THABA BOSIU RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Evaluation covers the period 1/1/78-4/30/80 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with project personnel. Several project objectives have been achieved. Numerous conservation practices were put into effect such as the construction of terraces, grass waterways, and access roads. A Conservation Division (CD) was established within the Ministry of Agriculture and was staffed with 21 Basotho trained in soil conservation. To date, the CD is functioning with minimal expatriate assistance. The project"s failures, however, are numerous. The program for testing CFS"s was never developed. Little of the training provided to maintain the newly-constructed conservation works was put into practice. A Farming Systems Research Unit was created to study the combination of crops in soils of different environments in Lesotho, but the research conducted was minimal and the data base for CSF"s which was to be developed did not materialize. Plans for improved farming systems and practices were not developed and thus not utilized by area farmers. The CD worked with various committees to teach proper conservation practices to 6,245 people through 478 tours and seminars. Most of the people interviewed expressed a willingness to use modified conservation practices, but rarely did so. In fact, the only conservation measures observed were directly project related. Constraints preventing the achievement of the project"s purpose included seasonal labor shortages due to employment of farmers in South African mines; the fact that mining generates a much higher income than farming; the farmers" lack of capital for experimenting with new farming practices; and lack of government action to prevent overgrazing by government-owned livestock. A primary lesson learned from this now completed project is the importance of understanding the agricultural sector, the resource base, and the socioeconomic environment before project implementation begins.