Project assistance completion report : [regional cocoa rehabilitation and development]

The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) was the implementing agency. The project established 210 acres of contract demonstration plots, slightly over target, as well as a research/demonstration field. However, production on the contract plots was well below target (though in the case of Grenada the targeted 30% increase in cocoa production was unrealistic). Acreage rehabilitation substantially exceeded target in St. Lucia, but was only 50% and 33% of target in Grenada and Dominica respectively. The project failed to establish the two planned joint ventures to use advanced hybrid cocoa production techniques. Also, St. Vincent was dropped from the project due to failure to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Agriculture. Overall, the project served to maintain an interest in cocoa production at a time when cocoa prices were falling and major attention was being placed on banana production. There is little doubt that cocoa yields would have declined even further without the project. At least partially as a result of the contract demonstrations and training provided by the project, the participating countries are poised to take advantage of improved prices in the flavor cocoa niche market and eventually to substitute cocoa for at least some banana production. Several lessons were learned. (1) Project design should not only consider all the systemic constraints to improved production and marketing, but should address them all. (2) Full-time, in-country advisory linkages are necessary if regional projects are to attain maximum effectiveness. (3) To the fullest extent possible, administrative, monitoring, and promotional activities should be carried out by local people rather than by senior technicians. (4) Use of short-term in lieu of long-term TA can increase flexibility as to timing and range of expertise. An 8-10 year follow-on activity that addresses all aspects of cocoa production and export is recommended for funding under Project 5380163.