Integrated rural development (OPG)

PES covers the period 9/80-4/83 and is based on document review, interviews, and site visits. In the face of many difficulties, the project has been partially successful in meeting targets. The violent political situation caused curtailment or reorganizaton of many activities; the deterioration of local village improvement committees, the evacuation of Peace Corps personnel, and a difficult economic situation have all impeded project efforts. Moreover, the Ministries of Agriculture (MOA) and Health (MOH) offered little support; the MOH delayed approval of health course curricula and seconded personnel from project participation. An ad hoc multi-institutional strategy committee actually impeded implementation and has not functioned since 8/82. Also, Project Hope, the grantee, maintained its offices a distant 4 hours from the implementation site. Due to subversive activities in the Ixchiguan area, the project was redesigned during implementation to conduct, in 38 sites of 9 municipalities, 34 agricultural subprojects and 15 health subprojects. A forage crop demonstration farm was completely installed in San Marcos and is in full production. Despite political restrictions on groups, 200 visitors observed the farm during 1982. In other agricultural subprojects, village sites were created for vaccinating animals, 5 ha of terraces were built, and pasture management, small animal production, and selection of sheep breeds have been undertaken. In health subprojects, 42 rural health promoters have received training courses for midwives, and retraining of rural health promoters is underway. Dental equipment was installed in San Marcos; MOH personnel visited Ixchiguan in 4/83. For school children, a deparasitation program has begun, and more research is needed in a tentative tuberculosis search program. Action decisions are to phase down technical activities in San Marcos, build demonstration plots in each community of Ixchiguan, cease organization of village improvement committees, and extend the project as needed to phase down at no additional cost.