Process evaluation of the hillside agriculture project in Jamaica

The evaluation covers the period 1987-11/89. Although it is too early to assess impact at the farm level, project operations and methods appear successful. The use of a project coordinating committee (PCC) has been a viable means of establishing policy and involving the Ministry of Agriculture, USAID, and the Jamaica Agricultural Society in important decisionmaking questions. The PCC initially had difficulty in preparing SP's, but it reacted well in finding ways to promote their development. Most SP's are now active with enthusiastic personnel, and different approaches to extending technologies to the hillside farmers are in place or planned. The project has developed and implemented a practical approach to training those involved in project activities. On the negative side, information management has been weak, and requires immediate attention in order to promote policy development for hillside agriculture. Farmer involvement in the design of SP's has been spotty, often resulting in differing and even conflicting expectations. It is recommended that the project continue to target small-farm enterprises to ensure that improved practices and technologies are adopted. The sustainability of the project will depend to a large extent on financial returns from the applied technologies to the individual farmer.