INERA support

Evaluation covers the period 7/79-2/81 and is based on three attached special evaluations (XD-AAJ-332-A/B/C). Delays in contractor selection due to political instability and the project area"s relative isolation have placed the project a year behind schedule, although all targets are within reach. Soil testing services have obtained the chemicals needed to run tests and the arrival of a French-speaking technician should enable counterpart training and soil mapping/classification/conservation to proceed. Only three of the ll planned M.S. candidates have left for the United States and USAID/Z has questioned the quality of INERA"s candidates, indicating a need for trainee selection criteria. Other needs are for short-term consultants to address questions regarding high-yielding varieties, the project"s most serious concern, and for the government to raise farm prices and improve extension services to ensure increases in food production and quality by the project"s end. The project led to several unplanned discoveries -- the seriousness of deforestation and erosion problems; the weakness of the agricultural extension service in disseminating new information; and the higher yields of soybeans over local beans on the more eroded lands -- which prompted the development of corresponding new project activities. When projects are located in relatively isolated areas, longer lead times should be planned for and technical assistance (TA) personnel should arrive only when everything is prepared and should be briefed on conditions prior to arrival. TA personnel should also be competent in the host-country"s language if they are to provide substantive counterpart training and should be assigned tentatively to make sure these requirements are met. Finally, effective extension and information dissemination services are necessary to fully realize project research benefits. Action decisions are to: (1) replace and upgrade contractor TA personnel when present contracts expire; (2) modify the job description for two contracted technicians; and (3) design a comprehensive research survey and a broader extension component.