IMPROVED WATER AND LAND USE IN THE SIERRA

Evaluation covers the period 10/79-4/81 and is based on project documentation and onsite review. Responsiblity for the project was transferred from the Direccion General de Aguas (DGA) to the Direccion General Ejecutiva (DGE), delaying start-up by 10 months. Also, equipment and commodities arrived late. Of 27 planned irrigation subprojects (SP"s), four, covering 3,184 of 27,013 targeted ha, are complete; two are over 90% complete; four will be completed by 12/81; and feasiblity studies have been conducted for 18. Two Peruvian firms and the Consortium for International Development (CID) are providing technical assistance. (A CID irrigation expert was especially effective, developing water use requirements for crops, teaching water management courses, and organizing field days for farmers.) Many tree plantings -- Eucalyptus, Polylepsis (Quinual), and Pinus Radiata -- were damaged by drought, frost, and poor maintenace. In the future, PRONAREF (General Directorate of Forests and Fauna) will manage the afforestation component. Other outputs include on-farm investments in the Chicche, La Huaycha, and Chupaca SP"s and completion of two watershed planning studies. Double cropping has been instituted, and yields of selected crops increased by 57% and 122% in the Chingol and Namora SP"s, respectively. Research on water use requirements, double cropping, crop varieties, and pasture improvement is continuing, although financial support has been minimal. USAID has provided $36,707 of a planned $1 million for a credit fund to cover on-farm capitalization. The Agrarian Bank should be pressured to speed up its paperwork in providing credit to farmers. Beneficiaries number 15,551 small farm families. Recommendations include: (1) prioritizing SP"s; (2) reprogramming project activities to cover construction costs; (3) emphasizing agricultural development and credit for small farmers; (4) collecting socioeconomic data; and (5) reviewing PRONAREF activities within the next 6 months. The final project completion date should be extended for 2 years.