SOIL FERTILITY EVALUATION REPORT

This special contracted evaluation, time frame for which is not specified, is based on interviews with project staff, document review, and site visits, and is attached to a PES (PD-AAG-611-B1). Project implementation was transferred to the Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza (CATIE). Under the first contractor, the regional SF program was incorporated into national SF programs in Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, and Nicaragua. As a result, most of these countries are using the SF field experimentation model. Unfortunately, the country residents for the national programs, except for Guatemala, are limited in their time spent on field testing. Costa Rica has the most established program including a Soil Science Society and 11 professionals in the Soil Department. Panama's program is not well known, although representatives attend regional seminars. Despite setbacks in Honduras due to relocation of their SF lab, progress has been made through 30 ongoing field experiments. Guatemala's program is of secondary importance; their SF lab is well-staffed, but the Soil Department lacks professionals. Nicaragua's SF program is defunct due to political crisis. Although CATIE displays SF expertise, its effectiveness in coordinating the overall program is limited. Inability to hire a SF Coordinator is of major concern. CATIE has not provided the needed technical assistance to the national programs, and the regional Soil Analog project has disintegrated. CATIE's well-trained Central Lab is virtually its only link to the national programs, but it is a good one. Recommendations include hiring a regional SF Coordinator; emphasizing on-site technical assistance from CATIE for the national programs in field experimentation; surveying Nicaragua's soil lab facilities and technician training needs; rejuvenating the Soil Analog project; and ensuring that each Country Resident maintains contact with his national program.