PLANT AND SEED MATERIALS (RSSA-USDA-4-74)

PROJECT PURPOSE IS TO DISTRIBUTE SMALL SAMPLES OF SEED AND PLANT MATERIALS (FOR RESEARCH AND TESTING) TO LDC"S. EVALUATION BASED ON INTERVIEWS, DOCUMENTS, AND ON-SITE OBSERVATIONS IN WASHINGTON. MISSIONS AND REGIONAL BUREAUS CONCLUDE PROJECT HAS PERFORMED ADEQUATELY. THE NUMBER OF SAMPLES SHIPPED IN 1978 WAS 6 TIMES GREATER THAN THAT SENT IN 1977. ALTHOUGH SOUTH KOREA AND EGYPT HAVE RECEIVED THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF THE 61 SHIPMENTS (12, 652 SAMPLES), A TOTAL OF 32 COUNTRIES HAVE RECEIVED SAMPLES. THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF SEED SAMPLES WERE CEREAL GRAINS. USDA IS PROVIDING A QUARANTINE SERVICE AT MIAMI TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF PESTS BETWEEN COFFEE PRODUCING COUNTRIES. FURTHER, FREE RHIZOBIUM INOCULANT IS BEING SUPPLIED FOR EACH LEGUME SEED LOT SHIPPED TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. PLANS ARE TO COMPILE A LIST OF THE MOST COMMONLY REQUESTED INOCULANTS SO THESE MAY BE KEPT ON HAND. A CONTINUING UNRESOLVED PROBLEM IS THE NEED FOR INFORMATION ON WHAT VARIETIES OF A CROP TO SHIP WHEN NONE ARE SPECIFIED IN THE REQUEST. ALSO, THERE HAVE BEEN LONG DELAYS IN THE SHIPMENT OF SEEDS REQUESTED DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGES. FURTHER, A LIST OF ALL SPECIES OF LEGUME SEED DISTRIBUTED DURING THE PAST YEAR AS WELL AS A 3 YEAR PROJECT REPORT NEED TO BE COMPLETED. EVALUATOR RECOMMENDS THAT PROJECT BE EXTENDED 5 YEARS WITH MAJOR CHANGES. ALL MISSIONS SHOULD BE INFORMED OF SERVICES AVAILABLE AND WHAT INFORMATION IS NECESSARY TO RECEIVE THIS ASSISTANCE. APPROPRIATE RHIZOBUIM SPECIES AND INSTRUCTION FOR THEIR INOCULATION SHOULD BE SENT WITH EACH SAMPLE. A SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE ESTABLISHED WHEREBY THE RATE OF SHIPMENTS MAY BE MONITORED AND ACCELERATED. FINALLY, FOLLOW-UP STUDIES BY CORRESPONDENCE AND TRAVEL SHOULD BE CONDUCTED CONCERNING SEED AND PLANT MATERIALS SHIPPED.