AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION (PROJECT PAPER)

GRANT WILL FINANCE LONG AND SHORT-TERM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (696 AND 17 WORK-MONTHS, RESPECTIVELY), INCLUDING HELP IN ESTABLISHING A DATA BASE ON MECHANIZATION AND IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND COMMODITIES TO SUPPORT PROJECT OPERATIONS AND GOE CAPABILITIES. AN AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION GROUP WILL BE CREATED WITHIN GOE TO ASSIST THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (MOA) AND OTHER GOE AGENCIES DESIGN, IMPLEMENT, AND EVALUATE MECHANIZATION PROGRAMS. THE SOIL AMELIORIZATION GROUP WILL CARRY OUT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH MOA"S MACHINERY EXTENSION GROUP, LAND IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES IN MIDDLE EGYPT, INCLUDING DRAINAGE, SUBSOILING, AND IMPROVEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES. THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO UNDERTAKE LANDLEVELLING. WITH THE HELP OF CREDIT SUPPLIED BY GRANT, A NETWORK OF 70 CENTERS FOR SERVICE/REPAIR OF FARM MACHINERY WILL BE CREATED. COOPERATIVES WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO USE THE SERVICES OF THESE CENTERS. TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR LOCAL MECHANICS WILL BE PROVIDED. A FARM MECHANIZATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO STIMULATE PRACTICAL RESEARCH BY EXTENDING, WITH GRANT FUNDS, RESEARCH GRANTS TO UNIVERSITIES AND MANUFACTURERS. THE MCA WILL ESTABLISH A FARM MACHINERY EXTENSION PROGRAM, IN COORDINATION WITH SOIL IMPROVEMENT AND SERVICE CENTER ACTIVITIES, WITH EMPHASIS ON TILLAGE AND SEEDBED PREPARATION, FARM OPERATIONS, EQUIPMENT SERVICE/REPAIR, ASSISTANCE TO SMALL MANUFACTURERS, AND COST AND RETURN EVALUATION. TECHNIQUES FOR ESTABLISHING A USER GROUP FOR IMPROVED WATER-LIFTING EQUIPMENT WILL BE DEVELOPED AND A CREDIT FUND FOR PURCHASE OF SUCH EQUIPMENT PROVIDED. IN-COUNTRY TRAINING WILL BE GIVEN TO EXTENSION STAFF, FARMERS, SERVICE CENTER STAFF, AND SMALL MANUFACTURERS. IN ADDITION, GRANT PROVIDES FOR UP TO 45 PERSON-YEARS OF LONG-TERM ACADEMIC TRAINING IN AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION FOR 25 INDIVIDUALS AT THE MS, PHD, AND POST-DOCTORAL LEVELS AS WELL AS FOR SHORT-TERM TRAINING FOR APPROXIMATELY 75 INDIVIDUALS.