Final evaluation : the Mali livestock sector II project (688-0218)

The evaluation covers the period 1982-1990, 1 year prior to the 9/91 PACD. The project has made many significant achievements which should ultimately benefit large numbers of livestock farmers. Implementation has been significantly better than that of previous livestock projects in Mali due to the introduction of the Management Development and Support Team (MDST), which has provided effective procurement, financial management, and administrative services. Unfortunately, in an effort to facilitate speed and efficiency, the transfer of management skills and the integration of improved systems were deferred, thus limiting the institutional impact of MDST activities. Implementation of a directive in the 1988 grant amendment to address this problem has been constrained by bureaucratic problems. With project support, the National Research Institute (INRZFH) has conducted a wide variety of useful research for the improvement of animal production. Varietal research for improved forage was well planned and implemented, but most of the technical packages developed are still in the pre-extension stage. Useful research and extension activities have also been conducted in such areas as supplemental feeding trials for milk cows, livestock management, fodder production and storage, composting manure for use as fertilizer, and poultry raising. The cattle fattening component, though terminated early because of a poorly designed and managed loan program, has nonetheless had a major impact. Overall, the time allowed for development and extension of research has been insufficient. Through applied research several protocols have been developed to control important animal diseases. Serological surveys have shown the extent of two zoonotic diseases, one of which has important implications for the dairy industry. Research has also produced an easy method which could reduce the tsetse fly population by almost 99%. Animal vaccines are being supplied to the field in increasing amounts, a cold chain is in place and functioning well, and the potential for local production of vaccines is being explored. The project has also fostered increased cooperation between the Central Veterinary laboratory (CVL) and the National Livestock Directorate (DNE), though not between DNE and INRZFH. Although women play an important role in agriculture, efforts to promote their participation in the livestock sector have been neglected. Other areas which deserve more emphasis include the project's management information system, genetic livestock improvement, small ruminant and poultry research and extension, diffusion of project information through radio and other media, disease diagnosis, and privatization of project activities.