Soy and corn production on small farms

PES covers the period 9/76 to 5/78 and is based on meetings with GOP, USAID/P, and contractor (INTSOY) personnel. Project achievements have been limited. Hiring restrictions due to GOP budget cuts have constrained the development of corn and soy research and extension programs, the primary project output; extension has been further hampered by the lack of adequate training and demonstration materials, transportation, and fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, four INTSOY soy experts arrived on-site up to a year late, and a position for a corn expert remains unfilled. (Despite these problems, 423 corn and soy genetic and agronomic improvement experiments have been completed.) Because of these factors and poor weather, production was limited. Only 16% of the commercial soybean seed and 17% of the soybean MT targets were met. Only 40% of 22,421 planned hectares of floury corn were planted, and yield per hectare was 80% of that expected. More positively, two soybean varieties have been adapted for commercial use, and consumer tests of soybean enriched milk and soy flour have been completed. Implementation in the field has been constrained by lack of continuity of USAID project managers, lack of coordination between research and production units, inadequate guidance from national project coordinators, and delay in contracting TA. Twelve Peruvian technicians have received U.S. or third-country training and 120 R&E personnel have received in-country training. Additionally, participant training included degree training (4) and observation, courses, or conferences (18) abroad, and academic (2) and practical training (115) in-country. Vehicles for extension services and tractors for production have been received but not distributed. The implementing agency, the Ministry of Food, has not yet included the small farmer as beneficiary of the project, as intended, instead dealing with the middle-sized farmer with access to credit. The Agrarian Bank has proved reluctant to extend credit for soybean producers, and thus a special fund for soy production will be established. Finally, efforts to improve nutrition among the poor may be frustrated as most of the improved corn has been planted by farmers for export, due in part to reluctance to depart from using traditional varieties.