Expanded program of economic analysis for agricultural and rural sector planning; the Latin American planning network

Final report covers the period 7/77-12/80 and is based on discussions with project personnel. MSU initially worked on assessing the agricultural planning capabilities of LAC countries through development of a conceptual framework and survey questionnaires; case studies were prepared for Trinidad and Tobago and for Guyana. Second-year activities centered on advising PROPLAN personnel and reviewing data in preparation for designing training materials and programs for use in three regional seminars for LAC agricultural planners. Review of these seminars showed that LAC planners found PROPLAN useful in identifying and organizing relevent topics for policy action. MSU activities in the third year increased markedly, included the design and presentation of training curricula and materials, and contributed to the institutioanlization PROPLAN within the IICA. In developing training materials, MSU prepared reference materials which could be used as training materials once training modes and means were decided upon. A series of modules within a top-down tree structure were then developed which could be selected and arranged to meet varying needs. Although MSU drafted its section of a document integrating PROPLAN paradigms and concepts with those of other experts, there was inadequate time to combine the work of the IICA, MSU, and Iowa State University into a unified document. Outlines of an agricultural projects manual and of a document describing the application of the system simulation approach to agricultural planning were also prepared. Recommendations are to revise and complete the guide to information and policy analysis, and to develop and implement a data systems design and case studies manual, system simulation guides and manuals, and an agricultural sector analysis guide.