RANGE AND LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT

THE PROJ WAS REDESIGNED AND AMENDED IN 1976. THIS ACTION SHIFTED THE PROJ FROM A HEAVILY TECHNICALLY ORIENTED,GROUP RANCH DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY TO A "GRADUALIST" APPROACH SEEKING TO STRENGTHEN SMALL GROUPS OF AGRICULTURALISTS,WHETHER LIVESTOCK OWNERS OR SMALL CROP FARMERS. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOB MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE,USAID,PASA PERSONNEL,AND THE PEACE CORPS PARTICIPATED IN THIS ANNUAL EVAL. FOUR USDA/PASA PERSONNEL ARRIVED APPROX NINE MOS BEHIND SCHEDULE BECAUSE OF DELAYS IN FINALIZING THE PASA & RECRUITING QUALIFIED PERSONNEL. A VERY CAPABLE BOTSWANA COMMISSIONER OF AGRI MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATIONS (CAMA) WAS APPOINTED IN 1/79. ONLY ONE COUNTERPART FOR THE TWO USAID GROUP DEVELOPMNT OFFICERS (GDO"S) HAS BEEN ASSIGNED. THE CAMA & HIS PROJ ADVISOR HAVE INSISTED THAT TEN, RATHER THAN SIX, GDO POSITIONS WILL ENVENTUALLY BE REQUIRED NATIONWIDE. EVALUATORS NOTE THAT THE TRNG PROG FOR THE GDO COUNTERPARTS WILL BE TAILORED TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS & MAY NOT ALWAYS INCLUDE A DIPLOMA OR DEGREE STUDIES AS ANTICIPATED IN THE PP. FIVE OF THE SEVEN VEHICLES PLNND FOR THE GDO"S & CAMA HDQTRS HAVE ARRIVED. OVER 450 FARMER GROUPS HAVE BEEN FORMED,OF WHICH AT LEAST ONE-THIRD ARE FUNCTIONING SUCCESSFULLY. WHILE THESE GROUPS MAY NOT ULTIMATELY REGISTER AS AMA"S (AGRI MGMT ASSOC"S) WITH LEGAL ACCESS & EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO COMMUNAL LAND,THE PROCESS OF GROUP DEVELOPMNT IS TAKING HOLD & THE GROUPS ARE INCREASING IN SOPHISTICATION. CAMA IS NOT YET ADEQUATELY STAFFED. THE AMA BUDGET HAS BEEN MARGINAL,BUT MANAGEABLE. WHILE GROUP ACTION PROGS ARE UNDERWAY IN FOUR OF THE SIX AGRI REGIONS OF BOTSWANA,LITTLE DATA IS AVAILABLE ON THE SIZE,STABILITY,AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE GROUPS. THE PROJ HAS THUS FAR VALIDATED THE "GRADUALIST" APPROACH. GROUPS WERE ENCOURAGED TO DEVELOP SLOWLY & TAKE ON ONLY THOSE NEW TECHNOLOGIES (SUCH AS FIREBREAKS,DRIFT FENCES,DIP TANKS) WHICH ARE CULTURALLY & ECONOMICALLY APPROPRIATE. PROJ HAS DIRECTLY AFFECTED APPROX 40,500 PERSONS.