Senegal agriculture production support project : final report

The report covers TA rendered by Chemonics International Consulting Division during the period 10/88-1/91. The project had marked design flaws, notably the false assumption that commercial banks would be willing to grant agricultural loans under the project"s revolving credit line and also regarding the profitability of the country"s certified seed market. The project was also impaired by Chemonics" staffing problems and an exceedingly complex and cumbersome management decisionmaking structure. As the result of an interim evaluation, the project was prematurely closed. Despite these problems, Chemonics made some major accomplishments. The credit component contacted every commercial bank in Senegal and promoted he project credit line to over 100 input distributors, exporters, and farmers. The component found that there are opportunities to extend short- and medium-term financing to the agricultural sector through commercial banks or other mechanisms. These opportunities were not seized because of the rigid adherence to the original credit component design and the uncompetitive operating conditions offered to the banks. The seed certification component rehabilitated a regional seed testing laboratory and helped to set up an improved seed certification program. The production of quality certified seed produced privately is estimated to have increased fourfold. The Chemonics seed specialist also conducted a survey of the quality of rice seed used by farmers in the Fleuve region, developed technical specifications for new national seed law, and provided training in various areas to field personnel. The seed production agronomist developed an integrated seed promotion package comprising recommendations for inputs and cultural practices, demonstration plots, and mass media efforts. Two of the three demonstration plots were successful, and four producers are now producing seed independently of the government in the Senegal River Valley. Assistance was provided to the Agricultural Statistics Division in analyzing data sampling, gathering, processing, and analytical procedures and in developing an improved methodology for reporting. The project also contributed funds, fuel, and vehicles to assist in a country-wide agricultural survey.