Water resources and soils analysis

PES covers the period 11/81-3/83 and is based on review of the contractor"s final report and other documents, interviews with contractor and Djibouti staff, and a site visit. The project achieved its purpose. The project-assisted soils laboratory has been established as a legal entity and budgeted for within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Essential laboratory equipment for analyzing water and irrigated garden soil is in place and functioning, but no analyses have been conducted since 8/82. Delayed procurements of supplemental equipment will require technical training inputs, already planned, during the next 2 years. Long-term viability may be hampered by logistical difficulties caused by A.I.D."s requirement that U.S. rather than French equipment be obtained. Staffing is adequate given the present workload, although plans to hire an additional trained staff member and another laboratory assistant and to formalize chief administrative and technical positions have not been met. A technical library has been established. Soil survey activities surpassed contract requirements in producing an excellent set of base maps and soil descriptions with scales of 1:300,000 and 1:100,000 and selected, detailed watershed maps of 1:25,000 scale; the maps will serve as a model for future mapping and reporting/interpretation. Soil inventory training has prepared Djiboutian staff to continue laboratory analyses and to conduct, with monitoring, soils surveys for upcoming national agricultural projects. Some maps in the final report need to be reviewed for legibility and correctness of French translation. Action decisions are to: supplement laboratory equipment with a Perkins-Elmer compressor and conductivity meter, extending the project 3 months if necessary; procure computer software as previously arranged; and submit the final contractor report to MARD. Provisions for short-term postproject technical assistance and training are also made.