Midterm evaluation of the national cereals research and extension project phase II (631-0052)

Mid-term evaluation covers the period 10/84- 7/89. Applied research has achieved a number of successes. Breeding programs have developed and released varieties of rice, lowland upland maize, and sorghum which are 30-40% higher in yield, moderately more disease resistant, and somewhat better in grain quality than former varieties. Agronomy programs have promoted the use of minimum and no tillage farming methods on fragile soils in the North province resulting in significant reduction in soil erosion, and the use of "Marshal" as a seed treatment for maize and sorghum, resulting in increased seedling establishment and yields. Some criticisms of research efforts include: soil testing services are inefficient, due mainly to a lack of trained IRA scientists; the use of leguminous materials for fertilization has not been adequately demonstrated; agronomy programs have neglected weed control; and the rice growing program has concentrated resources in the Mbo plain instead of more important rice-growing areas in the Northern part of the country. The Testing and Liaison Units (TLU's) have been favorably accepted by their clientele and by commodity programs, extension agencies, development agencies and others as an integral part of the research system. They have conducted diagnostic surveys to characterize the agricultural systems in their zones, and the TLU "mini-kit" technique has proven to be an effective tool in the transfer of IRA technologies to farmers. Linkages established between project researchers and other development and extension agencies are contributing to the technology development and transfer process. In the long-term academic training program, 2 participants have completed M.Sc. degrees, while 9 others are pursuing M.Sc. or Ph.D. degrees, and another 5 candidates have been selected. However, the participants have encountered great difficulty in meeting the schedules laid out for them, and they have questioned the value of some of the training, especially as it relates to their career advancement. A total of 18 participants have received short-term training at international agricultural research centers, and in-service courses have been conducted in field research techniques, intensive maize production, surveys, and computers. In general, the project has successfully built on the foundations of the Phase I effort (1979-85), making major progress towards creating a capacity to identify and develop food-production technologies adapted to farmers' needs. Efforts are needed, however, to ensure that adoption of the higher-yielding varieties developed under the project do not significantly increase soil erosion and nutrient loss.