PLANT AND SEED MATERIALS

PROJECT PURPOSE IS TO: 1)PROVIDE USAID MISSIONS AND HOST GOVERNMENTS WITH TECHNICAL ADVISORY SERVICES, EXPERIMENTAL QUANTITIES OF SEED, AND OTHER PLANT PROPAGATING MATERIAL NECESSARY TO BROADEN LDC CROP IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS; AND 2)ASSIST IN DEVELOPING NATIONAL AND/OR REGIONAL CENTERS FOR RESEARCH AND MAINTENANCE. EVALUATION BASED ON USAID ANNUAL REPORT, TELEGRAMS, CORRESPONDENCE AND ON-SITE VISITS. OF THE 592 VARIETIES OF SEED AND PLANT MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED TO 16 COUNTRIES,MATERIALS HAVE BEEN ABOUT EQUALLY DIVIDED BETWEEN EACH OF THE 4 REGIONAL BUREAUS. MAYAGUEZ INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE IN PUERTO RICO,WHICH RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM USDA STAFF AND UTILIZED USDA FACILITIES,WAS ABLE TO SEND 1,059 PACKETS OF COWPEA AND BEAN SEEDS TO 14 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES (AID PROJ 9310562). ALSO,USDA PLANT FACILITIES WERE ENLARGED TO ENABLE THE PROJECT TO PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE OF RUST FREE COFFEE PLANT MATERIALS.