Sam Ratulangi University establishes a world-class cattle breeding infrastructure in Bolaang Mongondow regency (BMR) of the North Sulawesi province integrated with the coconut plantation.

• Realistic plans to achieve a major improvement in the profitability of cattle farming integrated with the coconut plantation in BMR of North Sulawesi province.

• Delivery of benefits to the wider community from the activities of cattle breeding under coconut plantation farming system in the North Sulawesi province.

• A net contribution to the local government revenues. For cattle breeding under coconut plantation will contribute a net profit of IDR unit money per year.

• Maintaining a very effective partnership among the Central Queensland University (CQU), the Sam Ratulangi University and the local government agriculture industry.

• Producing excellent returns on investment.

Summary For AU Proposal

Agro-Techno Park: An Integrated Coconut-Beef Cattle Farming System, A Cooperative Program by Sam Ratulangi University and Central Queensland University

SUMMARY

BACKGROUND

There is an increasing demands of beef in Indonesia. North Sulawesi has a great prospect to develop an integrated farming system to make use of the vacant land under the canopy of coconut plantation. The farming system produce cattle-beef on coconut farm land. The system may improve beef and coconut production and diversifying coconut by-products.

North Sulawesi Government has prioritized the agriculture-based economic development and committed to support the academic advancement on beef and coconut production.

Indonesian government has shown a strong support for the international partnership on cattle-coconut integrated farming systems. To advance the initiative there has been an ntensive communication between the Sam Ratulangi University (UNSRAT), University of Central Queensland (UCQ) and Indonesian Government in National, Provincial, and Regency levels. National government would include the Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Research and Higher Education, and Coordinator minister of Economic Affair. In the local level, there is strong supports by the Governor of North Sulawesi and the Regent of Bolaang Mongondow.

Sam Ratulangi University (Unsrat) is alo has a strong commitment to to support the proposed programs through the existing academic capacity in the Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Animal Husbandry. The partnership with Central Queensland University is to gain knowledge and develop best practices for beef and coconut production to meet the market demand in Indonesia and beyond.

Sam Ratulangi University will provide grants to cover research and education related to cattle and coconut production in the targeted region. The program will be connected with the newly developed North Sulawesi cattle breeding center funded by North Sulawesi goverment.

The proposed colaboration includes three core programs i.e. (1) farm management, (2) genetic advancement, and (3) training and education.

Farm Management

• Coconut Plantation: Varieties, land management, and product diversity.

• Food Crops and Forage Feed Systems: species choice and cropping systems.

• Beef Rearing and Finishing Systems:

• Manure Management Systems:

• Market chain: local demand, resource management, and economic prospectus.

Genetic Advancement

• • Cattle Genetic evaluations. To ensure stock availability of all valuable traits, breeds and animals.

  • Uptake and cost of services. To increase farmer participation and reduce cost of breeding services.

  • Breeding Schemes. To ensure that the genetic improvement delivers optimal economic returns.

  • Service development and other services. To develop information services cattle breeding database for financial gains and genetic evaluation.

Tranining and Education

• Professor and student exchange programs,

• Demonstration plots for farmers,

• Extended field school facilities.

Unsrat Short Term Strategies

• • Research Grant related to the partnership programs starting in January 2020. Baseline data for:

  • o Varitiy-based coconut distribution and production,

  • o Food Crops,

  • o Land suitability,

  • o Existing cattle distribution and production,

  • o Existing farming systems and economics (for coconuts and cattles).

Unsrat needs from UCQ

• Computing Software related to GIS, land evaluation, virtual data management;

• Equipments: Digital Scales for cattles, drones;

• Communication infrastructures:

Requests to be included in UCQ proposal

- Laboratory building and equipments,

- Facility for outdoor research,

- Travel grants to do professor and student exchanges,

- Travel grants to attend international conferences,

- Costs to run Seminars and Conferences in Manado,

- Costs for publications.