INTERIM EVALUATION REPORT FOR AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION OUTREACH PROJECT (JUNE 6-29, 1978)

PROJECT DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THAI DEPT OF AGRIC EXTENSION (DOAE)EXTENSION SERVICES THROUGH A FILTERING DOWN OF TRAINING EXPERTISE TO VILLAGE LEVEL AGENTS IN 33 PROVINCES & 60% OF THAI RURAL POPUL ATION. JOINT EVALCOMMITTEE WITH USAID/THAI GOVT REPRESENTAT ION UTILIZED QUANTITATIVE-BASED DOAE & USAID REPORTS AND QUALITATIVE FIELD OBSERVATIONS IN 4 PILOT PROVINCES TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF EXTENSION TRAINING ACTIVITIES. FIRST-YEAR COMPLETED ACTIVITIES INCLUDED TRAINING COURSES FOR COMBINATIONS OF PROVINCE/DISTRICT/TAMBON-LEVEL AGENTS IN: 1)AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION METHODOLOGY; 2)CROP TECHNOLOGY; 3)AFTER-RICE-CROP FARMING; 4)PLANT PROTECTION; 5)FARM MGMT; 6)PLANNING & EVALUATION; 7)IRRIGATED AGRIC; 8)RADIO PROGRAMMING. IN-SERVICE TR AINING IS CONTINUING ON FORTNIGHTLY BASIS FOR TAMBON AGENTS. THE TRAINING STAFF ALSO PRODUCED HANDBOOKS FOR USE BY AGENTS. THE PROJECT"S TRAINING COMPONENT JUDGED SUCCESSFUL IN PRO VIDING EFFECTIVE PRE-SERVICE & IN-SERVICE TRAINING AT THE PROVINCIAL/DISTRICT LEVELS AND IN THE RECRUITMENT OF NEW EXTENSION STAFF. EFFECTIVENESS OF IN-SERVICE TRAINING AT TAMBON 1EVEL HAMPERED BY DEFICIENT CAPABILITY OF PROVINCIAL LEVEL TRAINERS. EVALUATORS NOTE INCOMPATIBILITY OF EXPECTED SUPERVISORY & TRAINER ROLES OF AMPHUR AGENTS, THE NEED TO DEVELOP A SSUITABLE AUDIO-VISUAL ALTERNATIVE TO ABANDONING OF VTR IN TRAINING PROGRAMS & NEED TO REFINE & FINALLY IMPLEMENT PLANNED CROP MODULE DESIGNS. EVAL COMM FURTHER PROPOSES IMMEDIATE CONTRACTING OF TECH ADV SERVICES, REORGANIZATION OF DOAE TRAINING ACTIVITIES INTO TRAINING DIVISION AND THIRD REVISION OF PROJECT TIMETABLE TO REDUCE CURRENT SCOPE IN EFFORT TO ACHIEVE QUALITATIVE TARGETS NOT BEING MET.INITIAL TIMELINE FOR P ROJECT JUDGED AS HAVING BEEN OVERLY OPTIMISTIC. INDICES OF INCOME LEVEL, CROP/YEILD & CROP ADOPTION RATE WERE GENERALLY FAVORABLE IN INDICATING PROGRESS, BUT NOT ENOUGH TIME HAD ELAPSED FOLLOWING INITIATION OF VILLAGE LEVEL DEMONSTRATIONS TO ALLOW PRELIMINARY ASSEMENT OF PROJECT GOALS.