Farmer training and production project

Final PES covers the period 4/82-7/84 and is based on site visits and interviews with project personnel and beneficiaries. Except as noted below, targets have been or will be met. Farmer Training Wings (FTW"s) were established to train extension workers at six widely separated MALD Training Institutes (MATI"s) and may be extended to other MATI"s and Livestock Training Institutes. FTW staff were highly-motivated and well-trained: six Tanzanians received long-term U.S. training (although one left for university work); others received on-the-job training (short courses, visits to innovative farms and research plots, etc.). Useful inter- and intra-ministerial linkages were identified, instructional materials produced, and FTW surveys conducted to learn how best to help special interest groups. Although farmer adoption of new technologies and inputs (e.g., new livestock breeds and irrigation schemes) was 100% in the nine pilot villages served by MATI"s, overall targets for developing improved production and input packages were not met due to inadequate agronomic TA and low-level technology at some demonstration plots; low or late production inputs at village sites; and inadequate MATI/FTW public relations (lack of signs/hand-outs and only one informative evening presentation for farmer instruction). Problems hampering FTW work included serious transportation/fuel shortages; funding difficulties, due to poor FTW allocation and to deterioration of the Tanzanian economy which made it difficult to obtain the hard currency needed for spare parts, educational materials, and food for farmers/students; and inadequate FTW management, planning, and data analysis procedures. The project taught the need for sound transportation and logistics systems in village-based projects. Recommendations include continued project support, possibly under the Farming Systems Research project, to allow the successful MATI program to continue and to give the FTW"s a needed focus on agricultural production.