SOY AND CORN PRODUCTION ON SMALL FARMS

EVALUATION, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN AN AGRICULTURE SECTOR REPORT, COVERS THE PERIOD 9/30/76 TO 3/31/79 AND IS BASED ON PROJECT FILES/FINANCIAL RECORDS; MISSION EVALUATION OF 6/78; INTERVIEWS WITH PROJECT PERSONNEL/AGENCIES; AND ONSITE VISITS. AID HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROJECT INCREMENTALLY UNDER THREE PROJECT AGREEMENTS. AS OF 3/31/79, A TOTAL OF $965,428 OF $1,875,000 OBLIGATED FUNDS WERE EXPENDED. IMPLEMENTATION WAS INITIALLY DELAYED, DUE TO THE LACK OF COORDINATION AMONG GOP MINISTRY LEVELS AND UNITS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT; GOP BUDGET CUTS, WHICH RESULTED IN A SHORTFALL OF PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THE PROJECT; AND THE LATE ARRIVAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS (UOI) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM. THE LATTER DELAY WAS CAUSED BY CHANGES IN THE CONTRACT BETWEEN AID/W AND UOI REGARDING THE LONG-TERM CORN SPECIALIST. IT WAS FINALLY DECIDED THAT SUCH A SPECIALIST WAS NOT CRITICAL TO THE PROJECT AND ONE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FINAL CONTRACT. THE CORN PROGRAM HAS RECEIVED AND WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SHORT-TERM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. UOI TEAM HAS ASSISTED GOP TO DEVELOP WORK PLANS FOR SOYBEAN RESEARCH, PRODUCTION, THE PROCESSING, AND MARKETING. THIS INCLUDED COORDINATING VARIOUS MINISTRY ENTITIES INVOLVED IN FIELD EXTENSION AND RESEARCH; ASSISTING IN THE SELECTION OF CANDIDATES FOR TRAINING; CONDUCTING IN-COUNTRY TRAINING; AND GETTING COMMODITIES IN PLACE. THE TEAM IS CURRENTLY FOCUSING ON DEVELOPING INCREASED SOYBEAN PRODUCTION. GOP ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ALLEVIATED THROUGH EFFORTS OF THE UOI TEAM. IN ADDITION, PROBLEM OF GOP BUDGET CUTS SHOULD BE ALLEVIATED BY FUNDS GENERATED FROM PL 480, TITLE I SALES. NEVERTHELESS, A SHORTFALL IN MEETING TARGETS IS EXPECTED. A BETTER VIEW OF PROJECT PROGRESS WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER THE COMPLETION OF USAID"S RECENTLY INITIATED SCHEDULED EVALUATION FOR 6/79.