FARMERS ASSOCIATION & AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

This special evaluation covers the period 9/77-5/80 and was based upon questionaires, onsite visits, and interviews with project personnel. PVO's have generally performed well, despite a lack of project guidelines. USAID spent considerable time developing the latter. Seven PVO's have conducted subprojects in 26 of Ghana's districts, directly benefitting 40,000 villagers. Examples of subprojects are given below. Catholic Relief Services, operating in Tamala, has reached the initial stage of Farm Service Center construction and A.I.D. commodities are flowing into Ghana. The Ghana Organization of Voluntary Assistance (GOVA) has formed 10 crop associations in Akobima. In the Yensi Valley, the Ghana Rural Reconstruction Movement (GhRRM) has undertaken various subprojects such as introducing 348 small poultry farmers to various production methodologies. In Atebubu, the Association of People for Practical Life Education has begun forming numerous trade associations and has set up water projects in 10 villages. In Ntonso, YMCA/Rural Enterprise Guidance Association's has established five craft and crop associations. In Mankessim, Technoserve has provided technical and managerial assistance to two syrup factories. The Christian Service Committee (CSC) in Tamala, is operating the old Farming Service Center and will build another center. Linkages with other A.I.D. projects were developed and two unanticipated results evolved: Technoserve's assistance to other PVO's and the formation of a PVO consortium. The team recommends that a second phase of the project should be implemented to allow for completion of phase one activities as well as new initiatives. Several suggestions for phase two modifications are given, including inviting all PVO's in Ghana into the program. The team felt that the project deserved serious consideration for replication elsewhere. (On the specific reasons for this, see PD-AAG-107-B1).