AGRICULTURAL MARKETING DEVELOPMENT

PROJECT DESIGNED TO ASSIST GOT"S NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS BOARD(NAPB) & ITS SUCCESSOR NATIONAL MILLING CORP(NMC)IN ESTABLISHMENT OF MARKTING & PROCESSING INSTITUTIONS TO ASSURE FOOD SUPPLY & RELIABLE MARKETS. EVALUATION OFFICER MET WITH STAFFS OF NMC AND VRACTED AGRIC COOP DVLP INTERNATIONAL (ACDI)ASSISTING AGENCY & REVIEWED PROJECT DOCUMENTATION & CONTRACTOR REPORTS. PROJECT IS IN LAST YEAR WITH PHASE-OUT PLAN BEING DRAFTED. EVALUATING OFFICER CONCLUDES THAT FEW, IF ANY, RELATIONSHIPS EXISTED AMONG PROJECT INPUTS & PROJECT PURPOSE/GOAL. PROJECT DESIGNDEEMED DEFICIENT, DEMONSTRATING LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF FINANCE SERVICES; THE MAGNITUDE OF INPUTS WAS FURTHERMORE INSUFFICENT TO DEAL WITH MARKETING/DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS. ACDI ADVISORS HAVE NOT FOR THE MOST PART PERFORMED DESIGN ACTIVITIES DUE TO THEIR HAPHAZARD UTILIZATION BY NMC SENIOR STAFF AND THEIR PREEMPTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN 1973-75 DROUGHT EMERGENCY. PROJECTSCOPE NEVER REVIEWED/ALTERED TO REFLECT 1973 DISSOLUTION OF NAPB WITH EFFECTIVE DELETION OF FATS/OILS MFTG COMPONENTS INNEW NMC FICUS. AID/W TOOK 17 MONTHS TO REVIEW MINOR PP REVISION & PROJECT EFFECTIVELY BECAME "STEPCHILD" UNDER NEW 1976 AID MANDATE. SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN PROJECT GOAL WERE DUE MORE TO FAVORABLE WEATHER AND NEW NMC MANDATE TO PURCHASE ALL FOOD GRAINSPRODUCED THAN THEY ARE TO PROJECT INPUTS. NMC,UNTIL MAY 78,RESISTED CREATION OF USAID-RECOMMENDED NMC PLANNING UNIT: STAFF AND OFFICE SPACE ARE NOW TO BE PROVIDED. AS PROJECT NEARS TERMINATION,PROCUREMENT FACILITIES ARE IN PLACE;DISTRIBUTION NETWORK PARTIALLY SO;MANUAL ACT PROCEDURES & SOME COST ANALYSES COMPLETED. NO PROGRESS REALIZED IN DVLP OF LONG-RANGE FINANCIAL PLANS,REVIEW ANALYSIS SYSTEM,COSTING SYSTEM,CRITICAL PATH ANALYSIS,FINANCIAL INFO SERVICES,STATISTICAL REPORTING SYSTEM,GRAIN ESTIMATING PROCEDURE AND FEASIBILITY STUDIES OF NMC EXPANSION.