Project completion report : Swaziland rural development

Final evaluation covers the period 10/71-10/79; no methodology is stated. The project goal of improving the lives of the masses was largely achieved. Nine Swazi civil servants were trained and posted in the positions for which they were trained. Rural infrastructure construction - including 800 km of fencing, 400 km of access roads, 20,000 acres of terraced arable land, and a number of irrigation schemes - is 95% complete. A heavy equipment repair shop and five equipment field service units were constructed and equipped in 1973, and all are currently functioning. An 11,500 acre breeding and demonstration ranch opened ahead of schedule and is being run by managers trained under the project. Due to delays on the part of the Swaziland Development and Savings Bank, the entire $750,000 production credit fund was not disbursed. In 1977, at the request of the Bank, A.I.D. deobligated $231,736.99 of the project loan money. By January 1980, $992,195 in production credit was being provided to 3,447 small farmers. Repayment is expected to begin 3/85. Despite these significant accomplishments, the project purpose was not achieved. While productivity has increased through the use of hybrid seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides, and provision of production credit has made the purchase of these inputs easier, overall domestic food production has remained relatively static. Farmers have failed to respond as enthusiastically as expected to the various project inputs primarily because there are more favorable off farm employment and earning opportunities than had been foreseen. Future projects should carefully consider such factors in project design. In addition, the project area was reduced from six to four rural development areas at the request of the Swazi Government. No further monitoring, evaluation, or reporting is recommended except for the monitoring of loan repayment. A final fiscal report should be prepared by USAID/S and the remaining unexpended balance of $12,280.70 deobligated.