Casamance vegetable growers : women in development

THIS TERMINAL EVALUATION, COVERING THE PERIOD 9-76 TO 2-80, IS BASED ON REVIEW OF RELEVANT DOCUMENTS, CONSULTATIONS WITH PROJECT STAFF, SITE VISITS AND PARTICIPANT INTERVIEWS. PROJECT ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN GENERALLY SUCCESSFUL. SEVEN OF THE 13 ORIGINAL VILLAGES HAVE ESTABLISHED VEGETABLE PRODUCTION COOPERATIVES, WITH SEVERAL VILLAGES HAVING EXPANDED TO MORE THAN 2 HECTARES FROM THE ORIGINAL 1 HECTARE PRODUCTION AREA. EACH GROUP HAD FROM 30-120 MEMBERS, WHO RECEIVED TRAINING IN CAISSE FORMATION AMORTIZATION OF DEBT, AND COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATION. PROJECT INPUTS OF PUMPS, WELLS, IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT, FENCING, AND VEHICLES WERE PROVIDED; AND SMALL MEETING HALLS CONSTRUCTED IN EACH VILLAGE TO SERVE AS TRAINING/DAY/CARE MEETING CENTERS FOR THE PROJECT PARTICIPANTS. MUCH OF THE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED THROUGH PROJECT IS EITHER NON-FUNCTIONAL OR MINIMALLY FUNCTIONAL. THIS HAS HINDERED EFFORTS OF PARTICIPANTS AND CONTRIBUTED TO SMALLER YIELDS. US-MADE PUMPS SUFFERED FROM INSUFFICIENT POWER AND POOR QUALITY, AND ARE DIFFICULT TO REPAIR BECAUSE OF LACK OF SPARE PARTS AND QUALIFIED MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. TWO PUMPS OUT OF 20 SUPPLIED THROUGH PROJECT ARE FUNCTIONING. SEED DELIVERIES HAVE NOT BEEN MADE DUE TO A SHIFT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROJECT BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL INSPECTOR"S OFFICE AND PIDAC (THE EXTENSION ARM OF SOMIVAC, THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PARASTATAL). EVALUATION TEAM WAS IMPRESSED BY THE CONTINUED ACTIVITY OF PARTICIPANTS IN VEGETABLE PRODUCTION FOLLOWING PROJECT TERMINATION. CONTINUED ACTIVITY IS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSIVE IN LIGHT OF SHORTFALL IN PARTS AND LABOR. PROJECTS OF THIS TYPE HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESSFUL REPLICATION IF THE LESSONS LEARNED DURING PROJECT ARE INCORPORATED INTO FUTURE PROJECT DESIGNS. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE: (1)CAREFUL SELECTION OF POWER SOURCE FOR IRRIGATION; (2)A STUDY TO DETERMINE SUITABLE PUMP WATER DELIVERY SYSTEMS, IF PUMPS ARE TO BE UTILIZED IN FUTURE AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS.