Cooperative agreement no. OTR-0290-A-00-7203-00 [with Winrock International Institute]

The project will be implemented by Winrock International. The principal activities of the project will be to: (1) enhance farmers" knowledge of seed storage and production technology and their appreciation of good seed, and encourage farmers to develop private seed enterprises, either individually or as cooperatives; (2) test and demonstrate models of on-farm seed production, which will then become available for possible adoption or adaptation in other sub-Saharan countries with similar growing conditions; (3) demonstrate to public and private sector seed operations the potentials to be realized from addressing small farmers" seed problems; (4) increase farmers" confidence in agricultural research and in agricultural scientists, while also increasing specialists" awareness of the needs of small farmers and how these can be met on a practical basis; (5) enhance the possibilities and infrastructure for new crops and improved varieties of traditional crops; and (6) develop patterns of collaboration between the Peace Corps and PVO"s, and among PVO"s. These activities will require the creation of a support system organized around the following areas: data collection and analysis; documentation and evaluation of farmer practices; training and orientation of personnel involved; processing and distribution of information to support training and communication programs; and development and testing of new practices prior to introduction into country programs. A system and appropriate benchmarks for program evaluation will also be developed.