Cottage mohair industry

Evaluation covers the period 5/79-8/81 and is based on site visits and interviews with Government of Lesotho (GOL) officials and project personnel and beneficiaries. Despite an efficient and imaginative production system, the project is behind schedule. Lack of preprocessed mohair has kept average monthly spun yarn production per spinner to 1.1 kg of 3 kg planned, although average per kg profit is 244% of target. Because the yarn initially produced was not suitable for export, only 10,145 of a planned 23,915 kgs of yarn were marketed in FY 81, and only 43% of projected sales were achieved. The number of spinners trained (1,854) was 96% of the revised target (37% of the original) and remedial training is on schedule. All seven planned Primary Producer Co-operatives have been or are being established, although only one is operational due to registration delays which have also delayed registration of SISSCO, the secondary co-op. Some 787 new co-op members were added against a FY 81 goal of 450. Development of a marketing research and product promotion capacity is only 60% of target, and the annual training target for local staff was only half met due to the turnover of one employee. Despite its shortfalls, the project, which is popular -- informal training of neighbors by project trainees is an unexpected project spin-off -- and has high GOL support, should easily increase production in line with growing demands and break even by 1983/84. The project has taught that a project aimed at economic viability needs business-oriented leadership (a German marketer is now being recruited) and a staff with the proper mix of business and marketing skills; the need for a well-trained local staff after CARE"s departure; and the difference between Basotho and Western business styles. It is recommended that A.I.D. follow the project although its input has ceased and, along with CARE, follow up on the proposed Winrock goat project to increase the quality of available mohair; and that CARE expand the narrative part of its otherwise excellent Planning, Implementation and Evaluation Report data sheets to facilitate analysis.