RESOURCES SURVEY PROJECT OF THE FRONTIER HOMESTEAD PROGRAM MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, BRAZIL (05/26/68-06/27/68)

PROJECT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR A SCHEMATIC MAP OF THE WESTERN 2/3'S OF BRAZIL IDENTIFYING AGRICULTURAL AREAS, SOIL AND INTERPRTIVE MAPS WITH SUPPORTING TEXT, RECONNAISSANCE SOIL SURVEYS OF AREAS PROMISING FOR AGRICULTURE, AND 60 TO 100 FIELD TECHNCINS FOR THE DIVISION OF PEDOLOGY AND SOIL FERTILITY (DPFS). ON-SITE EVALUATION WAS MADE. PROGRESS HAS BEEN REASONABLE DESPITE STOPPAGES IN RECRUITMENT AND FIELD WORK DUE TO INADEQUATE FUNDING. THE RESULTING SCHEMATIC SOIL MAP AND 3 INTERPRETIVE MAPS WITH TEXT ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A FAR-REACHING INFLUENCE ON BRAZIL'S DEVELOPMENT. THE 4 MAPS WERE USED PRIOR TO PUBLICATION OF THE TEXT TO PLAN COLONIZATION,AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT,AND LOCATE HIGHWAYS INTO BRAZIL'S INTERIOR. THERE IS STILL A HIGH DEGREE OF URGENCY FOR MORE DETAILED SURVEYS,ESPECIALLY IN GOIAS AND MATO GROSSO. SETTLEMENT OF UNOCCUPPIED REGIONS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO BRAZIL'S PROGRESS AND STIMULATE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE NEXT 10 YEARS,30 MILLION HECTARES OF HIGH FERTILITY NEED TO BE LOCATED WHICH HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO MARKETS,CLIMATE,VEGETATN,SURFACE WATER,ETC. UNFORTUNATELY,BUDGETARY AND PERSONNEL RESTRICTNS HAVE REDUCED THE AREAS OF LAND AVAILABLE FOR STUDY. SELECTED FARMERS IN SURVEY AREAS HAVE BEEN CONSULTED AS TO AGRICULTURAL CAPACITIES BUT THEY HAVE NOT FREELY RESPONDED TO QUESTNS. ALTHOUGH STAFFING HAS BEEN SLOWER THAN EXPECTED DUE TO INADEQUATE FUNDING,BRAZIL'S SOIL SCIENTISTS NOW HAVE ADEQUATE COMPETENCY TO HANDLE MOST PROBLEMS WITHOUT US HELP. DPFS'S STAFF IS TO BE INCREASED AND IN-SERVICE TRAINING PROVIDED FOR MORE STAFF. EVALUATOR RECOMMENDS THAT: SCHEMATIC MAPS WITH ACCOMPANING INTERPRETIVE MAPS FOR THE EASTERN 1/3 OF BRAZIL BE PREPARED WITH DPFS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT,MAINTENANCE,AND COORDINATION OF THE NATIONAL SYSTEM OF SOIL CLASSIFICATN & CORRELATN; RESEARCH RESULTS OBTAINED FROM EXPERIMENTAL AREAS BE CORRELATED WITH SOIL TYPES; AND SIZE,SCOPE,AND EFFECTIVENESS OF SOIL STAFFS BE INCREASED WITHIN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE.