Vegetable production

Evaluation covers the period 5/78-4/81 and is based on site visits, document review, and interviews with key project personnel. After initial delays, progress has been satisfactory. Agronomic demonstration and research has been the most developed component, with 18 demonstration garden plots directly involving 600 families. Data from the first cropping will be used to determine appropriate crop varieties and planting techniques for future application. Nutrition activities have largely been confined to collecting baseline nutritional data, leaving little time for the food demonstration program, in which, as a result, only 200-300 people against a target of 3,000 families (which should be reduced to 1,500) have participated. The project"s success -- VP has been stimulated even outside the project -- has increased the importance of the economic research and feasibility component. Data are being collected on production costs by crop at the three project sites, on consumer acceptance of the new vegetables, and on marketing issues such as trucking costs and outlets. U.S. training in VP techniques for 11 government officials remains largely unimplemented, although nine host-country personnel have received on-the-job training. The inability to synchronize personnel and commodity inputs increased costs and led to misunderstandings between project personnel. It would have been wise to reschedule implementation until all personnel were available. To achieve the project"s purpose, it will be necessary to: analyze results of agronomic trials and demonstration activities for the current season and for two additional seasons; expand demonstrations of agronomic techniques (to 2,000 more farm families) and of food preparation techniques; use the research techniques already developed to produce market and economic impact feasibility analyses for, and to study the nutritional impact of, VP in the three regions; overcome hydrologic problems connected with VP in the three regions; and begin participant training of host-country personnel. To permit execution of these activities, the project should be extended 19 months, through 7/81, and be given additional funding.