SWAZILAND COOPERATIVES AND MARKETING

THIS ANNUAL REVIEW IS BASED ON A REVIEW OF PROJECT DOCUMENTS AND INTERVIEWS WITH GOS, USAID, AND OTHER PROJECT-RELATED PERSONNEL. THE PRESENT COOPERATIVE SYSTEM EVOLVED WITHOUT CLEAR POLICY AND OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES. A PROPOSAL BY THE GOS TO TRANSFER OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE CENTRAL COOPERATIVE UNIONS (CCU) TO THE DISTRICT UNIONS MAY UNDERMINE THE VIABILITY OF THE NEW SYSTEM. THUS FAR, THE GOS HAS PROVIDED NO DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE CCU. COOPERATIVE OPERATIONS WERE FURTHER STRAINED BY DROUGHT IN 1978. CURRENT SUPPORT OF TRAINING ACTIVITIES BY SIDA (SWEDISH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY) IS SCHEDULED TO END IN 1981. AUTHORS EXPRESS HOPE THAT SIDA OR ANOTHER DONOR WILL SUPPORT THIS COMPONENT. USAID ADVISORS INCLUDED THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CCU, A MARKETING/CREDIT ADVISOR, A FARM SUPPLY/TRANSPORTATION ADVISOR, AND 3 AREA MANAGER/ADVISORS. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE A NUMBER OF DELAYS, SWAZI COUNTERPARTS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED. PROJECT OUTPUTS INCLUDE CCU ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS IN THE MARKETING OF COTTON, TOBACCO, VEGETABLES, AND MAIZE. FOUR SWAZI ARE IN TRAINING IN THE US -- 2 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AND 2 AT PARK COLLEGE IN KANSAS CITY. ALTHOUGH NOT YET IN MANUAL FORM, WRITTEN PROCEDURES WERE DEVELOPED FOR SOME CCU AND DISTRICT UNION OPERATIONS. APART FROM RENOVATIONS, NO WAREHOUSES HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED. THE LACK OF PRODUCTION AND MARKETING STATISTICS PREVENTED DEVELOPMENT OF A MARKETING INFORMATION SYSTEM. AUTHORS NOTE THAT SWAZI FARMERS ARE NOW ABLE TO PURCHASE SUPPLIES AT LOCATIONS MUCH CLOSER TO HOME. HOWEVER, FARMERS HAVE TENDED TO LOOK ON THE CCU AS A BRANCH OF THE GOS, AND HAVE QUESTIONED ITS CHARGES FOR SERVICES. CONTINUED FUNCTIONING DEPENDS ON THE FARMERS" UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT OF THE COOPERATIVE SYSTEM. SOME MEMBERS OF THE ORIGINAL CLUSA TEAM HAD DIFFICULT PERSONALITIES AND INTRA-TEAM CONFLICTS OCCURRED. WHILE THE PRESENT TEAM SEEMS DEDICATED AND HARD-WORKING, MORALE IS STILL NOT HIGH DUE TO UNCLEAR PROJECT OBJECTIVES. UNLESS CORRECTED, THEY SHOULD NOT BE ASKED TO CONTINUE.