Project close-out report : Honduras natural resources management, 522-0168

The project met or exceeded almost all major targets in terms of the number of farmer and women's groups organized, trained, and participating in improved cropping/soil conservation, agroforestry, range management, and vegetable production. The target number of trees produced and planted was not met, but this shortfall was due primarily to a change in emphasis away from massive reforestation of unprotected public lands and towards on- farm agroforestry activities in which trees have a much higher survival rate. Unusually high accomplishments were made in women's activities, reflecting a change midway through the project to emphasize women's participation. In addition, the project treated five sub-watersheds, established 31 field agencies, and produced 23 major manuals and other publications, as well as numerous audiovisuals, which were utilized extensively in project training and promotional events. As a result of these accomplishments, the area covered by the project experienced substantial increases in agricultural production, nutritional levels, and incomes, and the natural resource base has been significantly stabilized. The improved cropping and farm management technologies are being continued in some areas through local farmers trained in promotion; they will further extended through the follow-on project, Land Use and Productivity Enhancement. Major lessons learned relate to the following key factors in the project's success: the use of one outreach mechanism to deliver a wide range of services; independence from bureaucratic constraints; utilization of low-salaried, nonspecialized paratechnicians supported by a few professional extensionists; early training programs for both technicians and farmers; constant farmer feedback; less reliance on subsidies as incentives for participation; gathering baseline data in order to measure project impact; simplified forest management plans for fuelwood and saw timber production in small areas; and particular attention to training and orientation of female extensionists and paratechnicians.