EVALUATION OF THE RICE PRODUCTION ACCELERATED IMPACT PROJECT : GUINEA-BISSAU

DATA USED IN THE EVALUATION PROCESS IS DERIVED FROM DISCUSSIONS WITH FARM FAMILY PARTICIPANTS, AGRI EXTENSION AGENTS, AND THE DIRECTOR OF GOGB'S DEPT OF RICE EXPERIMENTATION & PRODUCTION (DEPA). HYDROLOGISTS ALSO CONTRIBUTED TECH OPINIONS ON OVERALL IRRIGATION PROJECT (ATTACHED). THE RICE PRODUCTION AIP PROJECT HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL IN ENLISTING THE SUPPORT OF RURAL PEASANTS IN 2-SEASON INTENSIVE IRRIGATED RICE CULTIVATION. THE ORIGINAL TARGET OF ENROLLING 150 PEASANT FAMILIES IN RICE CULTIVATION PRACTICES HAS BEEN EASILY SURPASSED, AND PROJECT ACTIVITIES HAVE BROUGHT HIGHER PER HECTARE RICE YIELDS, HIGHER PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION, AND APPROX FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY TO PARTICIPANTS. IN 1978, 195 FAMILIES CULTIVATED 80 HECTARES (AVG 0.41 HA/FAMILY) IN THE DRY SEASON, AND 508 FAMILIEIS CULTIVATED 166 HECTARES IN THERAINY SEASON (AVG 0.33 HA/FAMILY). THE ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE FROM PARTICIPANTS STEMS FROM IMPRESSIVE RICE YIELDS OBTAINED IN THE DRY SEASON, ABSENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS, NON-COMPULSION, LOW RISKS, AND THE SMALL-SCALE ORGANIZATION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES. THERE REMAIN 4 MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE PROJECT WHICH MUST BE RESOLVED, PARTICULARLY IF PROJECT IS TO BE EXPANDED: (1)THE LACK OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR PROJECT COSTS BY PEASANT PRODUCERS; (2)THE ABSENCE OF REAL TECH & MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXERCISED BY PRODUCERS' ASSOC; (3)THE FAILURE TO CONSIDER MEASURES WHICH COULD CAPITALIZE ON PROJECT'S ABILITY TO IMPROVE WOMEN'S ECONOMIC STATUS; (4)THE INADEQUATE SYSTEM FOR DOCUMENTING EVOLUTION OF PEASANT PERIMETERS. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DESIGN OF PROJECT EXPANSION INCLUDE: (1)PREPARATION/MGMT OF PERIMETER TOPOGRAPHY; (2)ACTUAL & POTENTIAL MKT POSSIBILITIES FOR RICE, SORGHUM & MILLET PROD;(3)ARRANGEMENT FOR COST ACCTNG SYSTEM FOR PROJ. APPENDICES INCLUDE PROJECT DATA ON HECTARES OF LAND CULTIVATED, FAMILY COMPOSITION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. MAPS INCLUDED.