INTERNATIONAL FERTILIZER DEVELOPMENT CENTER

EVALUATION WAS COMPILED THROUGH SITE VISITS, INFORMATION OBTAINED IN THE COURSE OF NORMAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND ASSESSMENT OF THE REPORT OF THE TAC MISSION TO IFDC. IT IS NOTED THAT THE CENTER HAS FOLLOWED ITS DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL FAITHFULLY AND HAS BECOME FULLY OPERATIONAL IN 2 YEARS, WITH A STAFF OF 140, INCLUDING 50 SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS. THE RESEARCH PROGRAM HAS CONCENTRATED ON NITROGEN AND PHOSPHOROUS FERTILIZERS, WITH INITIAL RESEARCH FOCUSING ON CONTROLLING NITROGEN LOSS IN THE GROWING OF RICE. GRANULATION TECHNIQUES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED FOR SOLUBLE SALTS AND ROCK SULPHATE. NEW GRANULATION TECHNIQUES AND METHODS OF ROCK BENEFICATION AND RECOVERY HAVE ALSO BEEN DEVELOPED. ADOPTION DEMAND STUDIES, FEASIBILITY STUDIES, AND POLICY STUDIES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED. 483 PERSONS HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY IFDC, 156 AT THE LABORATORY IN ALABAMA AND 327 OVERSEAS. TRAINING HAS COVERED FACTORY OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING, EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN, AND FIELD TESTING OF FERTILIZERS.