Egypt : the agricultural development systems project; an interim evaluation

Evaluation covers the period 1977-1/81 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with USAID/E and project personnel. Although the project has suffered from a seriously delayed and sometimes confused implementation, it now has the potential to make useful contributions to Egyptian agriculture, especially in the areas of horticulture and agricultural economics research. Early implementation problems resulted from delayed contract negotiation, and the choice of an inexperienced institution - the University of California at Davis (UC) - to undertake an unrealistically broad project, and strained relations between UC and USAID/E personnel. However, a major reorganization in mid-1980 has resulted in substantial progress. Collaborative research, involving Ministry of Agriculture personnel and Eygptian academic scientists, has been conducted in horticulture (12 studies), economics (15), and other areas (4); a study on Agricultural Statistics and Policy became the basis of a new A.I.D. project. Progress has been made toward establishing a central horticultural laboratory. In contrast, due to an inadequate feasibility study and disagreement over personnel needs, the project never initiated any of its planned extension activities. Nor has it defined an institution building strategy. Training has been minimal; long-term U.S. training was provided to 2 scientists and short study trips to 12, and a few in-country workshops were held. Project experience shows that broad programs with many purposes and activities are difficult to squeeze into a project format. Key recommendations are to: (1) revise the project paper to more realistically define objectives and strategies and then extend the project 2 years; (2) limit extension activities to a horticultural information service; (3) improve communication between UC and USAID/E; (4) define a clear institutional development strategy; (5) appoint separate A.I.D. officers to monitor the horticultural and agricultural economics subprojects; and (6) enlist more scientists from other U.S. institutions and extend the length of both long- and short-term tours. Finally, A.I.D. should take more care in selecting contracting entities and invest more effort in the substantive implementation of projects.