Agricultural marketing development

PES consists of a facesheet attached to a mid-term evaluation (XD-AAP-335-A). Action decisions are to: (1) renovate an existing Agricultural Marketing Corporation (AMC) facility to serve as one of the subterminal wholesale distribution markets (SWDM"s) and lower the lease commitment to 20% as required by the conditions precedent (CP"s); (2) include a livestock auction market as an assembly and grading station (AGS); (3) construct an abattoir to serve as one of the SWDM"s, which will then be jointly leased or purchased by a private firm and the Jamaica Livestock Association; (4) concentrate on establishing 6-9 AGS"s, establishing the remaining 16-19 if warranted; (5) refuse the MOA"s request to waive CP"s relating to AGS"s; (6) extend the project only if satisfactory progress is made during Phase II; (7) continue operating subsidies to new producer marketing organizations (PMO"s) for 4 years, on a sliding scale; (8) add vehicles to the list of eligible equipment for AGS"s; (9) reprogram savings from the reduced scope of the SWDM component; and (10) since A.I.D. has not agreed that the MOA should assign managers to new PMO"s, train management candidates under the new Agricultural Cooperative Development Project with the National Union of Cooperatives (NUCS); the candidates will then be directly hired by the PMO"s. An amendment reflecting these changes will be developed.