Basic food crops; interim evaluation

Special evaluation covers the period 1980-2/82 and is based on site visits, document review, and interviews with USAID/B, contractor, and Government of the Republic of Burundi (GRB) personnel. Despite an 18-month delay in starting construction of the seed farm (leading to a $491,000 cost overrun), most inputs are now poised for implementation and the project is moving smoothly toward achieving its outputs. Work on support buildings for the 400 ha Kajondi seed farm started 1/82 and work on the farm itself will commence in late 1982. Nonetheless, the GRB has assigned a staff of 10 professionals and 150 casual laborers to conduct farming operations, and the farm has produced one (1981) crop of buckwheat, maize, lupine, and wheat seed. Of the 11.5 tons of Romany wheat seed produced, 7.5 tons was turned over to Burundi University's Department of Agronomy for distribution to farmers. The maize crop, of poor quality, was sold as cattle feed; the buckwheat and maize seeds were replanted. While a green manure and liming program has been developed to address the acidity and aluminum toxicity of the farm's soils, development of production techniques has not begun. Problems arose because three assumptions proved false -- that the European Development Fund would a implement seed distribution project, that construction of the seed farm would begin 6/80, and that technical assistance would be on time. It is recommended, interalia, that USAID/B: (1) request an additional $280,000 from A.I.D. and $211,000 from the GRB; (2) request a REDSO engineer to inspect construction monthly; (3) hire an administrative logistics officer; (4) provide additional participant training, especially in farm equipment maintenance; (5) order necessary spare parts, especially for the vehicle fleet; (6) study the project's impact; and (7) improve management of the project and, in particular, of the Kajondi seed farm. In addition, USAID/B, the contractor, and the GRB should prepare an annual plan for planting and seed production and develop an alternative seed distribution plan.