Cropping systems and extension training project in Swaziland

Audit report covers the period 8/81-4/84 and is based on site visits and discussions with USAID/S, MOAC, and Pennsylvania State University (PSU) contractor officials. Research activities are making satisfactory progress. Data from the first cropping season have been collected, analyzed, and published; 612 of 705 approved study-months of U.S. academic training are either ongoing or planned. However, the project has not always received the expected levels of GOS contributions. GOS failure to include construction costs in its budget, compounded by confusion concerning Fixed Amount Reimbursable procedures, has delayed construction of MOAC information facilities and field personnel housing (and consequently the assignment of research teams - only three of the five research teams were in place by 5/84). Also, only five of the eight long-term PSU advisors have been assigned full-time Swazi counterparts (limiting potential technology transfer and on-the-job training), and insufficient GOS fuel allocations have restricted field work. Finally, PSU property records are incomplete and no physical inventory of project equipment has been made. Problems encountered in construction delays, lack of fuel, and inadequate recordkeeping have apparently been resolved. A single recommendation urges USAID/S and the GOS to schedule counterparts efficiently in order to derive optimum benefit from Swazi/PSU cooperation.