IMPACT STUDY OF UPPER LOFA COUNTY RURAL DEVELOPMENT

This special impact evaluation covers the period 1/77-5/80 and is based on project documents and interviews with beneficiaries. Project activities have generally been successful, and the project has had a positive impact on rural development in the area. The production of surplus cash crops has increased farmer income, but has at the same time put inflationary pressures on the economy. The project"s most successful element has been the rapid adoption of swamp rice production; with the introduction of better seeds and cultivation methods, production is now at 258% of target and non-project farmers are clamoring for inclusion. Upland rice has not reached its targets, both because of the high response to swampland rice and the difficulty of obtaining and distributing seeds to farmers. Although rehabilitation of existing trees was abandoned because it was impractical, coffee and cocoa production is generally on target. The first new coffee crop will be harvested in 1980. The Liberian feeder road construction program has fallen far behind schedule. Even with construction help from A.I.D."s road maintenance group, only 100 new miles of feeder roads have been built, far less than needed to meet farmer needs for accessibility to swamp and cocoa cultivation areas and for marketing surplus crops. Well-digging efforts have been a success, however, already equalling the final target of 100, and the schistosomiasis surveillance unit has kept snail infestation under control. The project has had a positive social impact, especially through farmer training by extension agents and the town cooperative units, which now number 200. Problem areas include the insufficient input of small farmers into cooperative management and the cooperatives" difficulties in delivering inputs and managing loans. Finally, the project has helped boost host government agricultural development efforts elsewhere in the country and has strengthened the government policy promoting diversification into cash crop and food production.