EVALUATION OF THE UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY/USAID SHEEP PRODUCTION AND MARKETING PRODRAM IN BOLIVIA

QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE OTHER PROGRAM PHASES SUGGESTED THAT THEY ADDED BENEFITS BOTH TO THE RURAL POPULATION AND TO GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS. THESE INSTITUTIONS GAINED BY HAVING THE AGRICULTURAL DATA BASE EXTENDED FOR PLANNING AND BY IMPROVEMENTS IN HUMAN CAPITAL. THE RURAL POPULATION RECEIVED NOT ONLY INCREASES IN NET INCOME BUT A STORE OF FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AGRICULTURAL PROCESSES. THE GENETIC BASE IS IN PLACE, AND CONTRACT RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT TEN-TO-TWENTY-FOLD INCREASES IN RANGE FORAGE PRODUCTION CAN BE REAL IZED BY MODIFYING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. FUTURE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON THE ALTIPLANO MUST, HOWEVER, NOT ONLY CONTINUE TO DISCOVER AND EXPLOIT TECHNICAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND MAINTAIN THE GENETIC BASE, BUT ALSO DEAL WITH INSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS. ONLY WITH INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT CAN THE EXTENSIVE RANGE RESOURCES OF THE ALTIPLANO BE BROUGHT TO THEIR PRODUCTIVE POTENTIALS. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN RANGE MANAGEMENT AND SHEEP PRODUCTION AS WELL AS HELP IN DEVELOPING FORMAL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS SHOULD BE GIVEN. IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT OF BOLIVIA SHOULD GIVE HIGH PRIORITY TO INCREASED SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURE PROGRAMMING.