REPORT OF EVALUATION TEAM : NIGER CEREALS PROJECT (ATTACHED TO PAR 77-1)

CID HIRED TO HELP PROVIDE GOVT OF NIGER (GON) WITH A NATIONAL CAPABILITY IN THE PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND MARKETING OF SORGHUM & MILLET. CID EVAL TEAM HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH GON OFFICIALS & STAFF MEMBERS OF USAID & NCP. NATL AGR RESEARCH INSTITUTE (INRAN) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEVEL OF A PROVEN SET OF PRODUCTN INCREASING PRACTICES,THROUGH VARIETAL IMPROVEMENT,AGRONOMIC RESEARCH RELATED TO SORGHUM & MILLET,AND WORKABLE SYSTEMS FOR DELIVERY OF MECHNIZATN TO FARMERS. EVALUATORS EXPRESSED A NEED FOR BETTER LIBRARY & LAB FACILITIES TO SUPPORT CEREALS RESEARCH & SOIL TESTING & ANALYSIS, & FOR THE CONSTRUCTN OF SEED RESEARCH & PRODUCTN CTRS WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON WATER CONSERVTN & IRRIGN SYSTEMS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE PRODUCTN. PERSONNEL NEED TRNG IN LAB TECHNIQUES & IN DEMONSTRATN,MAINTENANCE,& REPAIR OF ANIMAL TRACTR & OTHER TYPES OF FARM EQUIP. A LACK OF TRAINED MANPOWER IS A CRUCIAL PROBLEM IN THE SEED MULTIPLICTN & DISTRIBUTN COMPONENT. ACQUISITION OF EQUIP HAS BEEN SLOW,& DEVEL OF SEED MULTIPLICTN CTRS HAS BEEN HAMPERED BY INCREASED SHIPPING COSTS,AN INADEQUATE IRRIGATN SYSTEM,& DIFFICULTIES IN PROCURING INSECTICIDE. REQUISITE TO PROJECT SUCCESS IS THE ESTABLISHMT OF A SOUND NATL SEED POLICY. THE TEAM FEELS THAT DEVEL OF EFFECTIVE DELIVERY SYSTEMS DEPENDS ON COORDINATN AMONG CONCERNED AGENCIES, QUANTIFIED TARGETS,& A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH BY THE CID ADVISOR. THE NIGERIEN COOP & CREDIT ORGANIZATN(UNCC) HAS SEVERAL NEEDS: READILY AVAILABLE TRANSPORT; APPROPRIATE FACILITIES; PERSONNEL UPGRADING THROUGH IN-SERVICE SEMINARS; ECONOMIC VIABILITY STUDY; MORE FLEXIBLE FISCAL CONTROL; & USAID-GON POLICIES ASSURING NECESSARY INPUTS OF FERTILIZER,SEED MATERIALS,&EQUIP. AFTER REVIEWING SEVERAL MEMORANDA,TEAM RECOMMENDS THAT USAID PURSUE PROPOSAL TO ORGANIZE VILLAGE DIESEL MILLS TO GRIND MILLET & EXTRACT PEANUT OIL,THEREBY FREEING WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN VILLAGE INDIGO-DYE INDUSTRIES.