BASIC FOODS PRODUCTION

THIS IS THE FINAL PROJECT EVALUATION. ALTHOUGH THE FINAL CONTRIBUTION DATE WAS 9/30/80, THE PROJ WAS TERMINATED DUE TO THE UNEXPECTED DEPARTURE OF THE PROJ ADVISOR. AUTHOR NOTES THAT WHILE ON ASSIGNMENT MUCH OF THE CONTRACTOR"S TIME WAS TAKEN UP WITH ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES, RATHER THAN STRICTLY RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. PROJ OUTPUTS WERE BEHIND SCHEDULE, ESP ON-FARM RESEARCH TRAILS. THE TARGET OF DEVELOPING SIX TO EIGHT SMALL FARMER PRODUCTION MODELS WAS NOT ACHIEVED. HOWEVER, IBTA WAS STRENGTHENED WITH THE ADDITION OF 10 NEW PERSONNEL, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGIONAL OFFICE, THE EXPANSION OF TWO RESEARCH CENTERS, AND THE PROVISION OF NEW AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT. PROJ INPUTS WERE GENERALLY ADEQUATE, EXCEPT FOR THE LATE ARRIVAL OF COMMODITIES AND EARLY DEPARTURE OF THE PROJ ADVISOR. IBTA INPUTS INCLUDED THE ASSIGNMENT OF 15 PERSONNEL TO THE PROJ, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE REGIONAL OFFICE & A LAB IN TRINIDAD. THE PROJ EXPERIENCE DEMONSTRATED THE NEED FOR GREATER ATTENTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NECESSARY FACILITIES. EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND CONCRETE RESULTS SHOULD BE EXPECTED LATER IN THE PROJ. IN ADDITION,SPECIAL EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PLACED ON ON-FARM RESEARCH TO AVOID THAT INERTIA IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH WHICH TENDS TO KEEP IT IN THE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT OF RESEARCH STATIONS. BECAUSE OF GOB FINANCIAL PROBLEMS,ITS SUPPORT TO IBTA ACTIVITIES IN THE NORTHEAST MAY BE REDUCED IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER,THE PL-480 TITLE III AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT SUBPROJECT SHOULD OFFSET THE LESSENED GOB SUPPORT BY PROVIDING NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE AND SHORT-TERM SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.