AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, RESEARCH AND EXTENSION

The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Development (MAWD) will implement the project with USAID technical assistance (TA), focusing on Central Province (CP). MAWD Commodity Research Teams (CRT), conducting national research, and Adaptive Research Planning Teams (ARPT), emphasizing small farmer needs for CRT and local research, will be the conduit of project activity. The Oilseeds and Cereal Grain CRT"s, operating at Regional Research Stations in Magoye, Mount Makulu, and Golden Valley, will be supplied soybean, sunflower, and maize breeders to develop improved genetic breeding lines for small farmer use. Extensionists will compile farm practices data, promote farmer/researcher contact, and assist in technology testing and dissemination. The TA team, stationed at Kabwe, will help diagnose local problems; develop improved technologies (especially to shorten delays between the design and dissemination stages); promote ARPT research priorities; and provide economic interpretation of research results. CRT/ARPT staff will offer 1-2 day farmer training courses. Short-term science, information, and management TA and onsite foreign technicians will assist in project activities. MAWD personnel will be provided Ph.D. (4), M.S. (15), and B.S. (15) level training in research and extension and others will attend 6-month institutional (e.g., U.S. Department of Agriculture, International Maize and Wheat Research Center) tours. To upgrade their technology testing and demonstration capability, extensionists will participate in 5-day training courses at Farm Institutes or Training Centers and 26 CP extensionists will receive motorcycles. An OPEX technician will replace a microbiologist receiving U.S., M.S. training. To supplement core CRT/ARPT activities, University of Zambia (UNZA) or U.S. universities will conduct special studies on topics chosen by MAWD/UNZA. USAID technician housing at Kabwe, Mount Makulu, and Magoye, eight vehicles, and a tractor will be provided for logistic support.