EVALUATION OF THE SMALL FARMER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT - HAITI

This special evaluation covers the period 1975-11/79 and is based upon onsite interviews with project personnel. Given the piecemeal nature of recent project evaluations and the project"s expected termination in 1980, evaluators focus attention on the project"s organization and major activities -- research, extension, and training -- to determine the feasibility of further U.S. assistance. The 10/78 transfer of extension and research functions to the Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (DARNDR) strengthened project management considerably, although DARNDR is still evolving. To date, seven coffee centers used for crop demonstrations, trials, and fertilizer distribution, have been built and three more are to be completed. The centers, however, have not been fully utilized because the Agronomic Research Service (SERA) has yet to conduct adaptive research due to the lack of a vitally-needed coffee agronomist. The absence of research has, in turn, caused extension efforts to be inadequate. The extension problem is compounded by the large number of coffee farmers and the uncertainty of land tenure, although extension activities increased in the past year after an energetic director was assigned to DARNDR"s Coffee Project Unit at Damien. Poor pay and isolated project locations are also constraining research and extension efforts. Because of early delays in constructing the coffee centers, the Food and Agricultural Organization was able to conduct only on-the-spot counselling during the project"s first two years and later terminated support for the project altogether. Formal training has been minimal, although the training of extensionists has recently increased. In addition to several specific recommendations, evaluators recommend that a team approach be used to integrate the project"s various components. They also recommend that prior to further assistance A.I.D. examine whether increasing coffee production is the best way to help Haiti economically and whether Haitian small farmers will respond to further U.S. assistance.