INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT; AGRICULTURAL MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS

IN 1971, THE PROJECT WAS REDESIGNED TO ESTABLISH 21 COOPERATIVES WITH 2,000 MEMBERS, ESTABLISH REGIONAL MARKETING ASSOCIATIONS, AND CREATE A DEPARTMENT IN CREA THAT WOULD CONTINUE MARKETING COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT. THIS PROJECT RECEIVED THREE REVIEWS. THE FIRST, BY THE AID AUDITOR, FOUND IT UNSUCCESSFUL. THE SECOND, THE CONTRACTOR"S FINAL REPORT, OVERSTATED THE PROJECT"S SUCCESS. THE THIRD, BY THE MISSION EVALUATION OFFICER, FOUND THAT THE PROJECT WAS PARTIALLY SUCCESSFUL. IT ESTABLISHED WITHIN CREA AN ONGOING PROGRAM OF SUPPORTING AND DEVELOPING AGRICULTURAL MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS; ORGANIZED 344 FAMILIES INTO TEN REASONABLY VIABLE COOPERATIVES; AND FAILED TO ORGANIZE REGIONAL MARKETING ASSOCIATIONS. THERE WAS NO DATA TO INDICATE ATTITUDINAL CHANGES. THERE WAS SOME SUCCESS IN ENLISTING TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND IN ACHIEVING MORE EQUITABLE INCOME DISTRIBUTION. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS WERE THAT: (1)WHILE AN ATTITUDINAL APPROACH MAY BE VALID, LACKING AN AGRICULTURAL FOUNDATION, IT IS APPARENTLY NOT SUFFICIENT; (2)THE CONTRACTOR"S LACK OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE LIMITED HIS ABILITY TO PERFORM THE CONTRACT; (3)SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF VIABLE ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE ALLOWED; AND (4)NEW MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS MUST HAVE SOME LEVERAGE AGAINST ESTABLISHED MIDDLEMEN IN ORDER TO SUCCEED.