Project assistance completion report : tropical bont tick

The project was implemented by the Animal and Plant Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA/APHIS) and Antigua"s Ministry of Agriculture. The project did not achieve its goals or objectives. The main component (eradication demonstration) was never initiated because the USDA insisted on using an acaricide which had not been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), even though the project design called for the use of two EPA-registered acaricides. Instead, USDA/APHIS proposed using Bayticol, which was said to have tremendous advantages in terms of its efficacy and ease of application. However, an environmental assessment conducted in 1989 by independent experts strongly recommended against the use of Bayticol because of serious data gaps regarding its environmental and health impacts. Under the information and evaluation component, two studies were initiated, an economic impact analysis and a wildlife study. The wildlife study provided information on the life history of the bont tick, the animal species which it affects, and principal vectors. The economic impact analysis provided only incomplete information. The following lessons were learned. (1) Difficulties arise in projects where there are two implementing organizations, each with its own rules and regulations. In such cases, clear lines of authority and the division of responsibilities should be defined. (2) Before USAID can fund the use of a chemical, an environmental assessment of the chemical must be performed and the chemical must be EPA-approved. Provisions should be made for the completion of these activities during the project design stage.