AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

The DAR will implement the program, with technical assistance from USAID and a U.S. Title XII institution. Manpower deficiencies within the DAR will be corrected by the provision of U.S. graduate education to 33 Professional Officers (PO"s). A total of eight Ph.D."s will be awarded in plant pathology; animal, maize and groundnut breeding; maize and soil physiology; range management; and entomology. Another 25 PO"s will study for Masters degrees in areas such as animal nutrition, agricultural economics, and soil and seed technologies. In addition, the total number of PO"s in the DAR will be increased by 15 to a total of 80. Short-term training in research administration and management will be provided to selected DAR personnel. In-service training in specific research programs will be conducted for 34 technical officers and assistants. Research facilities and housing will be constructed as follows: 48 staff houses; offices; three laboratories; six greenhouses; two cold storage rooms; and four storerooms. In addition, research equipment and 30 vehicles will be provided to DAR stations. Research in seed, vegetable, fruit, and livestock production, and in soil fertilizer use will be improved; new research programs in farming systems analysis, agricultural economics and smallholder-appropriate technology will be introduced by the Title XII team. USAID will conduct field trials in 110-130 extension planning areas (EPA"s); 10 representative EPA"s will be surveyed for effectiveness and acceptance by smallholders of research programs by the Title XII institution. By the project"s completion date, each EPA will be producing 10-20 research publications per year on annual smallholder yields. Annual meetings of extension officers, research field staff and technical personnel will be held in eight management units, with special emphasis placed on bringing new technologies to the Malawian smallholder.