AGRICULTURAL SECTOR I

Evaluation covers the period 1/75-6/80 and is based on interviews with project officers and a review of files. The project successfully built a foundation for the follow-on Agriculture Sector II Program by removing several obstacles to agricultural sector development. Eight subprojects (SP) were implemented. The Cooperative Window (CW) provided $3 million in credit for production and capital improvements to 5,700 small farmers, meeting 90% of its targets. However, CW never gained credit approval authority, nor was it able to coordinate technical assistance among sector institutions. The Model Agrarian Reform SP provided technical assistance and $7.1 million in credit to 53 cooperatives, thus exceeding its targets, although the GOH protested the excessively high cost per beneficiary. The improved Seed SP distributed over 5,000 MT of improved seed through a revolving fund, meeting 92% of its target. The Agricultural Education SP offered short-term training to 1,761 campesinos, extensionists, and GOH employees. Long-term training was also provided to 303 students. The staff of the National Extension Service was increased from 74 to 201, providing improved services to farmers. The trained extensionists conducted over 5,600 demonstration plots and variety trials. Under the Vehicle Maintenance (VM) SP, eight facilities were built, providing the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) with the capability to maintain a VM program. This capability has not yet been fully utilized, and the MNR is in need of administrative reform before the program will operate efficiently. Under the Access Roads SP, 53 primary roads were built (87% of the target). The Coordination and Planning SP helped strengthen MNR"s sector planning capabilities by creating the Agricultural Sector Coordinating Committee. Among the most striking lessons learned are that the project designers failed to predict the political reaction to the agarian reform SP; project expectations were therefore set unrealistically high.