SMALL FARMER TRAINING (ACPO)

Evaluation covers the period l/77-l2/78 and is based on ACPO quarterly and consultant reports. Due to Government of Colombia budget cuts, ACPO lost $1 million in support payments in 1976, forcing it (at USAID"s suggestion) to eliminate 125 employees, cut back its training program, and raise the price of its newspaper, "El Campesino". In some ways, the monetary setback was helpful, leading to more efficient management and budgeting within ACPO. Despite setbacks, ACPO has largely achieved outputs as planned. Most (80%) of the equipment for EA is on order, and the plant has been improved to receive it. ACPO has developed a technical assistance plan calling for experts in non-formal education (long-term), management, general curriculum, radio broadcasting, and computers. Assistance provided so far has been good to excellent and on schedule. A total of 410 ACPO employees received in-service training in 1976/77. Despite higher than expected sales volume, EA"s net profit was 5 million pesos short in 1976, but should be on target in 1977. Distribution of El Campesino for l975-77 was only slightly lower than planned. After a notable shortfall in 1976, six new titles (for a total of 36) and ACPO"s participation in the National Book Fair helped ACPO book sales soar to 1.5 million in 1977, against a target of 340,000. To improve its small farmer training program, ACPO now queries campesinos on their needs. Despite a shortfall in campesino volunteers trained 1975-1977 (1,050/1,400), more supervisors than planned were trained (38/45), which should improve the overall program. Enrollment in ACPO"s radio courses, Radio Sutatenza, was well above target in 1976 and 1977 (96,868/55,000 and 123,585/82,000). Data on increased small farmer income and technology acquisition, while difficult to verify, seems largely positive. The project has shown ACPO"s viability and the project"s replicability and the need to coordinate regional with country projects.