CID/Bolivia contract on basic foods production and marketing

The project was successful in several areas. Research capacity was expanded at three MACA research stations to embrace potato breeding, soil fertility, entomology, pathology, and weed control. Wheat was added to the grain research program, commodity research capacity was expanded to include soybeans and peanuts, and on-farm testing was introduced. In addition, a plant disease laboratory and an insect museum were established. Farmer acceptance of new grain varieties and insecticides was high. On the other hand, extension was never well linked with the research program. Most extension achievements were administrative in nature; however, short courses and inservice training were provided to farmers and agents respectively, and several communications projects (using radio, bulletins, and field days) were initiated. Planning assistance to MACA had limited success; CID planners completed 13 reports and helped produce a 5-year agricultural plan, but the latter was never used. A total of 63 participants had received or were receiving formal training - half in B.S. and M.S. courses at U.S. universities and the rest in short courses in Central America. Inservice training was provided to 35 MACA technicians in 9 of 11 designated positions. Despite frequent university closings and high faculty turnover, several university courses were presented by CID technicians, and scholarship programs, initiated at two universities, enlisted 96 students as research counterparts; 47 have completed degrees already and most are employed in agricultural positions. Documentation and information dissemination have been extensive; 25 technical reports, 98 working papers, and 37 administrative reports were produced. Research results were disseminated to extension agents and community groups through short courses and workshops; 350 technical manuals were distributed to those attending. It is recommended that a follow-up research project be initiated as soon as possible.