Small farmer organizations

Evaluation summarizes an attached special evaluation as amended by USAID/B (PD-AAH-481), covers the period 12/79-3/81, and is based on document review and interviews with project staff and personnel from local financial institutions. Progress has been uneven. Achievements include creation of a new project implementation structure -- including transfer of responsibilities to a National Office for Integral Cooperatives (ONCICOOP) and to the Bolivian Agricultural Bank -- and of Cooperative Members Organized by Groups, co-op level committees, and councils. Shortfalls include an insufficiency in the number of participating IC"s (only three) and in their membership; a poorly functioning IC participatory structure; and scant progress toward financial solvency by the IC"s (although two have made notable progress towards this end). Major problems have included numerous deficiencies at the co-op level in credit administration and in project planning and implementation, and poor coordination of IC"s with complementary institutions. Still, the project"s amended purpose and goal may be achieved if the special evaluation"s key recommendations are followed. USAID/B has requested ONCICOOP and Robert R. Nathan to develop for the three existing IC"s an action plan in accord with these recommendations. The project has taught that: large multiservice co-ops can provide services to small farmers and help them on a sustained basis; women"s participation increases social equity and income impacts and enhances overall implementation; greater technical resources could have reduced sub-optimal performance among IC staff and loan defaults by IC members; progress has largely been retarded by non-technical constraints (e.g., social and political conflicts, the negative attitudes of IC members); more emphasis on business and planning skills is needed at all levels; baseline data should be collected early to allow assessment of the project"s long-term effectiveness; and the project"s impact on income distribution and soil stability should be carefully monitored. The project"s completion date has been extended from 9/24/81 to 3/24/83.