Agricultural marketing development

PES covers the period 9/81-8/83. Resources for road improvement and maintenance funded under projects 6600026 and -0028 have been misallocated, and there has been some overlapping of activities. Project 6600026 should return to its original task of bringing the Kasai-Bulungu-Panu and Panu-Mangai-Idiofa roads to the standard of "good earth roads," and project 660-0028 should return to its task of constructing the Kikwit-Idiofa to the standard of "prototype road." Equipment and TA financed under 6600026 used to construct the Kikwit-Idiofa road should be relocated to begin work on the Kasai-Bulungu road, and a second construction team using equipment financed by 0026 should be formed to work on road. Other recommendations are for USAID/Z to insist that the GOZ honor its commitment to build the Kikwit-Idiofa road to the prototype standard, as specified in the 0028 project paper, and to open discussions with the GOZ on ways to improve maintenance of earth and granular surfaced roads. Otherwise, the road construction funded under these projects will offer only short-term improvements. USAID/Z should not overlook the importance of river transport in the project area, and perhaps should consider future activities beyond those already planned to improve the efficiency and reliability of river transportation. The Mission should also carefully monitor various social and economic variables within the project area in order to assess the impact of project activities. Finally, the evaluation found that, if current agricultural practices remain uncharged, as more land is put to cultivation soil fertility will ultimately suffer. USAID/Z should cooperate with the donor community to prevent such an eventuality. The PES includes a lengthy assessment of the projects" likely impacts on the agricultural economy along with recommendations for monitoring and evaluating these impacts.