EVALUATION TEAM REPORT ON AID AGRICULTURAL MARKETING DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN TANZANIA

PROJECT DESIGNED TO ASSIST GOT IN ESTABLISHMENT OF MARKETING & PROCESSING INSTITUTIONS TO ASSURE FOOD SUPPLY & RELIABLE MARKETS. AID-RECRUITED TEAM EVALUATED PROGRESS IN TERMS OF ORIGINAL PROJECT OBJECTIVES BUT FOUND ASSESSMENT HAMPERED BY LACK OF QUANTIFIABLE INDICATORS IN PROJECT DESIGN. PROGRESS DEEMED SIGNIFICANT IN 1) USE OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE DVLP INTERNATIONAL (ACDI) FINANCE & MGMT,ECONOMIC ANALYSIS,MARKETING,AND STORAGE & TRANSPORT SPECIALISTS; 2) IMPROVEMENT IN ACCOUNTING PRACTICES; 3) REDUCTION IN PRODUCE LOSSES; 4) PRICE PHASING OF CROPS TOWARD EXPORT PARITY. PROGRESS JUDGED INSUFFICIENT OR INDETERMINATE IN 1) REDUCTION OF PER UNIT MARKETING COSTS; 2) POTENTIAL EXPORT DVLP FOR NON-TRADITIONAL EXPORT PRODUCTS; 3) DVLP OF FULL-COST ACCOUNTING BASIS FOR ESTABLISHING PRODUCER PRICES. WHILE PROGRESS TOWARD PROJECT PURPOSE IS REGARDED SIGNIFICANT,ACHIEVEMENT OF SECTOR GOAL OF TANZANIAN SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN FOODSTUFFS WAS FORESTALLED BY SEVERE 1974-75 DROUGHT. PROJECT JUDGED AS MAKING ITS MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION IN GOT/USAID/PROJECT SPECIALISTS TEAMWORK IN SUCCESSFULLY COUNTERNG ACUTE FOOD CRISIS. PROJECT FOUND TO BE HAMPERED BY AID/W IMPLEMENTATION & CONTRACT NEGOTIATION DELAYS,ACDI RECRUITMENT DELAYS & FAILURE TO REPLACE VITAL ECONOMIC SPECIALIST, GOT DISSOLUTION OF NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS BOARD(NAPB)TO WHICH SPECIALISTS ASSIGNED, AND SHORTAGES OF TRAINED MANPOWER IN KEY AREAS AS WELL AS IN VITAL EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES. SPECIALISTS DOWNGRADED TO ADVISORS IN NATIONAL MILLING CORP(NMC)PERFORMING TASKS NOT WITHIN PROJECT SCOPE;USAID-SUBMITTED PROP REFLECTING NAPB DISSOLUTION & SPECIALIST ROLE CHANGES NOT ACTED UPON BY AID/W. TEAM RECOMMENDS AMENDING PROJECT TO REFLECT TEAM REPORT & USAID-PROPOSED REVISIONS,CLOSER AID/ACDI LIASON WITH PROMPT REPLACEMENT OF PROJECT ECONOMIST & THE PHASING-OUT OF OTHER SPECIALISTS UPON TOUR COMPLETION. EVALUATORS RECOMMEND NEW PROJECT INPUTS IN FORM OF SHORT-TERM ACTIVITIES IN FINANCE/ACCOUNTING & TRAINING FOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT.