Managing food security systems

Final PES covers the period 9/80-12/82 and is based on a review of project reports and of written comments by Kenya"s Ministry of Agriculture and interviews with AID/W and contractor personnel. The project is completed and was generally successful. Field demonstrations were held in Kenya and Bangladesh and reports on them submitted to AID/W as required. All technical assistance was provided on time. Findings and recommendations of the contractor"s final report (not given herein) will be used in developing a Project Identification Document on food security management in FY83. Project experience indicates that many if not most LDC officials use microcomputers for operational rather than for research purposes, indicating the wisdom of conducting a needs assessment before providing technical assistance services which include microcomputers. In Kenya, for example, food management became secondary to accounting until priorities were set and a graduate student hired (outside the project) to work on the microcomputer"s administrative and financial applications.