AGRICULTURAL INPUTS III (7/12/78)

THIS IS AN IN-HOUSE EVALUATION WITH THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE PROJECT OFFICER AND AN ISSUES PAPER. IT IS ALSO THE FINAL EVALUATION. THE BASIC ACTIVITY OF SUPPLYING FERTILIZER TO BANGLADESH HAS BEEN COMPLETED STISFACTORILY. BECAUSE OF A NATIONWIDE FERTILIZER SHORTAGE WHICH DEVELOPED JUST PRIOR TO PLANNED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT, DELIVERY OF THE FERTILIZER WAS ACCELERATED SO THAT IT ARRIVED IN THE 1977-78 CROP YEAR RATHER THAN 1978-79. WHILE THE PROJECT PAPER PREDICTED A 6% INCREASE IN NATIONAL FERTILIZER SALES DURING 1978-79 OVER 1977-78, THERE WAS,IN ACTUALITY,A 42% INCREASE IN 1977-78 OVER 1976-77, IN THIS REGARD,THE PROJECT IS CONSIDERED VERY SUCCESSFUL. ALSO, IT IS NOTED THAT SMALL AND TENANT FARMERS AND LANDLESS PERSONS -- THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES -- ARE PARTICIPATING WITH A REASONABLE DEGREE OF EQUITY IN THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF FERTILIZER USE ON EMPLOYMENT AND NUTRITION. IT WAS LEARNED THAT IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE BENEFITS OF A PROJECT REACH THE RURAL POOR TARGET GROUP,PLANNERS SHOULD NOT ASSUME IMPORTANT VARIABLES SUCH AS ADEQUATE SUPPLIES OF FERTILIZER FROM OTHER SOURCES AND THE AVAILABILITY OF INSTITUTIONAL CREDIT.