LIVESTOCK FEED PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION

CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE PROJECT ARE ONE YEAR BEHIND SCHEDULE BECAUSE OF DELAYED USDA/PASA RECRUITMENT OF FULL TIME ADVISORS THOUGH PROGRESS HAS PROCEEDED AS SCHEDULED IN SOME KEY SEGMENTS. A COMPLETE TEAM OF 5 FULL TIME ADVISORSARE NOW ON THE JOB. THEY ARE SUITABLY QUALIFIED, EFFECTIVE TECHNICAL ADVISORS AND ARE PERFORMING AT VERY SATISFACTORY LEVELS. SINCE THE POSITION OF DRYLAND FORAGE AGRONOMIST WAS NOT FILLED PROMPTLY, USDA PROVIDED 4 MONTHS OF CONSULTANT SERVICES. ALL OTHER TECHNICAL PERSONNEL ARRIVED ON TIME. SHEEP PRODUCTION CONSULTANT SPONSORED IN MAY 1977 RECOMMENDED SHEEPPRODUCTION ADVISOR BE ADDED TO PROJECT STAFF FOR 2 YEAR TOUR. USDA/PASA CONSULTANT SERVICES (DAIRY PRODUCTION, SHEEP PRODUCTION AND FEED GRAIN PRODUCTION TEAM) ARRIVED ON TIME AND PERFORMED WELL. ALL CONSULTANTS" REPORTS ("A STUDY OF MILK PRODUCTION IN TUNISIA," "A STUDY OF SHEEP PRODUCTION IN TUNISIA," AND "FEEDGRAIN PRODUCTION AND POTENTIAL IN TUNISIA") WEREWELL RECEIVED AND HIGHLY PRAISED BY GOVERNMENT OF TUNISIA AND OTHER FOREIGN DONOR ORGANIZATIONS IN TUNISIA. THE ON THE JOB TRAINING OF THE TUNISIA STAFF, FORAGE PLANTING DEMONSTRATIONS, IRRIGATION UTILIZATION AND EXPANDED FORAGE SEED PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES ARE BEHIND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE DUE TO LATE ARRIVAL OF AMERICAN ADVISOR. THE NUMBER OF FARMERS PARTICIPATING IN IMPROVED CATTLE FEEDING TECHNIQUES IS ON SCHEDULE. BOTH THE ACADEMIC AND SHORT TERM PARTICIPANT TRAINING IMPLEMENTATION PLANS ARE ON SCHEDULE AS ARE THE CONSULTANT AND COMMODITY PROCURMENT SCHEDULES. THE SYSTEM FOR EVALUATIONS HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE USDA/PASA FARM MANAGEMENT ADVISOR AND HIS TUNISIAN COUNTERPART. LESSONS LEARNED INCLUDE: A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT REQUIRING RECRUITMENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF AMERICAN TEAM OF VARIOUS SPECIALITIES REQUIRES A LEAD IN OR MOBILIZATION PERIOD LONGER THAN PROJECTED FOR THIS PROJECT. HOST COUNTRY OFFICIALS SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN UNREALISTICTIME FRAMES FOR ARRIVAL OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAMS. USAID CREDIBILITY COULD BE JEOPARDIZED WITH RESULTANT LOSS OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN U.S. ASSISTANCE.