AGRARIAN REFORM SUPPORT/TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

GRANT WILL PROVIDE BOTH NON-PROJECT ASSISTANCE FOR AGRARIAN REFORM SUPPORT (ARS) AND PROJECT ASSISTANCE FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT (TAS). ARS FUNDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (MAG), COORDINATING AGENCY FOR THE REFORM, AND TO THE SALVADOREAN INSTITUTE FOR AGRARIAN TRANSFORMATION (ISTA) FOR LOGISTIC SUPPORT IN CARRYING OUT INITIAL PHASES OF THE REFORM. COSTS TO BE FINANCED INCLUDE COSTS OF PERSONNEL TO WORK WITH CAMPESINO BENEFICIARIES; AGRARIAN EXTENSION TECHNICIANS, MANAGERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO FILL HIGH-PRIORITY PERSONNEL GAPS; AND TRANSPORTATION, OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COSTS OF VEHICLES USED TO INTERVENE AFFECTED PROPERTIES AND TO SUPPORT NEW CAMPESINO GROUPS. ARS FUNDS WILL ALSO BE USED TO PROVIDE, THROUGH THE AGRARIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (BFA), CREDIT TO NEW COOPERATIVE GROUPS FOR PRODUCTION OF 15,000 HECTARES OF BASIC GRAINS. TAS FUNDS WILL BE PRIMARILY USED TO PROVIDE TA FOR AGRARIAN REFORM. MAJOR NEEDS TO BE FINANCED INCLUDE 11 SPECIALISTS (TO BE PROVIDED BY THE INTERAMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES [IICA]) IN THE AREAS OF MASS COMMUNICATIONS, AGRARIAN LAW (2), INSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION, AGRARIAN REFORM PLANNING, AGRARIAN REFORM IMPLEMENTATION, CAMPESINO ORGANIZATION (2), CAMPESINO TRAINING (2), ADMINISTRATION OF CAMPESINO ENTERPRISES (3), PROJECT FORMULATION, AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION (2). SHORT-TERM TA WILL ALSO BE FINANCED IN THE AREAS OF AGRARIAN REFORM PLANNING, AGRICULTURAL CREDIT AND FINANCE, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT, CROP DIVERSIFICATION, AND AGRICULTURAL EXPORT MANAGEMENT. TAS FUNDS MAY ALSO BE USED TO FINANCE A 5-DAY SEMINAR OF LATIN AMERICAN EXPERTS ON AGRARIAN REFORM. TAS FUNDS WILL ALSO BE USED TO PROVIDE TA FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF AGRARIAN AND NON-AGRARIAN REFORM ACTIVITIES. ALREADY IDENTIFIED NEEDS INCLUDE SPECIALISTS IN URBAN WORKS, LOW-COST HOUSING, AGRICULTURE, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY, PROCUREMENT/LOGISTICS, AND MEDIA/MASS COMMUNICATION.