DRAFT INTERIM EVALUATION REPORT ON THE RICE-MAIZE PRODUCTION PROJECT

MOST COOPERATING RICE FARMERS HAVE SUCCEEDED IN DOUBLING OR TRIPLING YIELDS; THERE IS NO COMPARABLE DATA FOR MAIZE FARMERS. RECOMMENDED RICE PRACTICES SHOULD BE DISSEMINATED AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE; HOWEVER, LARGE-SCALE DISSEMINATION OF THE MAIZE PACKAGE IS NOT RECOMMENDED. DISCUSSION OF THE PROJECT IMPACT, WHICH FOLLOWS, IS TENTATIVE, PENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF IFE SURVEY RESULTS. (1)EXTENSION EFFORT AND SUCCESS WERE STRONGER WITH RICE THAN WITH MAIZE. (2)THE AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION WANTS TO LAUNCH A RICE-MAIZE CREDIT PROGRAM. (3)MOST RICE FARMERS USED FERTILIZER WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED; FERTILIZER WAS NOT WIDELY AVAILABLE TO MAIZE COOPERATORS. THE SUPPLY FOR THE 1972 GROWING SEASON WILL BE ADEQUATE IF DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED. (4)IMPROVED SEED WAS IN SHORT SUPPLY FOR THE 1971 GROWING SEASON. ADEQUATE IMPROVED SEED WILL BE AVAILABLE TO MEET ANTICIPATED 1972 DEMAND. (5) MECHANIZED SERVICES WERE NOT DELIVERED ON SCHEDULE. (6)THE PROJECT HAS DEALT ONLY INDIRECTLY WITH STORAGE AND MARKETING PROBLEMS. (7)THE PROJECT SUFFERED EXTENSIVELY FROM A LACK OF INTEGRATION INTO NORMAL PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING SYSTEMS OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES.