Analysis of the eastern ORD rural development project in Upper Volta : report of the M.S.U. mission

FROM MID-OCTOBER TO MID-DECEMBER OF 1975, THE MSU TEAM GATHERED INFORMATION AND CONDUCTED FIELD VISITS. THE REPORT PRESENTS ITS ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT; AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, MARKETING, AND CREDIT; LIVESTOCK; STAFF TRAINING; AND THE ORD ANNUAL PLAN. THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AND THE BEST MEANS OF ACCOMPLISHING THEM. THIS IS THE TOP PRIORITY IN DEVELOPMENT. THE LACK OF ROAD TRANSPORTATION HAS MULTIPLE AND INTERRELATED NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGION. RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING DEVELOPMENT OF MARKETING PROGRAMS INCLUDE (1) RAPID ORD REACTION TO NATIONAL MARKETING AND FINANCIAL POLICY DECISIONS; (2) RATIONALIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT IN MARKETING MANAGEMENT, LOGISTICS, AND FINANCIAL OPERATIONS; (3) THE STRENGTHENING OF EFFECTIVE DEMAND THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MARKET OUTLETS; AND (4) THE NEED TO INITIATE BASELINE STUDIES OF PRESENT MARKETING SYSTEM FOR BASIC CASH AND FOOD CROPS, ALONG WITH COLLECTION OF BASIC MARKET INFORMATION. RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING AGRICULTURAL CREDIT INCLUDE (1) THE NEED FOR ORD TO DEVELOP A FIVE-YEAR, VERSATILE CREDIT PROGRAM; (2) LIMITING CREDIT FOR ANIMAL TRACTION EQUIPMENT TO HV2A AND HV2B EQUIPMENT; (3) EXTENDING MEDIUM-TERM CREDIT FOR THE 1976 CROP SEASON TO PAYSANS ENCADRES IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT VILLAGES AND THE FOUR INTENSIVE ZONES; (4) PREPARATION OF EXTENSION CHECKLISTS ON HOW TO EVALUATE THE DEBT-CARRYING CAPACITY OF FARMERS AND COLLECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS; (5) ESTABLISHING A CREDIT SYSTEM FOR TRAINED BLACKSMITHS; AND (7) UNDERTAKING TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY STUDIES TO DETERMINE POSSIBILITIES FOR SMALL-SCALE AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING ACTIVITIES. RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT DEAL WITH ACQUISITION OF INNOCULATION EQUIPMENT, ORGANIZATION OF CASH BEEF MARKETS, PILOT DEMONSTRATIONS OF FEED SUPPLEMENT PROGRAMS, SURVEYS OF LAND USE AND PARASITE INFESTATIONS, OBSERVATION OF DAHOMEY ANIMAL TRACTION ASSOCIATIONS, THE GATHERING OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AND MARKETING INFORMATION, AND GENERATION OF GUIDELINES FOR FARM PROTOTYPES. RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING TRAINING CONCERN INVESTMENTS IN TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, ESTABLISHMENT OF A LOW-COST TRAINING CENTER IN EACH SECTOR HEADQUARTERS, INITIATION OF WORKSHOPS AT THE SECTOR LEVEL, DEVELOPMENT