Farming systems development project, Eastern Visayas : report on the process evaluation conducted September-November 1983

Special evaluation covers the period 1981-11/83 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with project personnel and farmer-cooperators. Despite problems, the project has made commendable progress, generating strong interest among staff and cooperating farmers. Its administrative structure is in place and its technical staff competent. Initiation of research was hampered by drought and by funding delays, but cropping trials are now underway at six sites representing the major agroclimatic zones of the region. Some 12 farmer-cooperators are participating at each site. Following are the major problem areas. There are too many sites, and not all are representative of the farms most needing benefits. Some of the cropping changes being tested are too sweeping, well beyond the means of the farmers in the area; only one or two major modifications should be introduced at the same time. Also, some field trials have deviated from the original plan, e.g., by omitting certain essential crops such as abaca; changes in the research plan have not been documented. The rationale behind the field trials is not always clear to farmer-cooperators and field staff, nor do staff fully comprehend the dynamics of the existing farming system, particularly the role of livestock. The level of farmer-cooperators' involvement in research activiites varies greatly by site. Also, proposals for the back-up research program, which is still being finalized, are not always relevant to ongoing field trials. Field staff have not made any suggestions for back-up research and have never been consulted on selection of short-term consultants. Communication among project entities, while generally adequate, can certainly be improved. There has been no real effort to involve other farmers and community organizations in the project, and there are no formal, and few informal, linkages with other agencies. Most serious, little thought has been given to integrating project functions into existing Ministry of Agriculture programs when the project ends. Recommendations address these problems, changes in staffing pattern and salaries, and increased TA and training by Cornell University.