Bean and cowpea CRSP

PES covers the period 9/80-9/82 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with U.S. and LDC project personnel. The CRSP has made excellent progress. The basic organizational infrastructure - the Management Entity and CRSP Management Office - has been successfully established at Michigan State University. Ten U.S. and 14 LDC institutions have implemented 18 subprojects (SP"s) - 12 prior to 9/81, 6 after - in 10 problem areas: (1) disease/pest control in field and storage (Brazil, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Tanzania); (2) yield and yield stability (all SP"s); (3) environmental stress and plant adaptation (Botswana, Kenya, Senegal); (4) nitrogen fixation (Brazil, Mexico); (5) dry bean utilization (Guatemala); (6) traditional farming systems and the role of women (Ecuador and others); (7) legume protein digestibility (Nigeria, Guatemala); (8) processing and preserving methods (Nigeria); and (9) the comparative economics of new versus traditional technology (Malawi and others). An impressive amount of training has been initiated including informal training (seminars, workshops, U.S. study tours) for 80 LDC staff, and formal U.S. training (M.S. and Ph.D.-level) for 50. Even more importantly, numerous rewarding linkages have developed among LDC, U.S., and other international researchers and institutions. The major problem has been the failure of LDC entities to develop systems (e.g., extension, training, incentives) for transferring the increasing flow of improved technology and methods from SP"s to farmers. Other project problems such as commodity/equipment procurement delays, rapid LDC research staff turnover, cultural misunderstandings, and, in some cases, difficulties with the funding levels or with transfer of funds to LDC cooperators have been relatively minor. Key action decisions are to provide for a technology transfer system and for better background training for CRSP staff in tropical agriculture, subsistence farming, and cross-cultural relations.