TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE LOAN BETWEEN GEMAB/COBAL AND THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATID DEVELOPMENT IN COOPERATED WITH THE MINISTRY OF BRAZIL

USAID ASSISTS THE GOVT OF BRAZIL (GOB) TO FINANCE THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRNG & EQUIPMT NECESSARY TO INCREASE OPERATING EFFICIENCY OF THE MKTG SYS BEING CONSTRUCTED IN BRAZIL"S NORTH & NORTHEAST. EVAL METHODOLOGY NOT DEFINED. USAID MEMBERS HAVE CONCENTRATED IN 8 AREAS. MARKET FACILITIES IN BRAZIL WERE EVALUATED FROM ONSITE OBSERVATNS & FIELD REPORTS. VISITS ENABLE USAID TO CONSIDER POTENTIAL RNG SITES,DISCUSS SOUND MKTG CONSTRUCTN DESIGNS,EVAL SITE CONDITNS,ESTABLISH WORKING RELATNS WITH LOCAL PERSONNEL & BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE MARKETS & PROBS OF FORTALEZA,RACIFE & SAO PAULO. PRESENT MARKET SYSTEMS ARE BEING DEVEL & EXPANDED,AND AN OVERALL TRNGPROGRAM IS BEING DEVEL FOR 1972 TO 1974. GEMAB/COBAL MEMBER S HAVE VISITED THE US TO OBSERVE WHOLESALE FACILITIES & OTHERE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A USDA-SPONSORED FRUIT & VEGETABLE MARKET COURSE IN THE US;LISTS OF INFORMATN CONSULTING FIRMS & SPECIALISTS ARE BEING CONPILED; FEASIBILITY STUDIES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED FOR 5 OF THE MARJETS BEING DEVELOPED WITH ANOTHER IN PROGRESS; & NUMEROUS MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD. ORIGINAL LOAN OBJECTIVES LAID OUT IN A CAPITAL ASSISTANCE PAPER HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY NEW ONES DIFFERING MAINLY IN EMPHASIS & TECHNIQUE. THE PROGRAM"S LENGTH HAS BEEN SHORTENED FROM 5 YRS TO 2 YRS,PROPOSED NEWS NETWORKS TO BE IMPLEMENTED HAVE BEEN INCREASED FROM 4 TO 7 MAJOR CITIES,AND MORE FUNDS ARE TO BE UTILIZED TO IMPLEMT THE COMMUNICATN SYS & MORE FULLY UTILIZE CONSULTANTS. ALTHOUGH INFORMATION DISSEMINATION, WHOLESALE MARKET FACILITIES, AND GRADING AND CLASSIFICATION NEED IMPROVEMENT, EVALUATOR FEELS THAT PROJ HAS FULFILLED LOAN AGREEMT OBJECTIVES & GOB HAS BENEFITTED & RAPIDLY PROGRESSED DUE TO THE LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONAL CALIBER OF USAID & GEMAB/COBAL STAFF. PROJ SHOULD PROCEED ACCORDING TO OR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE WITH NO UNUSUAL DIFFICULTIES. LONG-RANGE GOALS WILL BE TO REDUCE FOOD COSTS & DEVELOP A MORE MARKET ORIENTATED AGR BY REDUCING SPOILAGE,IMPROVING MARKET COMMUNICATNS & EFFICIENCY IN HANDLING LARGE VOLUMES; IMPROVING FARM PRICES,AND ESTABLISHING HIGHER PRICES FOR BETTER GRADES.