CAMPESINO PARA-TECHNICIAN TRAINING.

EVALUATION, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN AN AGRICULTURE SECTOR REPORT, COVERS THE PERIOD 6/30/76 TO 3/31/79 AND IS BASED ON A REVIEW OF PROJECT FILES AND FINANCIAL RECORDS, INTERVIEWS WITH PROJECT PERSONNEL, AND VISITS.TO IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES AND PROJECT SITES. AS OF 3/31/79, A TOTAL OF $97,168 OF TOTAL OBLIGATED FUNDS OF $100,000 HAD BEEN EXPENDED. TRAINING SITES FOR THE PROJECT WERE SELECTED AT CAJAMARCA AND TUMBES. TRAINING COURSES BEGAN AT THESE LOCATIONS IN 4/77 AND 10/77, RESPECTIVELY. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION HAS BEEN SLOW, DUE PRINCIPALLY TO THE NEWNESS OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH HAS CAUSED ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS AT ALL LEVELS FOR THE IMPLEMENTING AGENCY, THE GOP"S CENTER FOR TRAINING AND RESEARCH FOR AGRARIAN REFORM (CENCIRA). DESPITE DELAYS, AS OF 12/31/78, THE END OF THE FIRST STAGE OF THE PROJECT, 17 TRAINING COURSES HAD BEEN CONDUCTED, PRODUCING 158 TRAINED FARMER PARA-TECHNICIANS. A PROJECT EVALUATION BY CENCIRA REPORTS FAVORABLY ON PROJECT RESULTS TO DATE, AND INDICATES THAT THE IMPROVED ADMINISTRATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE STRUCTURE OF THE AE"S HAS LED TO INCREASED PRODUCTION LEVELS. EVALUATION REPORT OF 5/79 BY USAID"S PROJECT MANAGER WAS ALSO FAVORABLE. MISSION MANAGEMENT IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING THIS REPORT AND WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THE PROJECT CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND STAGE.