Increased Government of Seychelles support for agricultural development is needed to maximize achievements from the food crops research project

Audit report covers the period 8/28/79-3/24/83 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with U.S. Embassy and project officials. Although the GOS declared 1982 the Year of Agriculture, its commitment is doubtful because its 1982 downgrading of the MOALU to a department within the Ministry of National Development (MND) and its use of only 10% of local currency generated from the 1982 Commodity Import Program to support the project and agricultural development are slowing project implementation. Intermediate agricultural goals remain vague and communication between the MND and the Grand Anse Research Center (GAC) is minimal. The situation has been exacerbated by the GOS"s limited ability, noted at the time of project design, to provide effective counterparts to AID-provided scientists and to adequately staff and support the extension service. Contract scientists found that only two of eight counterparts at the GAC were qualified, and both were burdened with administrative duties. Contract scientists have thus worked mostly with GAC technicians with little agricultural experience, resulting in limited technology transfer, a situation especially problematic in regard to plant pathology. Heavy workloads have also postponed training for key GOS personnel stationed at the GAC. In other areas, a delay in renovating a laboratory has prevented use of $40,000 worth of equipment and threatens to prevent completion of the soils scientist"s assignment. Water supplies have been inadequate for GAC"s needs during periods of low rainfall and thefts from GAC research plots have posed a major research problem. Finally, due to inadequate staff, in both quantity and quality, and lack of GOS support, the extension service failed to adequately disseminate research results, which had to be published in local newspapers by the GOS. Verification of the GOS commitment to agricultural development and training for GOS project personnel and extensionists are recommended.