EVALUATION OF AID LOAN 489-T-088

Purpose of project is to assist the Office of Rural Devel (ORD) to increase basic crop yields, cropping systems, and land utilizatn. Evaluatn methodology based on interviews and onsite observatns. Although Korea has developed sophisticated agr techniques and admin organizatns, her agr output, except for rice, is still insufficient for her needs. ORD conducts local research to devel disease, pest, and weather resistant varieties; and maintains close cooperative relatns with several interntl research organizatns. As a result the first cold water facility with controlled temperatures in the world is being established which will determine rice hardiness at all stages of devel and its water temperature tolerances. The production of barley, wheat, and soybeans has met with less success since: 1. barley/rice culture demands a great deal of man power and barley has been susceptible to insect pests, 2. high humidity has produced a high percentage of scab disease in wheat, and 3. soybeans have suffered from disease pathogens and insects. Although potatoes could be economically feasible, farmers usually plant only enough for their own consumptn. Higher yielding crops to feed Korea"s growing population have been or are being developed. Emphasis is being placed on developing short season and saline/cold-tolerant varieties which will enable 2 crops/year. Although barley-rice and potato-rice combinations provide a substantial productn increase, their prices are too low to make them economically feasible. A wheat-rice combination has not yet been developed. Evaluators feel Korea"s past agricultural weaknesses may be improved if ORD were to: 1. continue to improve its library collection, 2. encourage staff to learn English, 3. establish higher research salaries, 4. train more specialists, 5. provide a biometics unit, 6. establish a livestock program, and 7. participate in Title XII.