Horticulture improvement and training subproject : final evaluation report

The evaluation covers the period 2/83-12/89. Rated as marginally satisfactory, the SP suffered many serious management and implementation shortcomings, including turnover of team leaders, insufficient recruitment of qualified U.S. TA staff, and changes in SP direction from applied research and extension training to mass production. Responsibilities and roles of USAID/Y and MAF were unclear, and participant training was unsatisfactory in achieving effective institution building and sustainability. No job placement plan was developed for U.S.-trained technicians, and many returned participants did not occupy MAF positions. A pervasive weakness was that the SP design ignored the need for water resource evaluation and failed to provide long-term TA in water management. The SP established horticulture stations at al-Jarouba and al- Irra which have identified improved fruit crop varieties which appear suitable to Yemeni conditions. However, management of the stations is weak, and basic records on varietal evaluations are inadequate. Station personnel are unable to determine simple varietal yield responses because of the lack of plot design and supervision. Moreover, training of MAF personnel involved in the stations' nursery operations was inadequate, and the emphasis given to mass production of nursery plants was not compatible with the Project Paper and proved a major distraction from training and research. Without continued USAID/Y support, it is unlikely that either station will be sustained. The SP failed to provide sufficient technical information and recommendations to foster the development of a model system for the fruit industry. MAF research and extension linkages are not clearly defined, and critical gaps remain within MAF which hamper information development. The SP increased awareness and understanding of integrated pest management within the General Directorate for Plant Protection. However, there are very few qualified plant inspectors to implement the priority programs of plant quarantine and nursery plant certification. Since fruit production in Yemen remains highly profitable and supports a favorable return for research and extension as envisaged in the Project Paper, efforts should be made to eliminate the above SP flaws in the upcoming Farming Practices for Productivity Project.