Evaluation of the activities of Action Riz - Sorgho regarding agronomic practices water control and management

While yields for both local and selected varieties of rice and sorghum have risen, the acreage devoted to different varieties has varied with the availability of seed. Recuperation of the 15% interest rate on seeds has been very poor. Dike and canal construction is 2 years behind schedule; since 4/79 17 km of dikes have been constructed and are protecting 1,300 ha in Tacharane and 678 ha in Gargouna, a total 40% of the targeted 5,000 ha. The field research station was installed in 1980, 4 years late. Problems have been due to insufficient and delayed funding; poor coordination between the project and Genie Rural; the limited availability of extensionists; and the very poor quality of the technical package provided. It is thus recommended that farmers be included in decisionmaking, a more suitable technical package be developed, and that plow farming be encouraged. Also, activities should be concentrated in the southern zone and managed on the model of a program in Niger (herein described).