WORK PERFORMED BY THE ADVISORY TEAM, AFC MANAGEMENT PROJECT EVALUATION (NOV 24-27, 1975)

EVALUATN BASED ON ACTIV RESULTING IN REPTS,MEMOS,FILES,ETC. MGMT SVCS,FERTLZR IMPORTS FOR 5 GROWING SEASONS(SPRING 1973-SPRING 1975),VEHCLS & SIMILAR EQUIP ARE COVERED BY LOAN TO HELP GOVT OF AFGHANISTNA INCREASE AGRL PRODCTN. COMPLETED TASKS INCL DEVEL OF UNIFORM REGIONAL ACCTG SYST,PREP FORTRANSL OF ALL FINANCL & ACCTG PROCEDURES & DESIGN OF PROCDRS FOR TOTAL BUDGET CONTROL,FERTLZR DEMONSTN & SALES PROMOTN & A SYST FOR RETAILR EVAL. DESIGN IS ALSO COMPLETE FOR RETAILR UPGRADING PROCDRS THRU INCENTVE PROGS & FOR UPGRADING AFC MKTG MANUAL. AN INFO REPORTG SYST FOR REGIONL SUPPLY/DISTR PERSONNEL WAS DVLPD & PROCDRS DESIGNED FOR RAIL & TRUCK TRANSPORT OF FERTLZR. WAREHSE EVAL WAS COMPLETED,AS WAS DESIGN FORMAT FOR UREA PROD STATISTICS. INCOMPLETE TASKS CAN BE FINISHED BY END OF CONTRACT. SOME TASKS WERE DEFERRED DUE TO PRIORITIES & CONSTRNTS OUTSIDE AFC. RELTNSHIPS BETN ADVISORS & AFGHAN COUNTERPRTS WERE ADEQUATE,WITH SOME STRESS ARTISTINGOM CLOSE GOV'T SUPERVISION,PRESSURES TO REVERT TO TRADITNL OPERAT'L MODES, LESS ACTIVE AID MISSION SUPPORT, ETC. ADVICE & ASSISTS ON OPRTG & POLICY PROBLEMS OCCUPY 70% OF ADVISORS'TIME. ADVICE WAS READILY ACCEPTED BY REGNL & MIDDLE MGRS, LESS SO BY EXEC COMM PERSONNEL.ACTIONS RECOMND BY ADVISORS WERE NOT ALWAYS IMPLMNTD, DUE TO VARIOUS CONSTRNTS. NEED FOR A 4-MAN ADVISORY TEAM IS FORESEEN FOR 2 YRS: 2 ADVISORS FOR FINANCE,1 IN MARKETING & A SPECIALIST IN PESTICIDES/AGROCHEMISTRY. AFC'S EMPHASIS ON ON-THE-JOB TRNG IS APPLAUDED. INCREASED FROMAL INSTRUCTION IS RECOMMENDED,AS IS TRNG OF SELECTED STAFF TO TEACH OTHERS. A SALES FORECAST IS BEING PREPARED,AS IS A MEANS OF COLLECTING CROP DATA FROM THE PROVINCES. THESE MEASURES WILL HELP TP PROVIDE A MORE REALISTIC SALES FORECASTING SYSTEM.