AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PROGRESS REVIEW

EVALUATION WAS CONDUCTED BY AN OUTSIDE EXPERT AT THE REQUEST OF THE FACULTY DEAN AND WAS BASED ON FACULTY INTERVIEWS, REVIEW OF ANNUAL REPORTS, AND VISITS TO RESEARCH SITES AND FACILITIES. SOILS AND IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR THE PERTINENCE OF ITS PROGRAM TO CURRENT PROBLEMS; THE QUALITY OF ITS WORK, ESPECIALLY IN SOIL FERTILITY AND CHARACTERIZATION, SOIL MOISTURE CONSERVATION, AND IRRIGATION; AND FOR ITS ADHERENCE TO PROJECT PROPOSAL POLICY. THE PLANT PROTECTION AND PRODUCTION PROGRAM IS ALSO TO BE COMMENDED FOR THE PERTINENCE OF ITS PROGRAM AND FOR ITS TEAM APPROACH. SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN WHEAT AND BARLEY RESEARCH. HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH IS JUST BEGINNING. THOUGH SOMEWHAT HAMPERED BY A LACK OF FACILITIES, IT IS PROGRESSING WELL. VALUABLE VEGETABLE CROP RESEARCH IS BEING CARRIED OUT IN COOPERATION WITH IRRIGATION RESEARCH, AND GOOD WORK IS BEING DONE IN FARM MACHINERY, ENTOMOLOGY, AND VARIOUS PEST PROBLEMS. PLANNING IS UNDERWAY FOR RESEARCH IN PESTICIDE RESISTANCE. DUE TO STAFF LIMITATIONS, THE ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND PROTECTION DEPARTMENT HAS CARRIED OUT ONLY LIMITED (BUT GOOD) RESEARCH IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION, NUTRITION, AND FOOD SCIENCE. THE 2 MEMBERS OF THE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND EXTENSION DEPARTMENT HAVE ALSO DONE GOOD WORK IN VEGETABLE PRODUCTION; OWNER-TENANT RELATIONS UNDER NEW TECHNOLOGY; COST AND RETURN OF NEW TECHNIQUES; DAIRY PRODUCTION; MECHANIZED AGRICULTURE, AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR WHEAT PRODUCTION. THE PRINCIPAL DEFICIENCY IN THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE HAS BEEN IN REPORTING. REPORTS OFTEN LACK A CLEAR RELATION TO THE WORK BEING DONE OR ARE TOO UNWIELDY FOR USE BY PROJECT ADMINISTRATORS. A UNIFORM FORMAT FOR REPORTS IS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED, AS WELL AS A SET OF GUIDELINES TO ASSIST RESEARCHERS IN PREPARING THEIR REPORTS. EVALUATION IS INCLUDED (PP 30-39) IN FINAL EVALUATION REPORT OF PROJECT (PD-AAC-387-A1).