Agriculture marketing development

Midterm PES covers the period 9/79-8/83 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with project technicians. After the arrival of the TA team for Project 026, changes were made in the routing and funding of the two projects: the original western route for Project 026 was retained, but its eastern route was replaced by the route for Project 028 and was also relocated, since the original road was considered to be in good condition. USAID/Z agreed to these changes on the mistaken assumption that Project 028 was being implemented as originally proposed, i.e., as a reconstruction activity. This was not so, however, and Project 028 - and possibly also Project 026 - will have to be extended. A detailed analysis of the two projects in terms of TA provided and activities completed is included in the report. It is recommended that both projects return to their original tasks and the present contract team be replaced. Specifically, reconstruction work on the Kikwit-Idiofa road should cease at once and the equipment and TA financed by A.I.D. for Project 026 should be reallocated and a second road improvement crew organized to permit work on the Kasai-Bulungu road to begin no later than 1/84. For the remainder of Project 026, efforts of both crews should be closely coordinated (with the help of only a single technical advisor) and should focus exclusively on the Kasai-Bulungu-Panu and the Panu-Mangai-Idiofa roads. An independent crew should be formed to reconstruct the Kikwit-Idiofa road to all-weather status. USAID/Z should insist that the host government honor its commitment in this matter and should recruit a professional engineer as team leader. In regard to the likely economic effects of the two projects (treated in detail in the report), USAID/Z should upgrade river transport, which is of great economic signficance; monitor and help gather data on socioeconomic variables; and work to offset the soil erosion that will result from extending cultivation under present farm practices.