PROGRAM EVALUATION PHILIPPINE SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION

Proj, responsible for devel small farm systems & raising small farmer (SF) income, was conducted in cooperatn with the Farm Systems Devel Corp (FSDC). Evaluation based on extensive interviews with the Irrigator"s Service Assoc (ISA), FSDC, and USAID staff. Basic proj elements include devel of: SF organizatns, economic integratn, and govt-private sector partnerships. Emphasis is placed on ISA"s irrigatn sys devel, organizat"l mgmt, and financial trng. Although only 11.2% of the targeted SF"s have been reached, 641 projs have been initiated irrigating 90,000 hectares and serving 30,000 SF"s. While most projs utilize pump systems, some gravity projs are also in operatn. Many SF incomes have greatly improved due to irrigatn which has increased crop yield & made double cropping possible. Zinc oxide fertilizer has also increased rice yields. Competent, enthusiastic, and dedicated FSDC proj staff has formulated excellent short & long range plans. Between 1/76 & 6/77, 694 FDSC officers were trained in institutional devel, rice productn, and water mgmt. Other FSDC staff trng has included: institutional credit, organized buying & selling, seed productn, organized rice productn, farm tools & equipmt, and research. Also, 8,837 SF"s have received various trng & loan repaymt schedules have been extended easing SF financial burdens. Little has been accomplished in the development of post-harvest service centers & farm equipmt pools. Interagency coordinatn & organizational probs caused delays in proj implementatn. Technical problems were encountered in developing pump equipmt & recruiting technical advisers. Recommendatns were to: 1) revise proj goals & purposes; 2) change proj title to SF Organizatn or SF Devel; 3) have AID assist FSDC obtain more office space & supplies, better transportatn, and equipmt; 4) enable FSDC to upgrade ISA"s performance; and, 5) improve SF instructn in modern agr techniques especially rice productn. Ten supporting documents are attached which address social, economic, and scientific situations effecting project.