Commercialization of alternative crops project : Belize enterprise for sustained technology (BEST) component

BEST targets appropriate client groups, with special emphasis on women"s groups. These clients are showing improvement in value of production, net worth, productivity, and business growth, though mainly in the short term. BEST"s income-generating efforts and assistance to community groups and projects have also helped the Belizean economy as a whole. In general, BEST clients are identifiable in their environment because of their outstanding achievements and seem to be faring better financially than their non-BEST peers, possibly due to the positive impact BEST has created by providing very strong motivation, good management skills, and grants and loans. BEST"s respected full-time staff in business administration and bookkeeping (the two areas for which it is principally known), as well as in project management, and agriculture, are its greatest asset. Financial controls are adequate, and personnel relations at all levels are professional. The major constraint is financial. BEST has relied on international donors for operating expenses and now is actively seeking additional sources of revenue, possibly from the agricultural sector or local credit organizations. In any case, to achieve sustainability BEST will have to be more aggressive in raising funds and in obtaining contracts to provide services. (Portions of this abstract were derived from XD-ABG-137-A).