REPORT OF JOINT REVIEW TEAM FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN PAKISTAN IN REL. TO LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND USA; AID LOAN 391-T-156

THE TEAM CONCLUDES THAT ALTHOUGH THE PROGRAM OF WORK IS TOO AMBITIOUS, THE PROJECT IS SOUNDLY CONCEIVED AND CONSISTENT WITH CURRENT AND LONG-RANGE NATIONAL GOALS FOR STRENGTHENING RESEARCH CAPABILITY FOR OVERALL IMPROVEMENT IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR. PROBLEMS ARE: (1)CHANGES IN PERSONNEL AND LOCATION OF STAFF PLUS THE ABSENCE OF A REGULARLY APPOINTED DIRECTOR GENERAL SEEM TO HAVE SERIOUSLY RESTRICTED PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION; (2) IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAINING, COMMODITY PROCUREMENT, AND LOGISTIC SUPPORT WAS INADEQUATE; AND (3)BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS REGARDING ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR THE PAKISTAN AGRICULTUAL RESEARCH CENTER (PARC), NO CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN. DESPITE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED, HOWEVER, THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (ARC) IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR MOVING AHEAD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAM. THE EVALUATORS MADE SEVERAL SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING: (1)ADMINISTRATION OF ARC; (2)TRAINING; (3)COMMODITY PROCUREMENT; (4)TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; (5)ARC BUILDING AND HOUSING; (6)PARC; (7)NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RESEARCH; (8)RESEARCH IN AGRICULTRAL DEPARTMENTS IN THE PROVINCES; AND (9) RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.