The role of the Industry Development Manager in improving the international competitiveness of the Australian processing tomato industry, 1991-2004.

摘要

In the early 1990s, future viability of the Australian processing tomato industry was not stable. Rapid change was required and one of the industry's responses was to establish its own extension programme in partnership with the federal government. This involved employing an industry development manager (IDM) to conduct a technology transfer project. The activities of the IDM have resulted in an impressive rate of technology adoption, which has been fundamental to achieving the industry's current level of international competitiveness. This paper highlights the extension methods that have been implemented and the IDM's role in establishing networks and overseeing research and development projects to ensure that new information is rapidly disseminated. The following points illustrate the magnitude of change that has occurred over the 13 years the technology transfer project has been implemented. It is not possible to determine how much of the change can be attributed to the project; however, it is widely acknowledged that the activities of the IDM have been critical to industry progress. In 1990/91, approximately 12% of the surface area was drip irrigated. Currently, approximately 60% of the area is drip irrigated and drip irrigated crops yielded 20-25 tonnes per hectare (t/ha) more than furrow-irrigated crops. The use of transplants was negligible in 1990/91 and most of the cultivars were open pollinated. Transplants are now used on approximately 45% of the surface area and 100% of the crop is produced from hybrid cultivars. The average yield was 45 t/ha in 1990/91 and is now 75 t/ha. In the 1990/91 season, 107 growers produced a total intake of 262 000 paid tonnes. Currently, there are 32 farming businesses producing approximately 375 000 paid tonnes per year. A reasonable level of profitability has been maintained as a result of increased yields and vastly improved economies of scale..