SMALL FARMER DIVERSIFICATION SYSTEMS

GOG agencies noted below will implement the project with USAID technical assistance. The Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (ICTA) and the Directorate General for Agricultural Services (DIGESA) will initiate a farm management survey. Based on survey results, interdisciplinary farm models for evaluating the suitability of diversified crops (most likely apples, peaches, cole crops, carrots, garlic, onions and potatoes) and livestock (most likely sheep and dairy cows) will be developed for field testing on small farms. Progressive farmers will be trained as guias (guides) and a 4-S Club Fund will be used to promote diversified agriculture among future farmers. DIGESA and the Directorate General for Livestock Services (DIGESEPE) will develop extension services at ICTA"s Labor Ovalle station, where a Demonstration and Training Center with a laboratory for plant and soil analysis, a crop data bank, and training classrooms will be built. One hundred DIGESA (80) and cooperative (20) extensionists will be trained here and in the field in such areas as crop management, disease/pest control, conservation, and crop handling/storage. Extensionists, 80 promotores, and 48 guias will be assigned to 10 pilot diversification districts of 480 farmers each. Soil conservation and mini-riego teams (two each) will operate in the region. Eight ICTA and DIGESA/DIGESEPE personnel will receive M.S.-level training in extension system management and agricultural research, and in-service training curriculum/materials will be developed for ICTA and DIGESA/DIGESEPE staff. The National Agricultural Bank (BANDESA) will use project funds to provide 10,000 long-term, small farm improvement loans to upgrade infrastructure and 10,000 short-term, diversified farm production loans to finance farmer purchases of seed, feed, fertilizer, and supplies. Extension services and 20 diversified crops planted on 2,000 ha ($5-600,000 value) will benefit 4,800 farmers. Project Paper Amendment No. 1 of 3/20/85 increases grant-funded TA in order to: (1) expand monitoring of small farmer acceptance of crop diversification models developed under the project and improve coverage of the project area (which was expanded from 10 to 33 districts in 1983); (3) develop models both for a greater range of climatic and soil types in the project area and for specific crop species, as well as the technical support and seed production needed to introduce the latter; and (4) perform additional activities, e.g., research on the project"s relation to the U.S. market, not envisaged at the design stage. (PD-AAR-128)