Applied agricultural research

External evaluation covered the period FY80-1/90. While progress has been slow, it is likely that objectives will be achieved. initially with conflicting work descriptions, insufficient financial resources, and limited language ability. Nonetheless, the team has helped the AARD to install equipment purchased under earlier projects, identify appropriate technology to be generated, and develop statements of agricultural research policy. A second TA team, provided by the International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR), has established a management information system (MIS) within AARD which is being effectively used and will be supported by the World Bank after the PACD. In the commodity research component, little has been spent so far on individual research projects due to unfamiliarity with funding requirements and difficulties in having proposals approved. These difficulties are being overcome, however. Notable also is the close collaboration which has developed between AARD and the local agricultural universities in developing research proposals and conducting research. Only 4 of a targeted 20 participants have received training, with a lack of English language proficiency being the major obstacle to selection of the remaining 16 candidates. In-country training has been curtailed by lack of travel funds; Winrock advisors have tried to make up for this by providing on-the-job training in research methods, but these efforts have had mixed results. ISNAR"s on-the-job MIS training has been successful and well received. Several improvements have been made in the AARD"s skills. (1) The facilities of AARD, and particularly those of the Central Research Institute for Food Crops, are adequate to conduct high quality research and to allow researchers to prepare their results for dissemination and peer review. (2) A well staffed and equipped Center for Agricultural Research Programming is assisting AARD in examining issues of research planning, coordination, and evaluation. (3) Coordination between agricultural policy and research planning is improving.