SMALL FARMER DEVELOPMENT LOAN

ASSISTANCE WAS TO HAVE BEEN DELIVERED THROUGH THE INDENTIFICATION, DESIGN, AND DEVELOPMENT OF APPROPRIATE IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER CRITICAL SERVICES. EVALUATION WAS CONDUCTED THROUGH ON-SITE VISITS, INTERVIES, AND ANALYSIS OF PROJECT DOCUMENTATION. THE FIRST subsystem COMPONENT OF DESCRIBING THE FARMER PROGRESSED WELL AND IS BEING TRANSFERRED TO OTHER DISTRICTS. THE COMPONENT OF ANALYZING OR UNDERSTANDING THE FARMER, HOWEVER, DID NOT MAKE PROGRESS DUE TO LACK OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THE subsystem OF ON-FARM ADAPTIVE RESEARCH HAS ALSO MADE SOME PROGRESS. HOWEVER, ITS REAL VALUE IS LIMITED BY THE LACK OF ANALYSIS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FARMER AND ICA"S COMMODITY ORIENTATION. THE subsystem DEALING WITH GROUP ACTIVITY AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES IS DIFFICULT TO ASSESS IN THE FIELD. PROGRESS HERE IS LIMITED BY THE LACK OF ANALYSIS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FARMER AND ICA"S LACK OF SKILL AND APPRECIATION OF GROUPS. THE subsystem OF MONITORING AND EVALUATION HAS NOT EMERGED AS A SEPARATE AND VISIBLE ENTITY. EVALUATION HAS OCCURRED, ALTHOUGH AD HOC, AND THE PROJECT HAS SUFFERED FROM THIS INADEQUACY. IT WAS LEARNED THAT THE PROJECT DESIGN SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY UNDERSTOOD AND SUPPORTED BY THE POWER STRUCTURE WITHIN THE IMPLEMENTING AGENCY PRIOR TO SIGNING THE LOAN AGREEMENT. IT WAS ALSO LEARNED THAT A PROJECT AIMED AT ASSISTING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED METHODS OF OPERATION FOR A NATIONAL INSTITUTION REQUIRES ADEQUATE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. LASTLY,IT WAS LEARNED THAT WHEN A MISSION ENTERS INTO A PROJECT WITH A DESIGN THAT IS BOTH SUBTLE AND SOPHISTICATED, IT MUST COMMIT ITSELF COMPLETELY AND PROVIDE ITSELF WITH THE TECHNICAL COMPETENCE TO MANAGE THE PROJECT. AUTHORS INDICATE THAT THIS PROJECT EVALUATION SUMMARY CONSTITUTES THE FINAL EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT.