Evaluates project to develop methodologies which Latin American credit institutions can use to improve small farm credit policies, programs, and loan repayment. Evaluation covers the period 10/79-9/80 and consists of an annual report by Colorado State University (CSU), which is implementing the project together with Oklahoma State University. Project operations were completed in Honduras in 7/80 but continue in the Dominican Republic (DR), the focus of this report. Data collection activities have included the design of an interinstitutional system for enterprise budgets that is now being implemented by the Dominican Agricultural Bank (DAB) and the Secretariat of Agriculture”s (SEA) Farm Management Division. Procedures are being drafted which will require budgets in DAB”s loan granting process. No efforts were made to collect price data, since SEA already has such a system. Alternative methodologies for using records for collecting data on small farm operations were also developed. One version enters transactions and work activities in separate columns for each enterprise. Another version, which organizes entries by enterprise, was adopted by six participants. The institutionalization of data collection methodologies is being designed and tested, and a credit policies and procedures manual is being compiled with DAB assistance. A client classification system, based solely on a client”s repayment record, was recommended and is under DAB consideration. Eight formal courses on the methodology and administration of the budget systems were attended by a total of 112 individuals, 97 from DAB and SEA. Project staff are also visiting each of the eight regions to provide informal training and follow-up supervision in data tabulation and budget preparation. Informal training also continues with DAB. Other activities during this period included production of three occasional papers, one of which, “Small Farm Credit Data Collection and Analysis Bibliography”, was distributed; and meeting of the fourth project management committee in Oklahoma 9/12/80 to review past and proposed project activities and needs.
