BAHAMAS AGRICULTURE, RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

THE FIRST MAJOR OBJECTIVE, TO ESTABLISH A CENTER ON ANDROS ISLAND THAT WILL PROVIDE RESEARCH INFORMATION, TRAIN PEOPLE, AND DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. HOWEVER, DIFFICULTIES MAY BE ENCOUNTERED IN INCORPORATING RESEARCH INFORMATION OBTAINED INTO A FINAL, COMPREHENSIVE REPORT. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BUREAU FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ENSURE THAT THE CONTRACTOR IS RECORDING THE RESULTS OF ITS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ENABLE PREPARATION OF A COMPLETE AND FINAL REPORT. CONCERNING THE SECOND MAJOR OBJECTIVE, TO DETERMINE BY TESTING 15 TO 20 SATELLITE FARMS IF IT IS FEASIBLE TO ESTABLISH AN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM BASED ON FAMILY-SIZE FARMS OF 50 TO 80 ACRES EACH, RESULTS HAVE BEEN MIXED. ALTHOUGH THE LAND HAS BEEN OBTAINED AND MOST OF IT CLEARED, FULL SETTLEMENT HAS BEEN DELAYED; DUE TO DELAYS IN FARMHOUSE CONSTRUCTION, FAILURE OF THE GOVT OF THE BAHAMAS TO IMPLEMENT A LEASEHOLD LAND TENURE POLICY, AND DELAYS IN CREDIT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1) THE BUREAU FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SHOULD INSURE THAT AN INVENTORY IS TAKEN OF ALL COMMODITIES VALUED AT OVER $50, AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED; 2) THE BUREAU FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SHOULD ADVISE THE HOST GOVT OF WHAT IS NEEDED TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL CONTINUATION OF THE PROJECT; AND 3) THE BUREAU OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SHOULD FORMULATE A PLAN TO TRANSFER OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROJECT TO THE BAHAMIAN COUNTERPART PERSONNEL.