INDIAN SETTLEMENT - OPG NO. 3/78 (5/16-5/1879)

EVALUATION COVERS THE PERIOD 4/78 TO 3/79. ASCIM HAS MADE FAIRLY GOOD PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE PROJECT,WHICH INCLUDED THE SETTLEMENT OF NEW VILLAGES,AN EXTENSION TRAINING PROGRAM,MECHANIZATION,AND ESTABLISHING A CENTRAL SERVICES COOPERATIVE. THE PRINCIPAL PROBLEM FACED BY ACSIM WAS IN CONTRACTING CAPABLE TECHNICAL PERSONNEL. NEVERTHELESS,PARTICULAR SUCCESS WAS ACHIEVED WITH THE SETTLING OF 30 FAMILIES TO AREAS WITH AVAILABLE FARM LAND,FORMATION OF AN AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY CENTER,AND PROVISION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIAN FARMERS. MECHANIZATION OF THE INDIAN FARMERS PROGRESSED FASTER THAN ANTICIPATED AND CONSTITUTES AN IMPORTANT AREA OF CONCERN. THREE AID-FINANCED TRACTORS ARRIVED IN 12/78. ASCIM SHOULD UNDERTAKE COMPARATIVE COST-CALCULATIONS ON THE USE OF MECHANIZED TECHNOLOGY VS HORSE DRAWN TECHNOLOGY. IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT ARE THE WORLD ENERGY CRISIS AND THE FACT THAT INDIVIDUAL FARMERS ARE LOSING INTEREST IN WORKING THE LAND WITH ANIMAL DRAWN IMPLEMENTS. PROGRESS IN THE HEALTH AND NUTRITION AREA WAS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN ANTICIPATED. HOWEVER,ASCIM WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE INDIAN FAMILIES TO ELIMINATE APPROXIMATELY 500 DOGS WITH POSTIVE TB TESTS. A TOTAL OF 13 INDIAN EXTENSION WORKERS WERE TRAINED THROUGH SHORT EVENING CLASSES AND ON-JOB TRAINING WITH MENNONITE TECHNICIANS. AID FUNDS CONVEED THE SALARIES OF THREE TECHNICIANS,AN AGRICULTURALIST,A MECHANICS INSTRUCTORS,AND A BOOKKEEPING INSTRUCTOR. ASCIM WAS NOT ABLE TO FILL THE POSITION OF AN AID-FINANCED AGRICULTURALIST AND ACCOUNTING/ADMINISTRATIVE TECHNICIAN. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE OF THREE PLANNED VILLAGE SCHOOLS WAS COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE. PROJECT FUNDS HAVE ALSO BEEN PROVIDED TO EXPAND EXPERIMENTS WITH CROP PRODUCTION ON HEAVY SOILS WHICH IS BEING CARRIED OUT AT THE MENNONITE EXPERIMENT STATION.