Secondary food crops development project

Evaluation covered the period 5/83-11/85 and was based on site visits and interviews with project personnel. Results have been mixed. Positively, the project has established 110 5-ha demonstration farms which, over 5 cropping systems, have proven a flexible mechanism for diffusing effective SFC methodologies. Both SFC production and area cultivated have increased in the three project provinces. In East Java, with its well-functioning extension system and long-established markets, the farms have shown excellent results. In South Sulawesi and Sumatra, the lack of sufficient extension staff and infrastructure has hampered diffusion, but acreage planted has increased nearly threefold in each province, The farms have also improved cropping intensity, especially in Sumatra and South Sulawesi, and pest control. In addition, cooperation between research and extension workers has resulted in more site-specific fertility recommendations, while cooperation between extension and the private sector has led to courses in herbicide use given by a private company. The demonstration farm concept has been adopted by the Government of Indonesia"s (GOI) Directorate of Production, which established additonal farms without USAID/I funds. On the negative side, a substantial number of activities are behind schedule. Only 10% of the funds allocated for training have been used, GOI funds for training and operational support have also been underutilized, and only 50% of planned TA has been provided. Baseline and marketing studies carried out for the project by local universities have been poorly designed. In addition, the project has not actively supported either the marketing of SFC"s or national crash production programs. Other problems include a poorly functioning project implementation unit (PIU) and lack of cooperation and understanding between the PIU and USAID/I. Finally, the project needs to do more to encourage private sector participation in activities. Key recommendations are to: extend the project until 1993; expand it geographically by adding an additional province, as well as additional kabupatens in the current project provinces; make the project goal more realistic by focusing on the development of appropriate strategies for extending crop diversification tehcnologies; and strengthen the PIU.