INTEGRATED AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

THIS IN-HOUSE EVALUATION INCLUDES IN-DEPTH REVIEWS WITH ALL LEVELS OF MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND COUNTERPART PROJECT PERSONNEL OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS. EVALUATION COVERS THE PERIOD 8/77 - 8/79. USAID PROVIDED AN $8 MILLION LOAN AND A $4.1 MILLION GRANT TO UPGRADE THE MINISTRY"S ADMINISTRATIVE, IRRIGATION, EXTENSION, SOIL CONSERVATION, RESEARCH, CREDIT, AND EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS. INSTITUTIONAL WEAKNESSES WITHIN THE MINISTRY WERE EXACERBATED BY COMPLEX CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE LOAN/GRANT. BECAUSE OF THE MINISTRY"S LACK OF CONTRACTING EXPERIENCE, IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO SECURE THE SERVICES OF THE MIT MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION TEAM. ALTHOUGH THE MINISTRY ESTABLISHED A SPECIAL PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION UNIT, IT SOON BECAME APPARENT THAT THE UNIT WAS NOT DEVELOPING THE NECESSARY RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE REGULAR TECHNICAL OFFICES (IRRIGATION, SOIL CONSERVATION,AGRICULTURE EXTENSION) DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES. THE MINISTRY HAS NOW AGREED TO DISMANTLE THE UNIT AND VEST RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION WITH THE INDIVIDUAL TECHNICAL OFFICES. AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROJECT PAPER WILL BE SUBMITTED TO AID/W FOR REVIEW. THE MISSION"S BASIC RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE: (1) THAT THE PROJECT BE ENTIRELY GRANT-FINANCED; (2) THAT INCREASED RESOURCES BE DEVOTED TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING; (3) THAT THE 5TH YEAR FACULTY OF AGRONOMY COMPONENT BE ELIMINATED; (4) THAT THE LIFE-OF-THE-PROJECT BE EXTENDED TWO YEARS; AND (5) THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN BE REVISED.