EVALUATION OF LATIN AMERICAN AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

TO DATE, LADD LOANS AND INVESTMENTS HAVE BEEN DIRECTED PRIMARILY TO PROJECTS ALREADY CONCEIVED, LAUNCHED, AND DEVELOPED BY INVESTORS IN THE REGION. IT SELECTED THOSE PROJECTS WHICH BEST MET ITS CRITERIA,RATHER THAN ACTING AS THE PROMOTING FORCE FOR PROJECTS IN AREAS PRE-SELECTED BY LAAD. AS A RESULT, THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE UNEVENNESS AMONG THE PROJECTS IN TERMS OF THEIR IMPACT ON AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF BROAD INVESTOR INTEREST. IT IS EARLY TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF LAAD OPERATIONS IN THE REGION UPON SUCH THINGS AS EMPLOYMENT, EXPORT EARNINGS, AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, AND SMALL FARMERS,BUT THE EVALUATORS DO DRAW SOME TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS ON THESE MATTERS. LAAD'S EFFORT TO DEVELOP A CENTRAL AMERICAN CAPITAL MARKET HAVE BEEN SERIOUS AND SINCERE, BUT NOT YET OF MEASURABLE IMPORTANCE. TO SOME EXTENT, LAND OPERATIONS HAVE RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL BANK LOANS TO ASSISTED ENTERPRISES, AND THIS,PERHAPS,IS ITS MOST IMPORTANT STEP IN THE CAPITAL MARKET OF CENTRAL AMERICA. THE EVALUATORS MADE 20 RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE AREAS OF LOAN POLICY, OPERATIONAL POLICY, CAPITAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL POLICY, AND ADDITIONAL FINANCING.