Intercountry evaluation of agriculture sector programs : Colombia country program

IT IS THE SECOND VOLUME OF A FOUR-VOLUME REPORT. THE PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: COLOMBIAN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT HAS PROGRESSED RAPIDLY IN THE PAST DECADE. PRODUCTION AND EXPORT OF COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ORGANIZED A STRUCTURE OF PUBLIC AGENCIES SUITABLE FOR DEALING WITH AGRICULTURAL PROBLEMS. AID"S PROGRAMS CAN TAKE MAJOR CREDIT FOR THE FACT THAT COLOMBIA HAS A NEW GENERATION OF OFFICIALS TRAINED TO HANDLE COLOMBIA"S AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS. THE SECTOR APPROACH IN COLOMBIA HAS RESULTED IN MORE INTEGRATED THINKING ABOUT AGRICULTURAL PROBLEMS. IT HAS PROVIDED A BASE FOR CONSIDERATION OF SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE POLICIES. THE ADVANCES DESCRIBED HAVE NOT YET SUCCEEDED IN OBTAINING NEEDED INCREASES IN OVERALL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, PRODUCTIVITY, AND INCOME, ALTHOUGH THE PRODUCTION AND INCOME OF SOME FARMERS HAVE INCREASED. TASKS YET TO BE COMPLETED INCLUDE DEFINING WHAT SPECIFIC PROBLEMS IN AGRICULTURE ARE TO BE ADDRESSED, HOW THEY ARE TO BE ATTACKED, AND HOW MUCH CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.