Highlands agricultural development

The project will be implemented by four host government entities. NRM activities benefiting 60,000 families will be carried out by the General Directorate of Agricultural Services (DIGESA) and the National Forestry Institute (INAFOR). DIGESA extensionists will help farmers build small irrigation systems on 750 ha (encouraging crop diversification) and soil conservation structures - mainly bench terraces - on 5,000 ha. The National Agricultural Development Bank (BANDESA) will provide credit and social cost payments, respectively, for irrigation and soil conservation activities. In addition, INAFOR will undertake 5 pilot reforestation efforts on municipal lands and distribute seedlings to farmers. Training will be provided to community reforestation committees and INAFOR and DIGESA personnel. The Department of Rural Roads (DCR) will: undertake a road maintenance program, using community labor; initiate a program to maintain heavy road equipment; and develop a computerized system for scheduling maintenance. An information campaign on the need for investment in rural road maintenance will be conducted. Amendment of 8/85 authorizes 1,300 soil conservation structures and 40 small irrigation systems in 3 new areas (MOA Regions II, VI, and VII); 4,400 farmers will be trained in soil conservation and construction. (PD-AAS-202) Amendment of 9/26/86 extends activities into MOA Region IV. Targets are to: train 1,000 farmers to construct soil conservation structures to protect approximately 700 ha; help 675 farm families develop mini-irrigation systems for 150 ha; add 128 km of roads to the road maintenance component; reforest 200 ha to the benefit of 800 farm families; and purchase materials and equipment for two plant parasite laboratories to serve the entire project area. The project will also upgrade INAFOR"s capability to conduct activities in communal forest development and management, fire control and prevention, and control and identification of tree diseases and insects; 54 INAFOR employees will receive short-term training and 4 will receive M.S. training. (PD-ABD-093) Amendment of 8/88 authorizes Phase II (FY88-93), which will focus on helping highland farmers enter the market system. Phase II components are: small-scale irrigation construction and irrigation/watershed management; research/extension; marketing; credit; and management support. New outputs are, inter alia: research laboratories and data banks to support crop diversification; pest management activities; national/international marketing information systems; a system of product grades, standards, etc; an inspection program for exports; marketing and processing infrastructure; credit for infrastructure, production, and marketing, as well as irrigation/soil conservation; and effective public/private partnership. Extensive training/TA is funded. (PD-AAY-173) Amendment of 12/89 adds a component entitled Environment and NRM, having two subcomponents: (1) watershed management -- CARE will work with the Forestry Directorate (DIGEBOS) and the Peace Corps to support reforestation and agroforestry efforts in project irrigation areas; (2) Sanidad Vegetal, the MOA Plant Protection Division, will upgrade its capacity to monitor agrochemical/pesticide use and to certify produce for export. The amendment also establishes a fund for research on nontraditional agricultural exports and adds support for marketing activities (begun under 5200276) of the Non-Traditional Products Exporters" Guild (Gremial). (PD-ABA-307) For a fuller description of the Gremial activity, see PD-ABA-308 in the DOCUMENT data base. Amendment of 9/92 responds to recommendations of the midterm evaluation by eliminating peripheral activities and focusing efforts on ensuring environmental and economic sustainability in 180 small irrigation systems in 20 watersheds. The revised project will help 8,500 small subsistence and commercial farmers in the Highlands make a transition to viable commercial operations, and will also benefit 7,500 families in the watersheds. The principal activities will be: (1) integrated watershed management; (2) soil conservation (depending on training rather than social payments) and pest/pesticide management; (3) marketing and credit services; (4) research and extension for producing nontraditional crops; and (5) support services, including training of 6,800 farmers and technicians. The project will attempt to privatize as many activities as possible, including irrigation system construction and extension services. (PD-ABE-818)