APPRAISAL OF PROGRESS OF AID LOAN PROJECT 519-L-018, AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT - CENTA

CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING OF FACILITIES AT SAN ANDRES HAVE FALLEN BEHIND, BUT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE AND COMPLETION IS EXPECTED BY THE END OF CY 1976. PROBLEMS OF TIME DELAYS, SELECTING AND ACQUIRING SITES, TOGETHER WITH COST INCREASES AND BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS WILL PREVENT THE CONSTRUCTION OF EXTENSION AGENCIES AND SUPPORTING CENTERS. TRAINING OF CENTA PERSONNEL WILL FALL SHORT DUE TO SCARCITY OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, EXAGGERATED EXPECTATIONS FOR OTHER DONOR-FINANCED TRAINING, INCREASED TRAINING COSTS, AND DELAY IN INITIATING TRAINING. WHILE BEHIND SCHEDULE, PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT IS PROCEEDING SATISFACTORILY. THE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE PROGRAM AS PROJECTED IN THE CAP (CAPITAL ASSISTANCE PAPER) AND ITS ACTUAL DEVELOPMENT STEM LARGELY FROM ASSUMPTIONS WHICH HAVE PROVEN NOT TO BE WELL FOUNDED. THE PURPOSES ARE SO STATED AS TO MAKE DIFFICULT ANY OBJECTIVE MEASUREMENT OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. DESPITE THE DIVERGENCE OF THE LOAN PROJECT IN SOME RESPECTS FROM THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT, ITS PURPOSES, AS STATED IN THE CAP, REMAIN VALID, AND THEY WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED IN GREATER OR LESSER DEGREE UPON COMPLETION OF THE LOAN PROJECT AND OTHER GOVERNMENT OF EL SALVADOR PROJECTS.