Gambia agricultural research and diversification project

The life of the project will span 7 years from June 1985. The purpose is to research and promote the use of improved and diversified crop and livestock technologies. The project has made considerable progress in the first three years in establishing improved procedures for selecting and analyzing research activities. Significant improvements are still needed in the implementatlon of projects. An overall research policy statement and the setting of priorities is urgently needed and the evaluation recommended completion of this exercise by 3/31/89. The evaluation found that the research program had not produced much for use by farmers and its relations with extension and development organizations in Gambia need to be strengthened. Researcher morale was low, reflecting working conditions and not being fully productive. The evaluation recommended a number of steps for the Ministry of Agriculture and Directorate of Agricultural Research (DAR) to take to improve project implementation and better management and utilization of funds and other resources. It also recommended a more systematic review of farmers" constraints and the development of a plan or program to overcome (or at least alleviate) the constraints. Training programs have been implemented well; the evaluation recommended better planning and greater attention to matters affecting job satisfaction. The evaluation recommended responsibility for the national agricultural sample survey be shifted to the DAR. Also proposed was a strengthening of technology promotion activities. USAID/G and the Gambian government subsequently rejected the shifting of the national agricultural sample survey to the DAR. The contractor has performed well. More hands-on activities by advisors may be necessary as an increasing number of Gambians are in training. Research output must increase. Once the research policy priorities are set, the contractor should be asked to prepare a full 7-year budget so action can be initiated to make the contract period coincide with the project life. Some contract and project budget modifications are needed. (Author abstract)