SEED FARM DEVELOPMENT

PROJECT COMPONENTS INCLUDE INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, EXPANSION OF THE CENTRAL RESEARCH STATION, CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SEED PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING FACILITIES, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND TRAINING. THE MAJOR FOODCROPS INCLUDE COWPEAS, CORN, CUCUMBER, TOMATO, EGG PLANT, OKRA, PEPPER, PIGEON PEAS, AND MUNG BEANS. THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE"S SEED PRODUCTION SYSTEM WILL BE REORGANIZED. THE PRESENT "SEED PROCESSING OFFICE" WILL BE ELEVATED TO A "SECTION". THE SECTION"S RESPONSIBILITIES WILL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OPERATION OF SEED STATIONS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, MARKETING, AND DISTRIBUTION OF SEED. EXPANSION OF THE CENTRAL RESEARCH STATION AT MON REPOS WILL INCLUDE PROVISION OF A PORTABLE IRRIGATION SYSTEM AND OTHER PROCESSING EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR HANDLING INCREASED QUANTITIES OF SEED. FOUR SATELLITE SEED FACILITIES WILL BE ESTABLISHED AT YAKUSARI, CHARITY, EBINI-KIMBIA, AND WAUNA. AT BOTH YAKUSARI AND CHARITY, A BUILDING WILL BE CONSTRUCTED WITH OFFICE SPACE, QUALITY CONTROL LABORATORY, INSULATED SEED STORAGE AREA, AND PROCESSING AND GENERAL STORAGE AREAS. EACH OF THE 4 SEED FACILITIES WILL BE SUPPLIED WITH THE BASIC EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR PRODUCING, TESTING, DRYING, PROCESSING, AND STORING THE SEEDS. A TROPICAL HORTICULTURAL SPECIALIST WILL SERVE AS THE COUNTERPART TO THE CHIEF OF THE SEED PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING SECTION AND ASSIST MOH SEED OFFICERS WITH TECHNICAL AND MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM. TWO LONG-TERM, AND TWO SHORT-TERM PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE US TRAINING IN TROPICAL SEED PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING. A 3-WEEK IN-COUNTRY TRAINING COURSE WILL ALSO BE CONDUCTED. WHILE THE GRANT WILL FINANCE MOST OF THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND COMMODITY COSTS, BOTH USAID AND GOG WILL SHARE THE FACILITIES AND TRAINING COSTS, WITH GOG CONTRIBUTING PERSONNEL, LABOR, AND EXPENDABLE SUPPLIES.