Tripartite evaluation of Sahel regional IPM project (625-0928)

External evaluation covers the period through 3/86 and is based on interviews with project personnel, document review, and visits to each country. The project has made substantial progress following a 1983 redesign which, to a large degree, eliminated the serious management problems experienced earlier. It has helped make national governments aware of IPM's potential benefits to long-term production planning goals and has shown extension agents, as well as the farmers participating in pilot projects, the benefits of rather simple crop protection methods. Great strides were made in developing local research capacities. For example, research networks were developed, and a necessary means of communication was provided through annual regional meetings; project studies have yielded methods (still in need of some testing) of controlling pests with little or no use of chemical pesticides; important research on loss assessment for millet crops attacked by Raghuva was conducted; surveillance systems are functioning in all countries, although with difficulties in some; the development of prediction models for Raghuva and grasshoppers is nearing completion, needing only verification and fine tuning; bioclimatological data were collected through a network of observation and surveillance posts; and, most important, a cadre of young researchers were/are being trained in crop protection. A total of 75 scientists are collaborating on the project against an original estimate of 10. All of the participating countries except Niger, Chad, and Mauritania should be able to continue crop protection activities without external support by the project's end in 3/87. Despite these successes, several problems exist. Training and TA have focused on entomology to the neglect of weed control and plant diseases. The provision of cheap or free pesticides by national governments and crop protection services may negatively affect farmer acceptance of IPM and should be reviewed; also, the use of high risk pesticides should be halted. When possible, pilot programs need to be standardized; and a socioeconomist should be hired to advise on cultural aspects. Those persons now in training will probably not have the advantage of on-the-job training by a project advisor. The quality and availability of TA provided by the FAO was variable; the project would have benefited from short-term TA. Project management still presents some difficulties, particularly on the national level. Collaboration and cooperation with other research groups, especially other A.I.D. projects, needs improvement - in the case of The Gambia, the lack of cooperation was intentional.