Agricultural development systems : second interim evaluation

Special evaluation covers the period 1/81-6/83 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with project, GOE, and USAID/E staff and with farmers. The project's initial scope was narrowed to strengthening horticultural and agricultural economics research capabilities. A subsequent subactivity focused on research in postharvest food handling, strengthening agricultural information management, and establishing a new horticultural science laboratory. Using a combination of TA, training, technology transfer, and adaptive research, the project made a substantial contribution to increasing agricultural productivity and to improving the research skills of Egyptian scientists. It also alerted the GOE and A.I.D. to the potential of horticultural cash crops for domestic and export consumption. The GOE has begun to capitalize on this potential by liberalizing price controls and export regulations on many categories of crops. Although the project's institution building objectives were not fulfilled, the training opportunities and access to research networks and materials which the project has opened to Egyptian scientists may perhaps lead to a more productive Egyptian agricultural research system. Recommendations for immediate action are for USAID/E and GOE to: work out administrative and funding arrangements for continuing project activities through 1984; establish research priorities; reorganize research teams as needed; and, in general, encourage joint Ministry of Agriculture (MOA)/academic research teams. Recommendations for future planning include to: establish an MOA institutional support structure for project activities; convene a combined international/Egyptian research advisory committee; and consider all types of funding mechanisms for future A.I.D. assistance in the agricultural research sector. In the long term, USAID/E may wish to establish an international center for horticultural research to increase the visibility of U.S. assistance to Egypt.