TA FOOD GRAIN DRYING, STORAGE AND PROCESSING (12/10/79-1/14/80)

THIS EVALUATION COVERS THE PERIOD 6/77-12/79. KSU PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL MET WITH SENIOR AID REPRESENTATIVES DURING A 3-DAY EVALUATION AT KSU TO DISCUSS KSU"S PRESENT AND FUTURE INVOLVEMENT IN AID"S POSTHARVEST FOOD LOSS PROGRAM (PHFL). THE OUTPUTS KSU HAS SUCCESSFULLY PROVIDED ARE ON-CAMPUS TRAINING OF LDC STUDENTS IN GRAIN PRESERVATION TECHNIQUES, EXTENDING COURSES TO LDC"S AND DEVELOPING A POSTHARVEST DOCUMENTATION SERVICE TO PROVIDE MATERIALS AND INFORMATION IN THE FIELDS OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, ENTOMOLOGY, AND GRAIN SCIENCE AS THEY PERTAIN TO PHFL. THE TEAM CONCLUDES, HOWEVER, THAT SEVERAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE NECESSARY TO ADD TO THE PROJECT"S SUCCESS. FIRST, A PROJECT MANAGER SHOULD BE APPOINTED IMMEDIATELY, AND INCREASED FIELD CONTACTS BASED ON STRONGER CENTRAL DIRECTION IS NECESSARY. FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THAT THE PROJECT PAPER BE EXTENDED FOR 5 YEARS THROUGH A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT; THAT KSU SEEK ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF FUNDING IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN HIGH LEVELS OF EFFORT AND STAY WITHIN DS/AGR BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS; THAT MISSION PERSONNEL ENCOURAGE THE USE OF THE POSTHARVEST DOCUMENTATION CENTER; AND THAT USAIDS PROMOTE THE CONCEPT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION TO INCLUDE POSTHARVEST CONSERVATION. THE KSU EVALUATION TEAM NOTED THAT KSU HAS NO MANDATE AT PRESENT TO DETERMINE THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF THEIR SERVICES. INCREASED EFFORTS BY KSU SHOULD BE MADE TO DEVELOP MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS OF ACTUAL FOOD LOSS. THIS IS REQUIRED BEFORE DETERMINING THE IMPACT OF KSU"S TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. PROJECT EXPERIENCE DEMONSTRATED THAT COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES BY KSU IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT AND THAT GRANTEES MUST BE SELECTED WITH UTMOST CARE. THE BENEFICIARIES UNDER THIS PROJECT ARE LDC INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND VARIOUS TECHNICAL PERSONNEL DEALING WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN FOOD LOSS PREVENTION.