EVALUATION REPORT; CENTRAL AFRICAN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AND MARKETING PROJECT; ASSALE (CHAD)/SERBEWEL (CAMEROON)

THE PROJECT GOAL IS TO IMPROVE LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY BY INTRODUCING PACKAGES OF PRODUCTION PRACTICES TO TRADITIONAL LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS THROUGH PRODUCER ASSOCIATIONS. FINDINGS ARE: (1)ON BALANCE, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION HAS PROCEEDED AT AN ACCEPTABLE RATE; (2)THE JOINT MULTIDONOR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN AID, UNDP, AND FAC HAVE WORKED WELL; (3)INFRASTRUCTURE AND INSTITUTION BUILDING ARE WELL UNDERWAY; (4)GOOD PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN ANIMAL HEALTH AND WATER DEVELOPMENT; AND (5)INCREASED LIVESTOCK NUMBERS HIGHLIGHT THE DANGER OF FURTHER RESOURCE DEGRADATION FROM OVERSTOCKING AND THE NEED FOR MORE RAPID INVOLVEMENT OF PRODUCERS. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE REMAINDER OF PHASE I ARE: (1)SHIFT EMPHASIS TO THOSE PROJECT COMPONENTS WHICH INCREASE OFFTAKE AND RETARD RESOURCE DEGRADATION; (2)GIVE HIGH PRIORITY TO MARKETING AS A MEANS OF OPTIMIZING HERD OFFTAKE; (3)EXPEDITE ORGANIZATION AND TRAINING OF APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL IN PRODUCER ASSOCIATIONS; (4)CONCENTRATE EXTENSION ACTIVITIES ONLY ON THE MOST PROMISING ACTIVITIES; (5)RESTRUCTURE PARTICIPANT TRAINING IN SUPPORT OF PROJECT REQUIREMENTS; AND (6)MAKE A PRODUCTION MODEL OF PROJECT CATTLE. THE MAJOR CONSIDERATION FOR PHASE II PROJECT DESIGN IS THE NEED FOR A NEW STRATEGY AIMED AT INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF DIVERSIFIED OR MIXED LIVESTOCK AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.