THEMATIC EVALUATION OF TCP Report.doc · Web viewTCP/ZIM/0169: Integrated Natural Resources management in the semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe (2002-2004) ongoing 33 9. Malawi 33 TCP/MLW/0065:

EVALUATION OF FAO ACTIVITIES IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION, POLICY AND INFORMATION

UNDER PROGRAMME 2.1.3

INTERNAL REPORT ON TCP PROJECTS

March 2005

Evaluation Team:

FAO Evaluation Service:

Daniel Shallon (Team Leader)Berndt BultemeierCarlos Tarazona

Regional Mission Consultants:

Adama TraoréLeonard ReynoldsGarry CumminsCarlos Pomareda

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................1

B. SYNTHESIS OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................................1

1. ASSESSMENT OF FIELD ACTIVITIES.............................................................................................................22. QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS..................................................................................................23. ISSUES RELATED TO TCP FIELD ACTIVITIES IN LPPI................................................................................3

PROJECT REVIEWS...........................................................................................................................................6

A. WEST AFRICA (SENEGAL, CHAD, GHANA)...................................................................................6

1. SENEGAL..................................................................................................................................................6TCP/SEN/0065 and TCP/SEN/2904 (Phase II): Amélioration de la production avicole en élevage familial traditionnel à travers une meilleure gestion des contraintes de production et de santé animales [Improvement of poultry production under traditional family practices through better management of production and health constraints].................................................................................................................6

2. CHAD.........................................................................................................................................................9TCP/CHD/0065: "Support to the implementation of the Diversification Component of the Special Programme for Food Security".......................................................................................................................9

3. GHANA....................................................................................................................................................11TCP/GHA/0167: "Training Programme for the Small-scale Dairy Sector"................................................11

B. THE NEAR EAST AND EUROPE (LEBANON, SLOVAKIA, TURKEY).....................................13

1. LEBANON................................................................................................................................................13TCP/LEB/0068: Introduction of techniques to conserve and improve the nutritional value of agro-industrial by-products in the Bekaa valley (2000 – 2002 completed)...........................................................13TCP/LEB/2905: Assistance to small-scale dairies in Southern Lebanon (Nabatiyeh, Saida-Est and Marjaayoun-Hasbaya) (2003-2004 on-going)..............................................................................................14

4. SLOVAKIA..............................................................................................................................................16TCP/RER/2902: Strategy for active conservation of the dual purpose Pinzgau cattle (2002 –2004 on-going).............................................................................................................................................................16

5. TURKEY..................................................................................................................................................18TCP/TUR/8925: Technical advice towards Animal feed resources development (1999).............................18TCP/TUR/7821: Establishment of a meat inspection and hygiene training centre and implementation of a training course on meat inspection and laboratory diagnosis (1998-99).....................................................20

C. EAST ASIA (CHINA, VIETNAM, THAILAND, MYANMAR)........................................................22

1. CHINA......................................................................................................................................................22TCP/CPR/0167: Strengthening Capability to Control Residues of Toxic Chemicals in Meat and Other Food of Animal Origin..................................................................................................................................22TCP/CPR/0170 and TCP/CPR/3002 (Phase II): Integrated Animal Waste Management in Wannian County, Jiangxi Province..............................................................................................................................24

6. VIETNAM................................................................................................................................................26TCP/VIE/6613: Improving the Wellbeing of Poor Farmers by Developing Milk Production from Local Resources.......................................................................................................................................................26TCP/VIE/6612: Low Cost Meat Processing Technologies..........................................................................28

7. THAILAND..............................................................................................................................................29TCP/THA/2802 (Recoded as 2902): Training Programme for the Small-scale Dairy Sector......................29

8. MYANMAR.............................................................................................................................................31Review of Projects since 1990.......................................................................................................................31

D. SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICA (ZIMBABWE, MALAWI, SWAZILAND, KENYA).....33

1. ZIMBABWE.................................................................................................................................................33TCP/ZIM/0169: Integrated Natural Resources management in the semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe (2002-2004) ongoing................................................................................................................................................33

9. MALAWI....................................................................................................................................................33TCP/MLW/0065: Special Programme for Food Security – Diversification component...............................33TCP/MLW/2903: Design and Legislation of a livestock identification and recording scheme....................35

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10. SWAZILAND...............................................................................................................................................37TCP/SWA/ 2802: Support for the Diversification Component of the Special Programme for Food Security (2002 – 2003)................................................................................................................................................37TCP/SWA/0166: Revision and Upgrade of the Livestock Database Management System (2001-2002)......38

11. KENYA.......................................................................................................................................................40TCP/KEN/0167: Restructuring the Kenya Dairy Board (2001 – 2003).....................................................40TCP/KEN/6611: Training Programme for the small-scale dairy sector (1996-1998).................................41

E. LATIN AMERICA (MEXICO, ECUADOR AND PERU).................................................................43

1. MEXICO...................................................................................................................................................43TCP/MEX/0166: “Mejoramiento de la producción y la transformación de la leche en el Estado de Veracruz” [Improvement of milk production and transformation in the state of Veracruz]........................43

12. ECUADOR...............................................................................................................................................45TCP/ECU/2901 “Microempresas modelo a bajo costo de procesamiento y comercialización de leche” [Low-cost milk processing micro enterprises]..............................................................................................45

13. PERU........................................................................................................................................................46TCP/PER/2803: “Fabricación y comercialización de quesos de cabra” [Production and marketing of goat cheese]...........................................................................................................................................................46TCP/PER/6712: “Capacitación para la Operación de Mataderos Modulares” [Training for Operating Modular Slaughterhouses]............................................................................................................................48

14. REGIONAL PROJECTS..........................................................................................................................49TCP/RLA/0177 & TCP/RLA/2001: “Evaluación y reforzamiento del sistema de prevención de la Encefalopatía Espongiforme Bovina (EEB) y el sistema de control de calidad de piensos” [Assessment and strengthening of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis (BSE) prevention system and the animal feed quality control system]..................................................................................................................................49TCP/RLA/8931: "Capacitación Regional en Inspección y Tecnología de la Carne" [Regional Training on Meat Inspection and Technology].................................................................................................................51TCP/RLA/2914: “Apoyo a la crianza y aprovechamiento de los camelidos sudamericanos en la region Andina” [Support to breeding and improved use of South American camelids in the Andean region].......52

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A. INTRODUCTION

1. Following the launching by FAO of the New Programme Model, PBEE has been developing a methodology for in-depth evaluation of technical programmes, inter-disciplinary areas and thematic topics. These evaluations include assessments of Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) projects and thus serve to derive lessons for future TCP projects in the same area and are at the same time an important aspect of FAO's accountability to the Governing Bodies for the TCP.

2. In 2001, PBEE carried out a Programme Evaluation of the Animal Health activities of FAO. Given the growing size and importance of the livestock sector in agriculture around the world and the in particular the important role of livestock production in poverty alleviation and food security, the Programme Committee at its May 2003 session requested that the non-animal-health aspects of Programme 2.1.3: "Livestock" should be included in FAO’s evaluation work programme for 2004. The present evaluation of FAO's response to development issues associated with livestock production, policy and information (LPPI) examined the normative work in this area at Headquarters and in the Regional Offices, as well as carrying out field missions to review TCP and other field activities in a selection of countries in several regions. The evaluation will be presented to the Programme Committee at its May 2005 session.

Scope of the evaluation

3. This evaluation examined the activities related to each of the Programme Entities under the Major Programme 2.1.3, excluding those related to animal health. It therefore covered all or part of the following programme entities (including their predecessors over the past three biennia):

2.1.3.A3 Contribution of Livestock to Poverty Alleviation2.1.3.A5 Developing the Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources2.1.3.A6 Veterinary Public Health Management and Food and Feed Safety (the latter part on food

and feed safety is relevant to this evaluation)2.1.3.A8 Technologies and Systems for Efficient Natural Resource Use in Livestock Production2.1.3.B1 Livestock Sector Analysis and Strategy Development2.1.3.P1 Global Livestock Information System and Knowledge Framework2.1.3.S1 Advice to Member Countries and Support to the Field Programme

4. The evaluation included regional field missions to review a selected sample of LPPI projects implemented since 1998, and to hold discussions with decentralised offices as well as with relevant institutions in the field. In deciding which countries to visit, preference was given to those having a greater number of projects or activities, though an effort was also made to ensure regional coverage and to cover a wide range of types of LPPI activities.

B. SYNTHESIS OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5. During the review period (1998-2004), AGA carried lead responsibility for the implementation of some 91 non-emergency projects related to production, policy or information, including the 15 mentioned in the previous section for headquarters normative work. Of the 76 which were field projects, 59 were Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) projects funded out of FAO's own RP budget (21 in Africa; 14 in Asia and the Pacific, 15 in Latin America, 9 in the Near East and Europe). In addition, during this period AGAP had lead responsibility for 7 emergency projects (including 4 TCPs), and 10 Oil-for-Food projects in Iraq. The five regional field missions undertaken for this evaluation examined some 43 field projects (some of which pre-dated the evaluation period), including 28 TCPs, 13 trust funds and two emergency projects.

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6. Contrary to the situation with headquarters normative projects dominated by AGAL, AGAP was the lead technical unit (LTU) for 43 of the TCP projects, while AGAL was the LTU for only three. The topic by far most commonly supported by the TCP projects was the small scale dairy sector (20 TCPs), mainly on small scale conservation and processing of milk, followed by meat processing and inspection (9 TCPs, of which several regional training projects). Other recurrent topics were support to the diversification component of the Special Programme for Food Security (7 TCPs), feed resources and feed safety (4 TCPs), and support to small scale production of short-cycle animals (5 TCPs).

1. ASSESSMENT OF FIELD ACTIVITIES

7. This assessment is based on the work of the five regional field missions undertaken for this evaluation to West Africa, East and Southern Africa, the Near East and Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and East Asia. These missions were able to visit 20 countries and assess 43 field projects, of which 28 were TCPs. The number of TCP projects assessed directly in the countries and regions represents just short of half of the total of 59 implemented during the review period. Of these 28 TCP projects, 26 were scored and included in Table 1 below, while two were covered in less detail due to the time elapsed since the projects or to itinerary of the missions.

8. In addition to the field missions and to have a broader cross-section of views from Member States, a questionnaire was sent to 43 countries not visited by the regional evaluation missions. Countries were selected if they had had at least one LPPI project over the last six years. The questionnaire sought to obtain views on national priorities, familiarity with FAO’s livestock activities and assessment of the performance of FAO’s programmes in areas related to LPPI.

9. Respondents were asked to assess their degree of satisfaction with the various types of outputs produced: TCP projects, donor projects, assistance with preparation of projects for donor financing, expert advice on particular topics, participation in workshops/seminars or networks, publications, FAO livestock websites. The only activity with a significant score for “exceeded expectations” was TCP projects, though even here only 21% of responses were positive: 65% rated TCPs as "satisfactory" and 14% found results "below expectations."

2. QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS

10. Projects were assessed against eight different aspects. Scoring was done on a 3-point scale, with 3 being the highest for each item. A score of 2 was deemed satisfactory; average scores above 2 can be considered better than satisfactory and average scores below 2 are less than satisfactory. The criteria and average scores for the projects reviewed are presented in the table below.

11. As has been the case in other recent thematic evaluations, a strong point for TCPs is the relevance of the projects to development problems. TCP projects are in principle derived from direct requests from the national government concerned and therefore could be expected to be highly relevant to national needs. In fact the field missions found that nearly half of the projects reviewed were 'very relevant' to national needs, and only one was found irrelevant.

12. Higher scores were recorded for clarity of objectives, generally the case with TCPs which as a rule have a rather narrowly focussed objective. However, the missions found weaknesses in formulation and design, with over one third of the projects rated 'unsatisfactory' on this count.

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Table 1. Scoring of TCP projects against Evaluation Criteria(on a scale of 1-3 where 1 is 'unsatisfactory', 2 is 'satisfactory', and 3 is 'exceeds expectations')

Criteria% for each score Average

score* 3 2 1 n/aRelevance Did the project correspond to

important country needs? For TCP projects, did it genuinely meet the criteria for approval?

46% 50% 4 - 2.4

Clarity of objectives

Were the desired end results clearly specified? 50% 46% 4% - 2.5

Project formulation and design

How well were target beneficiaries, outputs and inputs specified? Were there clear linkages between project inputs, activities, outputs and objectives?

23% 42% 35% - 1.9

Input delivery How well and timely were input deliveries by FAO and other parties to the project?

8% 85% 4% 4% 2.0

Outputs What was the quality and quantity of outputs produced, compared to expectations?

23% 54% 16% 8% 2.1

Process Was the project implemented in the correct way to produce the desired results, in terms of outputs and objectives?

23% 69% 8% - 2.2

Cost-effectiveness Was the project implemented in the least cost way to achieve the desired results?

23% 46% 23% 8% 2.0

Sustainable effects and impact (including follow-up)

Was there effective, lasting post-project action that corresponded to what was envisaged when the project was approved?

12% 38% 27% 23% 1.8

* average score is calculated only on those projects which were scored, without the n/a's.

13. The weakest area was that of sustainability and follow-up. This is especially a concern with TCP projects which are part of a larger initiative or seek to introduce changes to favour development of a particular group or activity (such as the SPFS diversification component or the small-scale dairy development projects), that they need to develop the foundation for a longer-term engagement. This underscores the importance of follow-up activities being planned from the start.

3. ISSUES RELATED TO TCP FIELD ACTIVITIES IN LPPI

14. Several issues emerged from the work of the regional field missions. A certain number are important either because of they apply to many regions and projects, or because they refer to more strategic issues for the Division, Department or Organization.

Relevance

15. The missions for LPPI found that TCP is a very popular programme with countries. Part of the reason is undoubtedly that TCPs are grants and do not have conditionalities attached to them. Another factor is that there is almost always a significant degree of national or institutional ownership of the process of formulating and implementing TCPs, more so than in most projects, and this leads to proportionately higher involvement of the institutions concerned.

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16. As noted above, project relevance was scored relatively high, as was the clarity of project objectives. However, missions also found that the general need for technology transfer projects to be viewed with their development context in mind and this is applicable to LPPI projects in particular. consideration which should include broader social, economic, political and environmental issues. A TCP projects, such as support to dairy processing in Thailand, required greater focus on the social and institutional issues if the project was to meet its broader objectives. Some regional missions suggested that a simple economic evaluation should be included in project appraisal, which would force project designers to look at more than just biological expectations

Design

17. Missions found that LPPI TCP project design requires improvement. Some TCP project documents were found to be too cursory, while in a number of other cases, projects which had taken a long time to approve required major revision once implementation began.

18. The complementarity between the TCP support and activities of other actors was not evident in some cases. Examples were found of project documents neglecting to highlight other donor activity in either the technical discipline or geographic area, with consequent risks of duplication or poor coordination.

19. Recognizing the costs and limited prospects for perfecting design during the project negotiation stage, and given the increasing complexity of some LPPI projects, the evaluation team agrees with the recommendation of the TCP Independent Review that following approval "in principle" of the project, complete project design should be part of the terms of reference of the first mission for the project during the start-up phase.

20. Another issue is the need for careful outcome monitoring and evaluation of results of TCP-funded pilot projects. For such projects, assessments of results and outcomes should be required as part of the project design. Without these assessments, the 'pilot' cannot be replicated nor lessons learned. Such projects tended to have insufficient data collection on which to draw conclusions and assessment of impact was made necessarily through anecdotal evidence.

21. Project documents addressed "concerns" on issues such as gender, environmental and poverty implications. Some projects aspired to address these issues directly but most designs implied that these areas would be addressed during project implementation without any elaboration as to how this was to be achieved.

22. A more general problem is that the maximum duration of TCPs is too brief, especially in the livestock sector where the generational cycle with most animals is too long to achieve results in only two years. For cattle, it may be five years before the second generation is ready to produce. This time restriction on TCP projects also means these projects have limited possibilities to address some of the most urgent challenges to poorer livestock producers to improve their livelihoods such as rangeland, breed improvement and environmental impacts of livestock production.

Implementation

23. The regional reports noted that delays in projects were common, both in approval and once implementation began. Almost universally, projects start late, and equipment which is ordered when the project starts takes time to arrive, which may be a cause of further delays The appropriateness of the TCP programme for addressing time critical issues (excluding emergencies) was identified for LPPI projects in particular. The time required to move an application through the system is a common limitation to effectiveness of the TCP to address livestock policy issues, particularly within the context of rapidly evolving economies like those of China and Vietnam.

24. The long implementation delays in some projects is related to less than optimal backstopping arrangements. Almost all projects reviewed have been backstopped by FAO HQ officers rather than by Sub-regional or Regional officers. Their limited availability explains part of this long response time.

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25. Terminal Reports were unavailable for many completed projects, and when they were available they had often been prepared long after project termination, apparently more to fulfill a bureaucratic requirement than to draw any genuine lessons or recommendations.

Sustainability

26. There was little evidence of cumulative learning from experiences of implementing previous TCP projects, neither in the design nor the approaches and implementation procedures. It is necessary to better define the actions needed during the life of projects to assure that the experience gained is utilized by local partners or other entities to extend the project benefits, through a larger scale project or proper policies. The required follow-up must be made very clear from the inception stage and actions must be taken to minimize the risk of abandonment when FAO support ends.

27. There is a strong need for FAO to clarify goals and mutual responsibilities with national partners regarding the sustainability of the organization responsible for the TCP project. As FAO activities approach the termination date, it is common for local organizations to ask to extend the project or press for a second phase, with more funding in either case. The problem arises because from the beginning of the project, there is no clear definition of goals and specific actions regarding ability of the partner organization to continue beyond the end of project funding. Criteria for selecting implementing partner organizations should be based on sustainability prospects and capacity to provide follow-up. Such an assessment should be carried out whenever possible by the FAOR before submission of project requests.

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PROJECT REVIEWS

A. WEST AFRICA (SENEGAL, CHAD, GHANA)

1. SENEGAL

TCP/SEN/0065 and TCP/SEN/2904 (Phase II): Amélioration de la production avicole en élevage familial traditionnel à travers une meilleure gestion des contraintes de production et de santé animales [Improvement of poultry production under traditional family practices through better management of production and health constraints]

Priority and relevance to national needsSenegal, with an annual population growth rate of about 2.7%, faces serious problems of food security. In particular, the country suffers from an important deficit of animal protein. This deficit has been increasing since independence in 1960, with per capita meat consumption dropping from 22 kg in 1960 to only 11 kg in 2001.

The government has chosen to make the development of small-scale poultry production one of the main thrusts of its livestock policy, and as part of that it has made the control of Newcastle Disease one of its highest priorities. This disease alone accounts for nearly 80% of poultry mortality and is a major constraint to poultry farming at the village level.

In this context, the production and use of a vaccine adapted to village conditions, thermostable (not requiring a cold chain) and easy to use (oculo-nasal drops) constitutes without a doubt a task of great relevance and high priority for the country. This high priority emerges not only from the documentation, but was also confirmed by the interviewees met by the mission at government and village levels.

Quality of project formulation From the title as written in the project document, the project seems to aim at the improvement of small-scale village poultry production through improved husbandry and better sanitary care, in particular with regard to Newcastle Disease.

Instead, however, the mission observed that this project was in fact entirely limited to the introduction of a specific vaccine technology, including importation of the strain, training of the staff of the government veterinary vaccine production unit, and field testing of the vaccine under village conditions. The component related to "better management of production constraints" was in fact never seriously included in the project, neither in the budget nor in the implementation plan of the project.

Initial survey work under the project in fact seemed rather to aim at establishing a reference situation before vaccination to assess the impact of the vaccination carried out by the project. In theory this was to constitute the starting point for the implementation of a more general production improvement strategy, which however was not included in this project, in spite of its title.

ImplementationThe implementation of the project has involved different actors (central and decentralised livestock services, the National Laboratory for Veterinary Research - LNERV, community authorities and the beneficiary population) and has favoured a participatory approach.

The project has strongly involved women: nearly all of the vaccinators trained were village women.

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Technical and operational support from FAO has been from various sources, including AGAP, AGAH and RAF Operations. It has been complemented by consultants from well-qualified institutions such as ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) and PANVAC (Pan African Veterinary Vaccines Centre). Because of the delay in the availability of the vaccine and taking into account the proper time of year for vaccination, following the US$ 200,000 first phase of the project (TCP/SEN/0065), the project needed a second phase to achieve its objectives, with an extra budget of US$ 118,000 (TCP/SEN/2904).

The expected end date was September 2003. Most of the activities have already been implemented, but the project had not yet been closed at mission time. Data analysis for the impact study of the use of I2 vaccine against Newcastle Disease is still pending. Nonetheless, the mission felt that as a vaccine project, the level of project implementation can be considered satisfactory.

Results and outcome1. Under component for improvement of traditional family poultry production, the following results were called for in design:

Identification of major constraints associated with this production system; Identification of simple solutions adapted to local contexts; Establishment of a technical extension network aiming to provide livestock producers with access

to basic information on animal production and health. This extension network was to take into account the key role of women in this type of livestock production.

Results obtained were as follows:

A quick survey was carried out to understand the livestock system and identified its main constraints but it focussed mainly on health constraints and in particular the Newcastle Disease situation. Some proposals were made for production improvement but none have been tested in the villages;

The extension network is not operational on ground; the training of the community was focussed only on the control of Newcastle disease;

During the project implementation a particular emphasis was effectively put on involving women, both as beneficiaries and as vaccinator trainees.

2. Under the objective of improving the health situation with regard to Newcastle Disease, the following results were expected :

Acquisition of the technology and production of the thermostable I2 vaccine at LNERV; Establishment of a quality control system for production of the vaccine, necessary for the

production of a vaccine meeting the required standards of security and quality; Implementation of a field tests to compare the efficacy of the I2 vaccine to other ND vaccine

strains produced in Senegal; Training for the operation of a vaccination campaign; In close collaboration with the Ministry of Livestock and the LNERV, establishment of a

participatory disease monitoring system for traditional poultry systems.

Results obtained so far were the following:

All the results were satisfactory except for the production and the regular release and availability of the vaccine to the users;

the mission was not able to obtain information on the establishment of a disease monitoring system;

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Even though it was clear that the LNERV had fully mastered the technology for the manufacture of the I2 vaccine, the vaccine unit refused to begin commercial production declaring that they lacked up-to-date equipment which someone (FAO or the Ministry) was supposed to supply them with, otherwise with existing equipment they could not fit it into their overloaded programme for other vaccines. As the project was finished and there were no funds, and the LNERV has a monopoly on production of veterinary vaccines, the current situation is that because of an internal budget conflict, the project results are completely compromised and no vaccine is being produced. It is maybe a weakness of the project that it did not sufficiently anticipate the problems it risked in working with the government vaccine unit.

An additional activity was added as part of the second phase of the project (TCP/SEN/2904):

Conduct field trials to compare the effectiveness of the I2 vaccine to other live strains of ND vaccines produced in Senegal.

Results obtained were as follows:

The field trials have been conducted satisfactorily, but results have yet to be analysed. The international consultant who conducted the study is expected to produce a report in the near future. In the meantime, the villagers from the test villages visited by the mission were very favourable to this vaccine. Flocks that had been vaccinated registered no cases of serious disease. Village chicken populations have increased dramatically in the test villagers. Villagers are very anxious to receive vaccine for the next vaccination campaign, and expressed full willingness to pay for the vaccine if it is available.

Follow-up, sustainability and possible impactAs noted above:

There is no doubt about the positive impact of the vaccination; LNERV has fully acquired the capacity to manufacture the vaccine locally; There is a strong demand for the vaccine among villagers, including willingness to pay.

The only negative element in these results is the difficulty for LNERV to manufacture sufficient quantities of the vaccine on a regular basis without the replacement of some equipment and its apparent difficulty in funding this replacement.

The project, however, did not achieve satisfactory results in some areas::

improvement of the production system; establishment of a network of extension agents for this purpose; a functioning participatory disease monitoring system.

The main risk for sustainability of the results of the project is ability to ensure sufficient local production of the I2 vaccine on a regular basis.

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Evaluation summary table

Mission assessment of the project on a scale of 1-3 where 3 is optimumRelevance 3Clarity of objectives 2Design 1Input Delivery 2Outputs 2Process 2Cost-effectiveness 2Sustainable effects and impact 1

2. CHAD

TCP/CHD/0065: "Support to the implementation of the Diversification Component of the Special Programme for Food Security"

Priority and relevance to national needs With an agricultural sector greatly influenced by irregular climatic changes, the growth of crop production in Chad has been below the population growth rate for many years. The country has a long tradition of pastoral herding, and livestock is one of the most important sources of supplementary income. Most rural families practice small-scale animal husbandry (poultry, sheep and goats).

Under policies designed to fight poverty and food insecurity, the Government has selected to maximize support to the livestock sub-sector, by encouraging the emergence and the development of micro-enterprises in the field of the small livestock production and by organizing effectives support services. The Government of Chad intends to use small livestock development as key tool to increase the incomes of small-scale producers. This project is therefore of great relevance and high priority for the country.

Quality of project formulationThe project presentation is well detailed in terms of general context, objectives, results and work planning, as well as in terms of contributions of different partners including FAO. The paper also contains a detailed plan of implementation with a project plan for each of the micro-projects it is to introduce.

The proposed approaches are innovative; they take in to consideration economic viability as well as the sustainability of the activities at the level of the beneficiaries (users and providers of services). Even though the project, in terms of results and hypotheses, is somewhat too optimistic, project formulation can be considered satisfactory.

Implementation The project is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, which is helped by a Steering Committee responsible for supervision and orientation of activities. A National Project Coordinator is in charge of project management, supported by three Regional Coordinators. Local community groups are responsible for implementation at the village level. Partnership agreements have been established with the groups, who then are to subcontract the technical services (state, private sector and NGO) to provide services for project activities.

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Project contribution to beneficiaries is done through their groups in the form of revolving loans, in order to attain the widest possible number of people. There is an important training component as well, both for villagers and for service providers.

The FAO support to formulation and implementation of the project has been through national and TCDC consultants, supported by backstopping missions from the Livestock Division in Rome and from the Regional Office in Accra.

The project planned to start up in 2000, but operations began only in September 2001. It ended in September 2002. The implementation was done in a satisfactory manner.

Results and outcome Main project results have been:

Preparation of a workplan and its validation by the beneficiaries

This result was fully attained – a workplan with project data sheets was prepared and was then validated through a national workshop with full participation of principal donors, government, civil society and producers.

Start-up of 185 small-scale animal production and apiculture units

203 units of this type were created in 53 villages in various parts of the country. After field visits and discussions with the beneficiaries and support teams, it appeared to the mission that:

- Duck and small ruminant units were more profitable than chickens, which sufferer heavy losses in some areas due to health problems, particularly Newcastle disease;

- None of the debt had been reimbursed ("passed-on" under group supervision to the following group member) three years after the beginning of the project, in spite of good results in some units with amply sufficient production to reimburse.

The same observations were made by an AGAP backstopping mission in January 2004: danger to the units because of health risks, especially ND for the poultry units; the lack of an effective monitoring system; and low reimbursement rates.

There is also a real need for training and refresher courses for f the animal health care personal in the control of duck diseases, and management of insects (mosquitoes) which have caused harm to herds of sheep and goats in some areas.

Synergies created between private service providers and women's and youth groups

These synergies, if they exist, were not apparent to the mission and would still need to be reinforced. There still appeared to be real problems for these groups of access to medicines and health care. Also, the mission supports the recommendation made by AGAP backstopping mission relating to the local production in Chad of the I2 vaccine against the Newcastle disease, which is currently recommended in Senegal and Mali.

Donors and development agencies adopt the project model in their own programmes

This result was partially attained when UNDP decided to apply the SPFS approach in its project: Support for the implementation of a special pilot programme for economic re-integration in disadvantaged areas of Chad (CHD/R/010/M/01/12 - reviewed below). However, there was no

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indication from the various donors and other development partners met by the mission of any interest in incorporating this approach in their work.

FAO has also managed to obtain Libyan funding for the overall SPFS programme in Chad, which includes the diversification component. FAO is also copying this model in the SPFS programme in Mali, and may do so for others in the region.

Follow-up, sustainability and possible impactIn spite of the difficulties encountered, especially in the area of poultry disease, and the need for more effective application of established agreements with regard to reimbursement of debt (beneficiaries) and technical support (government services), there is no doubt that the project has had an impact on some of the direct (first round) beneficiaries.

This impact is however limited only to this first set of beneficiaries due to the long delays observed in the "passing-on" of the revolving fund. The follow up of the activities was found to be poor. Sustainability remains uncertain despite the choice of strategies meant to ensure just that aspect (economic viability of the units, contracted services, revolving fund, etc.). Evaluation summary table


3. GHANA

TCP/GHA/0167: "Training Programme for the Small-scale Dairy Sector"

Priority and relevance to national needsEach year, Ghana imports just under 50% of national consumption of dairy products, amounting in 1998 to more than 32 million litres of milk equivalent, a significant drain foreign currency reserves. In spite of that, the available milk per capita and per annum is only 3 kg against 25 kg for the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, and far below the level of 120 kg per capita and per year recommended by FAO.

The Government is therefore making an effort to promote milk production based on the promotion of small-scale units for collection and processing of dairy products produced by small farmers. In this regard, there was a need to develop a demonstration and training capacity to support a broad programme of promotion of small dairy enterprises. The support obtained from FAO through the TCP/GHA/0167 is thus of very relevant to current government policy in the sector.

Quality of project formulationThe project document for this US$ 330,000 TCP was formulated in accordance with TCP guidelines and on the model of the several other projects of this specific type in various countries. The context,

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the objectives and the results awaited are clear, as is the detailed chronological list of project outputs. AGAP oversaw formulation, though this was done with the participation of the services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. AGAP and the RAF Livestock Officer (Trypanosomiasis) were to be involved in project backstopping. The formulation is quite satisfactory.

ImplementationThe project was carried out under the responsibility for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, supported by a steering committee which was in charge of the supervision of project activities. The coordination of the activities of the project is ensured by a National Coordinator. The project was set up at the Government's Amrahia Dairy Farm, which already had facilities for the production and processing of milk and board and lodging facilities for the trainees.

The training approach used the "cascade strategy" of training of trainers followed by training by them for other professionals and then for producers, collectors, processors and marketers. Training using this approach allowed the training of a larger number of trainees than originally planned.

The project received regular backstopping missions from Rome, and included a study trip to Kenya.

The project planned to start in December 2001 but only became operational in March 2002; it closed in December 2003 after a small extension of 3 months (due to delay in receiving imported equipment). The timeframe for implementation was largely respected and the project was successfully closed. The project implementation can be rated very satisfactory.

Results and outcome Almost all of the expected results were reached. The mission visited the training and milk processing demonstration centre of Amrahia and took note of the results achieved. The manufactured products being demonstrated were of good hygienic and nutritional quality. The equipment, while simple, still would necessitate an investment of near US$ 40,000 for any collector/processor wishing to apply the project technology, however, which is not a small sum in view of the target audience of this project.

One of the rare activities planned but not carried out, was the use of Lactoperoxydase as element of stabilisation to prolong the life of the fresh milk. The contribution of this technology would be particularly important for the extension to pastoral zones, like the north of the country. However, the current ban on international trade in milk or milk products treated with this process makes even local producers unreasonably suspicious. This issue is at the level of the Codex Alimentarius and is being examined by FAO with a view to changing this rule.

Follow-up, sustainability and possible impactThe high level of appreciation of the project by national authorities, trainees and project staff has encouraged the authorities to plan an extension of the activities into other areas of the country, in particular the central and northern regions. They are currently seeking funding for this extension.

While impact is certainly present on the trainees, the follow-up to the project with regard to the further application of the methodologies promoted is not yet clear as the project ended only a few months before this mission. Regarding the creation of small collection and processing centres, this seems much less certain due to the capital investment required. It remains to be seen if the market for local fresh milk develops enough to make this investment worthwhile.

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Mission assessment of the project on a scale of 1-3 where 3 is optimumRelevance 3Clarity of objectives 3Design 3Input Delivery 2Outputs 3Process 3Cost-effectiveness 2Sustainable effects and impact na

B. THE NEAR EAST AND EUROPE (LEBANON, SLOVAKIA, TURKEY)

1. LEBANON

TCP/LEB/0068: Introduction of techniques to conserve and improve the nutritional value of agro-industrial by-products in the Bekaa valley (2000 – 2002 completed)

BackgroundBekaa lies between the two parallel mountain ranges in Lebanon: a stretch of fertile land irrigated by the Litany river. About 42% of Lebanon’s total agricultural land and almost 50% of the irrigated land lies in Bekaa valley. The Valley comprises about 28% of the total number of cows (22,000) and 68% of sheep (279,000), and 44% of goats (206,000).

The project was in particular expected to complement two externally financed projects in the valley (IFAD and UNDP, respectively): projet de Réhabilitation de la production animale dans la Bekaa (IFAD), le Programme de développement rural intégré à Baalbeck (UNDP).

Project Objectives and Design:The objectives were to:

evaluate the potential of crop and agro-industrial by-products for livestock feeding in the Bekaa Valley

institute efficient process to add value to feed resources for sedentary and transhumant livestock producers

strengthen the knowledge of farmers groups and extension staff in new techniques of livestock feeding

The design appears to have been adequate regarding the first two objectives;concerning the training, the training had to focus more on direct farmer training in the absence of an effective extension service.

Institutional arrangements:The project was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, with the National Project Director a staff member of the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI). LARI’s mandate includes animal health and animal production research, including socio-economic and policy studies, in addition to biological studies.

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Project implementation and resultsThis TCP has been completed, and the final report received in Rome. A proposal in the project document to ensile sugar beet by-products was omitted in the course of project implementation after the removal of subsidies on sugar beet production and the closure of the sole sugar beet factory. Main technical inputs came from five visits by an international consultant, three national consultants and backstopping visits by an FAO HQ staff.

The TCP appears to have achieved objectives of encouraging forage production and conservation. Beneficiaries were reportedly still using forage production technologies learnt during the TCP and making silage. Farmer-to-farmer adoption was reported to have occurred (according to a pilot farmer and officials met by the mission). The pilot farmer was also experimenting on his own with agricultural by-products other than those recommended by the project. It was less clear whether urea treatment of low quality roughage was still being used by the pilot farmer. The project also promoted using local manufacture of multi-nutritional blocks, but these were neither mentioned by the farmer met nor visible on the farm. Extension pamphlets based on the results of the TCP were produced containing quantitative data including simple economic evaluation of different treatments of by-products. Unfortunately the final report sent to Rome was general in tone, and contained no quantification of different feed practices.

ConclusionsThe project has been successful in introducing techniques to improve the validity of agro-industrial by-products in the Bekaa valley. However, the mission only met a larger farmer with a higher degree of mechanization, and it is less clear whether silage making has been as popular with smaller, more typical non-mechanized producers. There was less evidence that farmer interest existed in urea treatment of straws, or that the use of multi-nutritional blocks has proved sustainable. The final report was reduced in value by the absence of biological or economic quantification.

RecommendationsSimple ex-ante and ex-post economic evaluation are essential if realistic project evaluations are required. It is recommended that ex-post reviews be undertaken 2 years after the end of a project in order to assess the sustainability of benefits. It remains to be seen whether silage making is sustainable on small, non-mechanized farms.



TCP/LEB/2905: Assistance to small-scale dairies in Southern Lebanon (Nabatiyeh, Saida-Est and Marjaayoun-Hasbaya) (2003-2004 on-going)

BackgroundThis region of South Lebanon has emerged from years of occupation and thus qualified specifically for assistance. Dairy activities were considered appropriate because dairy products «Laben et Labneh»

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are an important item of people’s diet. However, the long separation from other developments in the rest of Lebanon was seen as responsible for the poor genetic material of animals as well as for the absence of a milk collection system.

Project objectives and designThe original stated objectives were:

To create groups of dairy farmers for extension and training activities in milk production, hygiene, conservation and processing and urea treatment of straw, and use of multi-nutritional blocks

To increase milk production, improve quality, add value and diversify dairy products output for the benefit of producers and improve the nutritional and financial situation of rural families

Provide security to milk producers, improve the competitiveness of the dairy sector, and increase local forage production to reduce farmer’s dependence on purchased inputs

Strengthen the extension capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture, producers associations and NGOs to assist in the development of small dairy farmers

The original proposal (apparently based on a brief visit by a consultant employed under TCP/LEB/00678) focused on cattle farmers and required the establishment of three milk collection and processing centres. Surveys on the ground at the start of the TCP revealed that the proposed approach needed modification. Establishment of milk collection centres for dairy cattle were omitted, in favour of utilizing centres already created by an IFAD project. The project area was divided into 3 zones, two where cattle were important, and one mountainous area for goat farmers and a processing centre for goat milk was inserted into the project plan.

The original designed was thus proved deficient due to insufficient time devoted to a situation analysis1.

Institutional arrangementsThe National Project Coordinator is a senior adviser to the Minister of Agriculture based at the American University of Beirut. This is a somewhat unusual arrangement, which may perhaps limit MoA institutional involvement in this TCP and lead to less institutional sustainability. However, for the time being the project seems to enjoy good collaboration by the main stakeholders (Ministry of Agriculture, local authorities - municipalité de Cheeba – and stakeholders in the dairy sector).

Project implementation and resultsTCP/LEB/2905, small scale dairying in the South of Lebanon started in mid 2003. The original proposals were examined and modifications made to suit local requirements. As a result, the project is currently still at an initial, preparatory stage. It is therefore difficult to see how the revised objectives will be achieved within the existing time frame of the project.

ConclusionsThe original proposal appears to have been prepared without intimate knowledge of the conditions on the ground in the proposed location. It can be argued that the preparation and review of this TCP was less thorough than required. There has been no ex-ante economic evaluation, without which it is impossible to determine whether eventual beneficiaries receive the economic benefits expected.

As a result of the necessary modifications to objectives, work appears behind schedule, and a time extension will be required for completion.

1 Noting these difficulties with TCP projects, AGA has for some time now lobbied for changes and improvements to the TCP system – including a more appropriate method of project formulation.

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RecommendationsThis project illustrates the need for careful review prior to acceptance, to avoid the need to institute extensive and time consuming modifications.

Since the probability of sustainability is largely dependant upon beneficiaries perceiving economic advantage from their ongoing participation in the activities promoted by the project, it is strongly recommended that simple economic evaluation be required at project proposal and final report stages.


Mission assessment of the project on a scale of 1-3 where 3 is optimumRelevance 2Clarity of objectives 2Design 1Input Delivery n.a.Outputs n.a.Process 1-2Cost-effectiveness n.a.Sustainable effects and impact n.a.

4. SLOVAKIA

TCP/RER/2902: Strategy for active conservation of the dual purpose Pinzgau cattle (2002 –2004 on-going)

This is a regional project involving Slovakia, Austria and Romania. Pinzgau cattle in Slovakia are kept as dual purpose animals in the Tatra Mountains. A state subsidy is available to farmers with purebred animals who participate in the Pinzgau herdbook scheme. National production of milk and meat is in excess of demand. Few farms retain male suckler calves and surplus calves are exported to Italy. The Pinzgau Cattle Breeders Association has two AI centres for the breed, using semen from tested bulls.

In Slovakia the breed is raised in large herds (100 animals) with a market orientation, in Austria medium sized herds (10 animals), while in Romania herds of 1-3 animals are kept to provide milk for the family.

Project Objectives and DesignThe objective of the project is to develop a common strategy and management plan for active conservation, economic utilisation and improvement of the dual-purpose Pinzgau populations in their traditional high altitude production conditions in Europe. It is envisaged that for the implementation of the strategy, the participating countries will organize themselves into a regional network of Pinzgau breeders’ national organisations.

Initially the project intended to assess, analyse and document the situation of Pinzgau breed in the participating countries. Out of the analysis and evaluation of this data, a draft proposal for a joint strategy and plan of action for implementation shared among the national collaborative bodies. The strategy will include:

A common or harmonized system for breed and animal identification, recording and reporting on the traits accepted for joint monitoring;

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Method of joint genetic analysis and evaluation of production and functional characteristics of economic importance;

Programme for the organization of joint testing of young bulls and use of proven bulls; Programme for a young sire and dam testing with the possible use of reproductive biotechnology

methods; Recommendations for the harmonization of veterinary requirements regarding the international

exchange of genetic material; The operational framework including draft Statutes for the European Pinzgau Network; Training needs detailed and costed for the implementation of the joint strategy components; Programming software and hardware needs specified and costed for the strategy implementation; Tentative 5-year operational and investment budgets prepared for the regional collaboration,

including the items proposed for public (national) or donor (Austria) funding.

Institutional arrangementsIn Slovakia the project is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture State Breeding Institute, in collaboration with the Slovak Agricultural University and the Pinzgau Cattle Breeders Association. In Austria the project is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Centre for Genetic Evaluation, and Cattle Breeders Association in Salzburg and Maishofen. The arrangements in Romania are yet to be decided.

Project implementation and resultsThe first stage of the project, documenting the situation of the breed in Slovakia, Austria and Romania has been achieved through consultant visits.

In Slovakia, Pinzgau Cattle Breeders Association have a herdbook, currently containing information on 2,300 purebred and 2,700 cross bred Pinzgau cows. Performance testing of Pinzgau animals is well established, with milk and suckler recording schemes. However, this is supported by subsidy, the future of which is unclear after the accession of Slovakia to the EU on 1st May 2004.

It is estimated that there are 3,500 purebred and 6,500 crossbred Pinzgau cattle in Austria, but numbers are decreasing. Many are kept by part-time farmers, focused on organic production, with milk receipts 20% higher than for “normal” milk, although the majority of household income is derived from no-agricultural sources. Furthermore subsidies are available to farmers with registered purebred Pinzgau cattle.

A milk recording scheme and genetic evaluation is operational in Romania. Pinzgau is found in mountainous regions on small family farms. Cows are kept for milk, and there is no interest in the beef potential of the breed. There are around 700 cows under recording scheme and 1000 young females.

A Regional meeting has been organized in Romania during May 2004, after difficulty in eliciting a response from Romania for an earlier meeting. The final report for the TCP is anticipated in September 2004.

ConclusionsData recording from Pinzgau cattle is well established in Slovakia, and the Project has achieved its national objectives. It is also believed that Austria, which is funding its own participation in the project, has made similar progress. In Romania on the other hand, this aspect of the project has yet to start. By the end of the TCP in September 2004, Slovakia and Austria will have established Pinzgau Associations and data backed herdbooks.

Until Romania has a Pinzgau Breed association and recorded production data, progress cannot be made on regionally agreed selection criteria for the breed. Given the difference in farming system and

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production objectives in the three participating countries, agreement on a unified set of selection objectives is likely to be difficult to obtain.

Although specific advantages of the breed are reportedly its ability to thrive in mountainous areas with limited additional feed inputs, the numbers in Slovakia and Austria are largely determined by subsidy payment. The future of the breed would be strengthened by identifying specific economic benefits outside of a subsidy culture, possibly through development of market niches for identified breed products.

RecommendationsAttention should now be focused on Romania, to ascertain the probability of sustainable interest in a Pinzgau Herdbook, the feasibility of establishing a functional genetic evaluation scheme.

Pre-existing Associations in Slovakia and Austria, and performance recording schemes facilitate progress, but this is not the case in Romania. The current TCP will end in late 2004. A new request could then be submitted for a TCP from Romania, if appropriate, for assistance in establishing the necessary conditions for a truly regional breed conservation scheme.

It remains unclear whether subsidies are essential for the maintenance of farmer interest in the breed in Austria and Slovakia, and preparations should be advanced for a scenario that precludes such financial inputs.


Mission assessment of the project on a scale of 1-3 where 3 is optimumRelevance 2Clarity of objectives 3Design 2Input Delivery 2Outputs 2-3Process 2Cost-effectiveness 2Sustainable effects and impact n.a.** too soon to determine

5. TURKEY

TCP/TUR/8925: Technical advice towards Animal feed resources development (1999)

BackgroundThere 300,000 farms in the Southeastern Anatolia Project/Güneydogu Anadolu Projesi (GAP) region, a large-scale rural development programme for the Eastern and Southeastern part of Turkey. Within the context of the project, the Government had launched in the late 1990s a pilot demonstration effort in the province of Adiyaman, where animal husbandry is common, and farmers' organizations are partly established in the Centre, Tut, Besni, Gerger, Celikhan, Samsat and Kahta districts. Hay, silage and supplements were to be produced experimentally and introduced with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) and Turkish Development Foundation (TKV). The Agricultural Bank of the Republic of Turkey (TCZB) was to implement the credit scheme to support farmers and co-operatives; MARA and TKV will provide consultancy service in production and distribution of feed.

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FAO assistance was requested to advise, by means of a short study to be carried out in the pilot province of Adiyaman, on the best ways suitable to the local conditions to develop animal production and increase productivity, including: animal breeding, pasture management, and husbandry, the improvement of extension and veterinary services, and development of the feed industry infrastructure.

Project Objectives and DesignThe immediate objective of the project was to assist the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in the technical aspects of feed production through evaluation, testing and demonstration of appropriate technologies in the pilot province of Adiyaman.

The ultimate aim was to contribute at increasing production and income of small-scale producers through general development of livestock production, animal products, food security and improved rural incomes in the region.

The project was designed to prepare an inventory of local feed resources in the irrigated and rainfed areas of the GAP region, a feed resources information package (including a CD version) for technicians, extension staff, farmers and feed companies. A study would be undertaken of appropriate feed production technologies, use of supplement, feed conservation and silage making, and direct advice given to producers through pilot trials, experiments and demonstrations. It was also expected to produce a strategic plan for the implementation of feed production (by commercial feed plants, farmers' groups and individual farmers).

Institutional arrangementsThe Project was implemented through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the Agricultural Bank of the Republic of Turkey, in association with TKV (a development NGO) and the GAP Administration.

Project implementation and resultsIn Turkey, forage crops are grown on 1.2 million ha of rainfed land, and production is subsidized. Nevertheless it is estimated that there is a shortage of 25m tones of feed. Winter feed is usually based on low quality cereal straws.

A training course was held under the TCP on maize silage making. Initially TKV (an NGO) made silage, which was purchased by farmers and transported to the animals. The Agricultural Bank of the Republic of Turkey lent funds to farmers, via cooperatives for the purchase of silage from TKV. Later, after the project had ended it appears that farmers made silage themselves. Two interviewees suggested that silage making was accepted by farmers, while one negative opinion was expressed to the mission. Following the financial crisis in 2001 when interest rates rose above 100%, the Bank ceased to offer funds for silage making, after farmers were unable to maintain interest repayments on their loans.

Dairy farmers are the major users of silage, but the Bank is now hesitant to provide loans to small scale dairy farmers, as their studies indicate that Dairy farming is not financially viable under current circumstances. Farmers have limited land available and give priority to crop production, reducing land available for forage cultivation. It was also suggested that the beneficiaries had no active role in the design of this TCP.

The mission was unable to determine the results of any pilot trials, experiments and demonstrations that may have been established, other than work focused on maize silage. No evidence was found of a training CD, a feed resources information package, nor of a terminal report to Rome.2

2 However, the consultant provided an extensive end-of-assignment report, which for practical purposes adequately substitutes for a terminal report. Given the limited budget ad time available for the consultant, it

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ConclusionsThe expected outputs, and project design was over-ambitious given a two month project period. In the event it appears that the project focused on silage making. While the project may have been technologically successful, the centralized system that emerged by which farmers obtained silage was unlikely to be sustainable.

If farmers are as reluctant to provide crop land for forage cultivation as the Mission was led to believe, it may have been preferable for the project to focus attention on utilisation of feed material available from crop residues.

RecommendationsRealistic work schedules, based on adequate pre-planning are essential for short term projects. The workplan for this TCP required a considerably longer period than allowed. Participatory project planning might have increased farmer ownership of the project. However, the economic conditions changed during project implementation and the technology promoted may no longer have been financially attractive.


Mission assessment of the project on a scale of 1-3 where 3 is optimumRelevance 2Clarity of objectives 2Design 1Input Delivery 2Outputs 2Process 1-2Cost-effectiveness n.a.Sustainable effects and impact 1

TCP/TUR/7821: Establishment of a meat inspection and hygiene training centre and implementation of a training course on meat inspection and laboratory diagnosis (1998-99)

BackgroundA major policy objective of the Turkish Government is accession to the EU. Upgrading of meat inspection and hygiene systems are a component of the preparation for eventual acceptance into the EU, and also would facilitate entry into export markets in the interim.

There are 908 slaughterhouses in Turkey, which must have certification, ensuring compliance with quality and hygiene requirements to operate. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs is responsible for certification. Central and Provincial Laboratories have facilities to test for residues in meat.

Project Objectives and DesignThe development objective of the project was to upgrade the meat inspection services in line with the revised legislation in Turkey and with EU regulations, with a view to reducing food-borne diseases and product losses, and increase the possibility of exporting to the EU.

The immediate objectives were to establish a meat training centre at the Etlik Veterinary Control and Research Institute in Ankara and to create a team of trained veterinary professionals responsible for

would have been unrealistic to expect a full-fledged strategy paper to be produced by the project.

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the presentation of a modular course on meat inspection and hygiene for government officers and private sector personnel.

The design required an initial visit by the FAO Technical Officer to discuss plans for the establishment of a training centre, and prepare a list of equipment to be purchased. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) then established the Training Centre at Etlik Veterinary Control and Research Institute over a two month period, followed by provision of the agreed training materials and equipment. During a two-month visit, the international consultant would prepare a detailed curriculum, training aids, manual for the training course, and implement the training. Finally the FAO technical officer would visit to evaluate the course and prepare a terminal statement.

Institutional arrangementsThe TCP was administered though MARA at the Etlik Veterinary Control and Research Institute.

Project implementation and resultsA four week training course was held as planned, attended by 20 veterinarians from the Government Veterinary Services. Training material was available to the mission in printed form, on CD and video covering theory on meat inspection, food safety, slaughterhouses and quality control. Practical sessions were held on meat inspection and hygiene, and laboratory techniques. Visits were organized to red meat and poultry slaughter houses. Workshops were held on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point system and then discussion groups.

Practical work was found to be more difficult to organize than expected, as accessible facilities had no organized presentation of carcasses and offal. In addition there was no structured grading system of carcasses on a national basis, although local systems were applied.

The main objectives were achieved, and training has continued. Since the course, the trained trainers have been responsible for 4-5 courses in Etlik and other courses at 4 regional centres. In total, 240 veterinarians have now been trained in meat inspection and hygiene.

The terminal report included a number of recommendations, including the establishment of a reference library at Etlik, and the establishment of a small model slaughterhouse at Etlik to facilitate practical inspection training. These have not occurred.

ConclusionsThis was a tightly focused project and a realistic time frame, which largely achieved objectives. It demonstrates that limited but achievable aims can result in satisfied partners.

RecommendationsThere is still a demand from many of the countries visited for technical assistance in abattoir technology and meat processing from FAO, which could only be met with difficult since the relevant section has been denuded of staff. This decision should be revisited


Mission assessment of the project on a scale of 1-3 where 3 is optimumRelevance 2Clarity of objectives 3Design 2Input Delivery 2Outputs 2Process 2Cost-effectiveness 2-3Sustainable effects and impact 2

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C. EAST ASIA (CHINA, VIETNAM, THAILAND, MYANMAR)

1. CHINA

TCP/CPR/0167: Strengthening Capability to Control Residues of Toxic Chemicals in Meat and Other Food of Animal Origin

The Government was concerned that increasing contamination of animal food products with hazardous residues due to higher input practices of animal husbandry (such as the use of agricultural chemicals and the illegal and unprofessional use of veterinary drugs) would impact on human health and trade opportunities. As a consequence, FAO provided assistance through the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) to build institutional capacity in the control of chemical residues in meat and meat products. This activity was in support of the Government's investment in a countrywide network of residue control laboratories for consumer protection.

The objective of the project was to strengthen laboratory capability in the analysis of toxic chemical residues in meat and other food of animal origin, in order to meet national and international residue requirements. Laboratory technicians from provincial or municipal veterinary drug and animal feed control centre laboratories were trained to analyse chemical residues in meat and meat products. A study tour for two technicians from the National Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Service's Quality Control and Inspection Centre for Domestic Animal Products were funded by the project to attend a training workshop introducing QA/QC measures in pesticide residue analytical laboratories at the International Atomic Energy Agency Laboratories, Austria. Laboratory equipment and materials was also provided to the Centre to increase the analytical capacity of its laboratory.

The project termination report identified several areas for further improvement including the need for uniformity and upgrading of standard operating procedures, the introduction of pesticide residue analyses particularly for organochlorines (sic) and prioritise testing and analytical procedures according to economic and social relevance. The report also highlighted the need for more intensive utilisation of the laboratory and further specialisation. The report also suggested that, as the demand for the laboratory services grew, the existing building would be structurally inadequate for housing an effective laboratory service.

Priority and relevance to national needsThe priority attributed to Food Safety is driven by China's entry to the WTO and the desire of China to export agriculture, livestock and agro products. China has the financial resources to fund the hardware require to address the Montreal protocols (and should not need an FAO TCP to pay for them) but requires high level technical assistance to support the Development Research Centre of the State Council to advise the government on food safety issues. Adding to the challenge of addressing food safety issues is the dispersion of development and administration of Food Safety Standards between several ministries. However, although the food safety agenda driven by export considerations, livestock product exports are insignificant and the domestic market remains the priority for the livestock producers.

The project was considered relevant to national needs at formulation and remains so as livestock production in China, particularly in the rapidly growing economies of the eastern provinces, intensifies with higher use of chemicals and feed concentrates. Food safety and quality is reported to be a major concern amongst urban consumers. The need for an effective quality control and inspection service for the livestock industries remains relevant as the government encourages the livestock industries to enter the (perceived) more lucrative export markets.

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Quality of Project FormulationThe formulation document clearly set out the ambition of the project. However, formulation did not address either the institution or commercial relevance of the laboratory nor its role in any testing or certification system particularly in relation to other providers of analytical services at the national and provincial levels. The mandate of the laboratory to address the issues of food safety was not clearly established.

Implementation The project was implemented during 2002 and 2003 according to the project documentation. A range of equipment was provided and training was considered to be of a good standard.

Results and outcomeThe laboratory is operational with qualified and trained staff. As a consequence of the TCP support, the capacity of the staff was enhanced. The laboratory expanded its testing range and sample preparation was improved. The operating efficiency was improved through procurement of improved equipment, which required less laboratory staff. The Centre claimed to have the sole responsibility for testing and analysis of residues in animal products and had taken a leading role in the area.

However the laboratory was under utilised, which probably reflected the demand and relevance of the service it provides to the livestock industry.

Follow-up, sustainability and catalytic impactThe demand for quality assurance and certification in livestock products has outgrown the capacity and mandate of this laboratory. The laboratory is isolated institutionally from the commercial testing and analytics services being used by the key players in the livestock industry. The challenge for the government is to move from a system of government technical regulations and standards to market oriented voluntary and international standards. The whole issue of quality of food products and food safety in the context of technical trade barriers remains in its formative stages. Although China affords considerable priority to the potential trade in agricultural and agro-food products and the implementation of the WTO Agricultural Agreement, FAO's role in this area is no longer significant and no catalytic effect was reported from this TCP project.

After China's entry into the WTO, food safety became a major priority issue for the government and activities in this area are now supported by IDA and the Netherlands.

Conformity to FAO Strategic Objectives and Medium Term PlanThe project was clearly in line with the FAO Strategic Goals of improved food security and the development of sustainable agriculture and rural development.



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TCP/CPR/0170 and TCP/CPR/3002 (Phase II): Integrated Animal Waste Management in Wannian County, Jiangxi Province

The county of Wanian in the southern province of Jiangxi is a "designated" lean-meat pig production county due to its favourable location on major transport links between major markets for feed inputs and pork products. In the last decade, the pig production industry in the county grew rapidly with an increasing scale of production. Commercial pig production developed within a minimum regulatory environment and without any consideration of planning against the potential impact of piggery effluent on the sensitive environment and water bodies in and near the county. Animal waste generated from the pig industry was in excess of the absorptive capacity of the surrounding land and waterways with excessive nutrients and mineral loads causing soil contamination and water pollution in down stream water ways, negatively impacting on the productivity of cropping land and fresh water fisheries.

Under FAO's TCP, a project was prepared to develop appropriate techniques to for animal waste treatment and specifically to convert excess animal wastes into bio-fertilizers. By substituting the chemical fertilizers for bio-fertilisers, it was hypothesized that the bio-fertilizers also could play an addition significant role in both improvement of soil structure and reduction of water pollution.

The project aimed to have a broader impact that the technical issues associated with animal waste management. The project was seen as an opportunity for development of appropriate policies, rules and regulations applicable to the development of intensive pig (and dairy) production within China. The project was to provide data and analysis to assist policy makers to make informed decisions on such matters as zoning, land use planning and integrated environmental management through appropriate incentives and regulatory schemes.

However the immediate ambition of the project was to develop and evaluate technology solutions within the county; assess the feasibility of developing bio-fertilizer markets, and identify the most cost-effective techniques for producing bio-fertilizers using animal wastes.

Priority and relevance to national needsThe need to address the unrestrained degradation of "the environment" through unregulated productive activities remains one of the major challenges to Chinese policy makers. Within the livestock sector, policies and their application mechanisms need to be developed to manage the environmental impact of intensive livestock production, particularly pigs and dairy, within the context of commercial imperatives of the producers and the capacity and commitment of county governments to environmental management. The government recognises this challenge and hence the project was relevant to national needs. The preparation document of the Livestock Waste Management in East Asia Project highlighted the significant contribution the pig industry makes to contamination of the South China Sea. As such addressing this problem was, and remains, a priority within context of commercialisation of livestock industries near waterways and high population concentrations on the coastal areas of China.

Quality of Project FormulationThe project formulation specified the inputs required to address the specific technical intervention (production of bio-fertilisers). However the project document was less specific on how the project would influence policy makers at the relevant levels of government.

Implementation The project implementation was delayed due to the SARS outbreak. The procurement of equipment, the mobilisation of the remaining technical assistance and commissioning of the organic fertiliser factory was expected to be completed by the end of 2004. Training was provided in animal waste management, application of organic fertiliser technology, marketing and uses of organic fertilisers.

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Results and outcomeThe major thrust of the project was to upgrade and replace an organic fertiliser plant utilising waste from large piggeries in the county. There was less focus on policy issues than in an earlier TCP on this topic in Jiangsu Province, where that project resulted in substantial increase in awareness of decision makers on issues and policy options on animal production waste management. The major impact of the project was the development of a methodology for technical decision-making on site location of piggery enterprises and the assessment of feasibility of agro-enterprises (area-wide integrated - AWI - approach). The project had a technical rather than environmental focus. At the national level, the project raised awareness of environmental regulations and laws and standards on animal waste. Through the project leading groups the project enhanced awareness of environmental issues. Not so evident were the broader impacts on formulation of environmental regulations and their application, considerations of who pays, and institutionalisation of intensive livestock production and waste management into planning laws.

Follow-up, sustainability and catalytic impactA large FAO/WB/GEF Regional Animal Waste Management Project currently under formulation had to a significant degree its genesis in this project . Some of the staff, which worked on the Wannian project, are involved in the implementation of the GEF project in Guangdong province. Other donors, notably CIDA, are supporting livestock waste management projects to develop policy "toolboxes" guidelines and regulation for animal waste management at the national level.

The FAO contribution assisted in defining the critical issues in animal waste management and heightened awareness of the impact of intensive livestock production on the environment within the leadership of the provincial government. The involvement of an external funding source, while complicating the management, had a catalytic effect on the implementation of the project.

Conformity to FAO Strategic Objectives and Medium Term PlanThe project conformed to the FAO Strategic objective of promoting technologies and systems for efficient natural resources use in livestock production and strengthening the capacity for integrated ecosystem management.



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6. VIETNAM

TCP/VIE/6613: Improving the Wellbeing of Poor Farmers by Developing Milk Production from Local Resources

Project Symbol Project Title Coverage EOD NTELast Delivery

Operationally Closed

TCP/VIE/6613

Improving the Wellbeing of Poor Farmers by Developing Milk Production From Local Resources Country 1996-06 1997-12 1999 1996-06

The potential of goats to play a role in the government’s proposed development of a local dairy industry was recognised during a Vietnamese technical mission to India in 1993 under a UNDP project. The lower cost of the milking goat was seen as an opportunity for poorer farmers to make an investment in their household food security and generate income through sale of excess milk. A TCP project was prepared in 1996 to support the government’s initiatives in the development of a diary goat industry based on the crossing of indigenous breeds of goats with imported milking goats. The TCP supported the improvement of goat husbandry and milk production and assisted in the establishment of a goat milk processing facility for the production of cheese. Inputs included technical assistance, training and essential processing equipment. The project was implemented at the Rabbit and Goat Research Centre within the National Institute of Animal Husbandry at Ba Vi, Ha Tay Province (near Hanoi).

Relevance and priority to national needsThe project was relevant to the government policy to support the development of an indigenous dairy industry, which was expected to contribute to improved household nutrition and incomes, provide an opportunity for diversification away from rice and pig production and decrease dependency on imported milk products. However, its relevance to the overall livestock sector in Vietnam, of which dairy production is a tiny sub-sector, was less clear.

Quality of Project FormulationThe project formulation identified specific technical issues with a strong emphasis on training, particularly in the processing of goat’s milk and the production of French-style goat cheese for sale in Hanoi markets (essentially to foreigners, as there is no interest for this type of product among Vietnamese).

ImplementationThe technology introduced was considered simple and appropriate in the context of the limited capacity of the local goat milk production to support a cheese making facility.

Results and outcomeThe project gave a profile to goat milk production, which was previously relatively unknown in Vietnam. The seed funding provided through the TCP in support of the development of goat milk production and cheese making created an awareness amongst policy makers of the potential of goats to contribute to economic development of poorer sections of the rural community with limited access to land and funds. As a result of the work of the Rabbit and Goat Research Centre, in part supported by the project, goat production has received support through the allocation of government funding for research and development. Since 1999, the goat population of the country is reported to have grown from 350,000 to over 800,000 goats, of which about 35% are kept for goat milk. The goat milk processing facility established at the Rabbit and Goat Research Centre further raised the profile of both the project and the goat industry (mainly among donors) through the supply of goat cheese to the Hanoi 'expat' market.

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The Rabbit and Goat Research Centre has begun training activities to promote dairy goat production within the South-east Asian region. The Centre has also continued to develop and refine the integration of dairy goat with fodder, fish and duck production. These integrated farming system approaches have been extended to communities surrounding the Research Centre by an outreach programme supported by the Centre. However mission observations among the beneficiaries of this programme demonstrated limited interest in the activity without strong support and backstopping; many had abandoned the activity after considerable investment by Centre technicians in the integrated technologies being promoted. The Centre purchases milk for processing from the privately owned production units which continue to function.

Follow-up, sustainability and catalytic impactThe project was the starting point for the development of a dairy goat industry in Vietnam, although this activity is rather small compared to other livestock enterprises. Nonetheless, goat production has spread into other provinces (including the south) from the initial activities at the Goat and Rabbit Research Centre in Ha Tay Province.

Conformity to FAO Strategic Objectives and Medium Term PlanThe project conformed to the strategic objective to support the adoption of appropriate technology to intensify production systems and ensure sufficient supplies of food.



TCP/VIE/6612: Low Cost Meat Processing Technologies

A TCP project was implemented to develop and disseminate low cost meat processing technologies which could increase the availability of cheaper processed meat products to low income groups. The availability of more affordable meat products to low income groups would contribute to improved nutrition and diets through increased intake of animal protein and micronutrients. The project aimed to develop technologies to extend the shelf life of processed meat products and lower cost products through increased utilisation of edible carcass parts.

Inputs included technical assistance, training and essential meat processing equipment. The project successfully developed new low-cost products with extended shelf life. These products included both improved and lower priced existing products and products new to the market. These processing techniques were disseminated through information activities and training programmes with participants from both the private and public sectors.

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Priority and relevance to national needsThe project was relevant within the context of the government policies of centralised management of the economy which prevailed at the time of formulation. Government owned businesses were active in the commercial production of meat products. The more efficient utilisation of livestock products was also relevant to the government's ambition to improve nutrition through ensuring the availability of affordable animal protein to the poorer sections of the community.

Quality of Project FormulationThe project formulation identified specific technical issues with a strong emphasis on training and the immediate project ambitions were in keeping with the size of the budget.

Implementation The technology introduced was considered simple and effective and appropriate to the needs of meat processors

Results and outcomeThe project provided formulas for new low-cost meat products and trained meat-industry personnel nationwide on new technologies. This increased the availability of low-cost meat products adapted to local consumption habits, enhanced the skills of Vietnamese meat processors and entrepreneurs in new processing technologies, particularly from the small-scale sector, and improved the diet of low-income population groups. The claim was made that consumption of processed meat products in Ho Chi Minh City went from less than 5% of people's diets to over 10% as a result of the project, though the mission had no means of verifying these figures.

Follow-up, sustainability and catalytic impactThe project was a catalyst for the establishment of the Department of Food Processing and Preservation at the University of Agriculture and Forestry and was influential in the largest food company in Ho Chi Minh City, VISSAN, expanding its meat processing business which set the standard for good-quality meat products in Viet Nam.

The government further invested in equipment at the University to provide additional national training and technical support to individual meat processors. The small-scale meat processing line at the UAF has been used a demonstration unit for potential investors in meat processing and interested meat processors have been able to use the facility to develop meat products for market introduction and market tests prior to purchasing their equipment. In recognition, the Department of Food Processing and Preservation has been retained by commercial meat processors to train staff in meat hygiene and food safety.

Conformity to FAO Strategic Objectives and Medium Term PlanThe project conformed to the strategic objective to support the adoption of appropriate technology to intensify production systems and ensure sufficient supplies of food.

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7. THAILAND

TCP/THA/2802 (Recoded as 2902): Training Programme for the Small-scale Dairy Sector

With the consumption of milk and dairy products in Thailand growing at an estimated 14 percent per year, the demand for ready-to-drink milk products was expected to treble in the next 5 years. About 70% of the domestic milk market is supplied by imports. As a consequence, government priority was to encourage investment by farmers in dairy production, to raise more cattle to increase milk production and reduce milk imports. A strategy of dairy development was developed, centred on milk production enhancement at farm level, establishment of milk collection infrastructure in rural areas, and processing and distribution of products such as pasteurised milk, long-life milk and drinking yoghurt in urban areas. Linked to this strategy was a programme to up-grade milk quality to meet increasingly stringent food safety standards and to allay consumer concern about the safety of locally produced milk.

The Government requested technical assistance and limited inputs from FAO to improved technologies, technical know-how and practical skills which were appropriate to village dairy production systems and required for getting milk safely and efficiently from farm to market. The project proposed to invest in the establishment of a dairy demonstration and training centre in Chiang Mai to provide short-term hands-on training on a sustainable basis, to demonstrate practical low-cost technologies (developed by FAO) for collecting milk from remote rural areas for efficient small-scale processing.

Increased improved nutrition of school children, increased farmer earnings and job creation were some of the expected benefits from the proposed TCP project. Short term hands-on training provided through the training centre were to have an immediate and catalytic effect on mobilising the village-based dairy sub-sector by stimulating cost-efficient milk production and substituting imports, resulting in increased and more stable income from processed milk and dairy products. This in turn would promote the adoption of milk production increasing technologies at farm level.

A dairy demonstration and training unit was established at the Chiang Mai Dairy Training Centre for the safe collection, processing and distribution of milk and dairy products. An improved small-scale milk collection and in-pouch pasteurising and packaging system was in the process of being field tested at the Sankampaeng Women's Village Co-operative model dairy enterprise and validated to comply with the Food and Drugs Administration food standards and regulations.

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Short-term, tailor made training courses were developed at the Chiang Mai Dairy Training Centre of the Department of Livestock Development for persons and organisations involved in milk production, collection, processing and marketing to improve efficiency, quality and safety throughout the farm to consumer milk chain. Some 200 smallholder milk producers and 80 private sector milk collectors and processors were trained during the project implementation.

The training programme evaluations highlighted the relevance of the course and successful completion by the participants. However efforts to attract participants with a current and relevant involvement and interest in dairying was not always successful. The diversity of backgrounds of participants meant courses were not able to be always tailored to address individual training needs. The future of the training unit and its funding sources going in to FY2004/5 had not been established, hence the sustainability of the unit as a training and demonstration unit supporting the small dairy processing cooperatives was uncertain and would depend on the ability of the project's promoters to convince decision makers.

Efforts to promote income generation activities from the sale of dairy products produced at the centre were in their formative stages and the unit would need further investment in product development and marketing before it could become self funding.

The plans to expand the role of the training unit in training delivery to the dairy sector and initiate commercial production and marketing of milk and milk products, based on the project implementation experience, were ambitious. There was no evidence that the proposed replication of the demonstrated milk collection-processing-marketing technologies and systems to other parts of Thailand would occur within the available government funding, given the investment cost of setting up a processing unit.

Priority and relevance to national needsThe development of the dairy industry is a priority within the livestock sector and decreasing the dependency on imported dairy products is seen as a national need. The ability of the small scale dairy sector, given its stage of development, to compete against high quality imported products in the high value urban markets remains a substantial challenge to the development of this segment of the industry. The technical challenges of dairy production in the tropics further adds to this challenge.

Quality of Project FormulationThe objectives of project were ambitious within the context of the size of the project. Marketing of the products from the dairy cooperative received little attention in the formulation of the project.

Implementation A strong national coordinator supported by regular backstopping from HQ meant the project was implemented within the general time frame and budget of the proposal.

Results and outcomeThe project was a focal point for small scale dairying within Thailand. The training provided during the implementation of the project established a group of trainers who have the skills and resources to continue provision of training to support the development of the small scale dairy industry and assist cooperatives in product development. However they will need resources and institutional support to continue, which at present they lack.

Follow-up, sustainability and catalytic impactThe project was visible both within and outside Thailand and it served as a demonstration in convincing the government of Myanmar to seek support from FAO for a similar TCP. Cooperatives will require support in market development for dairy products if they are to establish a presence in the market against larger commercial dairy processors and imported products. The allocation of an adequate operational budget for the training centre by the Livestock Department will be critical to the

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ability of the training centre to resume provision of training to the cooperatives. It would be unrealistic to expect the centre to be self funding through charging for its training programmes and/or utilising the facility for commercial production, within the confines of its production and marketing capabilities.

However the ability of the small scale dairy sector to compete outside their immediate local collection areas will be severely challenged by further liberalisation of trade between Thailand and low cost dairy commodity producing countries such as Australia (a Free Trade Agreement was signed between Thailand and Australia in late 2003). While this project was a response to a government request for assistance in this area, FAO should also bring to bear its own judgement with regard to priority areas for impact on poverty and hunger in the allocation of its scarce resources.

Conformity to FAO Strategic Objectives and Medium Term PlanThe project objectives conformed to FAO strategic objectives of providing technologies and systems for efficient natural resource use in livestock production and enhancing the contribution of livestock to poverty alleviation and self sufficiency. However, within the context of Thailand, other possible interventions based on small animals and directly focused on the poorer sections of the community would be more appropriate to a poverty alleviation objective, than support to dairying processing and the small scale dairying production in peri-urban areas.



8. MYANMAR

Review of Projects since 1990

The projects implemented by FAO since 1990 are listed below. From 1998 to 2003, FAO's involvement in Myanmar was essentially limited implementation of an ongoing UNHCR funded project in western Myanmar, supporting the resettlement of returnees from Bangladesh. Given the particular situation of assistance to this country (only one project in the review period but several many years earlier), FAO project assistance to Myanmar is reviewed below as a whole rather than by individual interventions.

Project Title Operationally Closed

TCP/MYA/2251Small-Scale Pig and Poultry Production in the Eastern Border Areas 1994-05

TCP/MYA/6611Assistance to Small-Scale Livestock Production in the Northern and Western Border Areas 1996-06

GCP/MYA/002/HCR thenSupport for Agriculture and Natural Resource Ongoing

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GCP/MYA/003/EC Management in Northern Rakhine State

TCP/MYA/3001Small-scale Dairy Technology Transfer and Training Commenced 2004

The support by most donors to the current Myanmar government has been restricted to humanitarian aid (about $56 million per annum). Since 1990, FAO through the Technical Cooperation Programme has supported livestock production in the eastern and western border areas of the country. Support has also been provided to the development of vaccine production capability, particularly the production of a thermostable vaccine for the control of Newcastle Disease (ND) in village poultry. In the mid-1990s, the TCP Small-Scale Livestock Production in the Northern and Western Border Areas had a significant impact on the indigenous poultry industry through support to the development of this vaccine for ND. The production of vaccines has been maintained and the vaccine at various times has been widely distributed within the country with very positive results. In the Northern Rakhine, the ND vaccine has been used to demonstrate the considerable benefits to control of ND within village flocks. The concept of a "livestock bank" was also introduced by these TCP projects where the initial recipients of a small number of breeding animals were required to distribute the first born progeny to other members of the community. This system was reported to have been sustained over a number of years in the eastern border areas of Myanmar.

During the late nineties, the UNHCR funded Assistance for Local Integration in Northern Rakhine State supported a sub project Support for Agriculture and Natural Resources Management (GCP/MYA/002/HCR) which was implemented by FAO. Funding for this sub project was subsequently taken over by a European Commission funded project (GCP/MYA/003/EC). The project provided assistance to the resettlement of returnees returning from Bangladesh. This project had a livestock component, which supported the development of poultry production for food security and income generation of landless poor through the provision of hybrid chickens, feed and vaccination against Newcastle Disease.

A TCP project to provide technical assistance and training to the dairy sector, similar to the dairy TCP project in Thailand, was commenced in 2004. This TCP will be strengthening the capacity of the Yangon Livestock Training Centre to provide training for small milk producers and processors in the peri-urban area of Yangon.

Priority and relevance of the FAO programme to national needs in LPPIThe recent FAO's programme in support of LPPI in Myanmar is highly relevant to the national needs. Whether this support is seen as a priority by the government was unclear as national policies and priorities in the livestock sector remain undefined. In the private sector, where the livestock industries predominantly operate, there are substantial barriers to enterprise, such as inflation, exchange rate distortions and controls on trade. Any efforts to address these constraints, as they apply to the livestock sector, would be seen as priority within the context of the government's desire to promote exports of livestock products.

Follow-up, sustainability and catalytic impactThe political situation in Myanmar will eventually change so the international community need to be in a position to respond quickly to the development imperatives of the country. FAO's support to the review of the agricultural sector, formulation of investment strategies and data collection and analyses will potentially provide considerable impetus to the growth and development of the livestock sector.

Conformity to FAO Strategic Objectives and Medium Term PlanThe Technical Cooperation Programme supported by FAO conformed to FAO's strategic objectives of providing technologies and systems for efficient natural resource use in livestock production and enhancing the contribution of livestock to poverty alleviation and self sufficiency.

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D. SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICA (ZIMBABWE, MALAWI, SWAZILAND, KENYA)

1. ZIMBABWE

TCP/ZIM/0169: Integrated Natural Resources management in the semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe3

(2002-2004) ongoing

This project has received some inputs from the Sub-regional AGA officer; its main emphasis is on soil fertility. Activities started from the observation that sixty percent of cattle owners do not use the manure available to them for field crops. With the steady decline of rangeland areas, the production and conservation of quality forage for use in the dry season becomes increasingly important to maintain livestock body condition, and to prevent overgrazing and resource degradation. A regional workshop in 1999 called for a stronger focus on better management and utilization of dry season feeding.

Initial participatory work with farmers in the lowveld highlighted a demand for forage to provide dry season feed, particularly for draft animals. Activities were based on work started by ICRISAT on fodder and silage production. This work was then linked with farmer field schools, for which curricula where developed in association with farmers and other stakeholders. A draft manual for the Farmer Training schools was developed in 2003, and is being revised for finalization. The project was to be closed in December 2003 in the middle of what would have been the second cropping season. Eventually, a no-cost extension was agreed up to Sept 2004, allowing a second year of cropping to be completed.

The project is an example of how delays in project start-up mean that a cropping season is lost, thereby halving the effective practical operational time in a two-year project. It is recommended that FAO consider extending the time period for a TCP from two to three years to make allowance for predictable delays and allow two full cropping in a project period. The eventual impact of the project is yet too soon to consider.

9. MALAWI

TCP/MLW/0065: Special Programme for Food Security – Diversification component.

BackgroundThe original project design for SPFS had no livestock component. However, modifications were made at a later date to include distribution of goats and poultry to enhance household self reliance.

Project Objectives and DesignThe SPFS project aims at assisting the poor and chronically insecure households by improving their food security at household and national levels through rapid increase in food production, access and utilization.

Following a PRA exercise, groups of farmers within village communities at eight sites were selected around the country, who in turn each selected a committee responsible for the local management of

3 AGLL is leading the Task Force

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the scheme. Extension staff received training, and the communities selected one local person to receive training and inputs as a paravet.

a) Goat component.

Prior to receiving stock, farmers underwent training in animal management, feed and health requirements and in business management. Additionally, farmers were required to construct an animal house from local materials. Female goats of local and improved Boer goats were to be distributed to farmers, together with improved bucks. Recipient farmers were required to “pass –on” the first two female kids born to their does, to other members of the group. Buck exchange between communities is planned after three years to prevent in-breeding.

b) Poultry component.

Selected farmers received training in poultry requirement and management, and business management. Deep litter housing was required before birds were distributed. Local hens and cocks were provided, mainly for subsistence. Black Australop hens and cocks were distributed for a more commercial orientation, to provide an income to farmers. Recipient farmers were required to pass-on 10 fertilizer eggs to another member of the community group. The project aims also to integrate livestock and cropping systems by making use of crop residues, and to recycle manure.

Institutional arrangementsThe Ministry of Agriculture was the implementing institution, collaborating with the University of Malawi. Technical input was also provided by a South-South Collaboration project, with personnel from Myanmar.

Project implementation and resultsTraining of extension staff and farmers, and livestock distribution started in 2003. A total of 483 families benefited from the project. Vaccination campaigns were held to protect poultry against Newcastle Disease. Stock survival rates are reported to have been very high where the recommended health routines have been followed, although other sources have indicated that the Black Australop breed can be susceptible to disease under free roaming village conditions.

All farmers selected as primary beneficiaries received stock. To date, no female goats have been passed-on to secondary beneficiaries. Demand for goats and poultry is high among farmers. Monitoring forms have been designed, but not implemented as yet.

Conclusions At this stage, the livestock component has achieved some of its aims. Planned collection of data through village-based technicians will enhance the monitoring and evaluation capacity. However, there are doubts regarding sustainability after the end of external assistance, as comparable attempts to improve goats and poultry over two decades have had a patchy record. Nevertheless, the current approach has greater local management participation, which may prove beneficial.

Group management training is essential, with agreed and understood pass-on selection methods, procedures in the event of animal mortality, and interaction between groups for buck exchange.

RecommendationsThe pass-on system of livestock distribution is popular with NGOs, but many lack resources to undertake adequate reviews. Implementation of a monitoring and evaluation process is recommended for this project. (The animal production expert attached to the project under the South-South Cooperation scheme has already developed a draft M&E scheme.) Furthermore, an ex-post assessment should be planned to investigate sustainability, and to highlight the strengths and

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weakness of the approach used in this project so that future pass-on projects or project phases could avoid identified pitfalls.

Sustainability of these projects will depend upon the social dynamics of groups as well as biological aspects. It is not clear that this SPFS project has provided adequate group training and encouraged the groups to undertake the necessary pre-planning to ensure that all members know precisely the conditions under which animals are received, passed on and how recipients are to be chosen by the group.

It should also be noted that the rationale for Malawi component of RAF/97/032, Management and conservation of Farm Animal Genetic resources, identification of indigenous Malawi livestock breeds, and plans for their conservation, is based on a fear that crossbreeding has diminished the number of purebred indigenous stock, an objective that contrasts sharply with the approach promoted by the SPFS diversification project, even though both aim to improve household livelihoods. FAO should encourage participants in the Genetic Resources project to make comparisons between indigenous and crossbred stock to highlight strengths and weakness of each, so that farmers can make informed choices on what animals is the most appropriate for their circumstances.


Mission assessment of the project on a scale of 1-3 where 3 is optimumRelevance 2Clarity of objectives 2Design 1Input Delivery 2Outputs 1Process 1-2Cost-effectiveness 2Sustainable effects and impact n.a.4

TCP/MLW/2903: Design and Legislation of a livestock identification and recording scheme

BackgroundThe numbers of cattle and pigs in Malawi have fallen sharply in recent years as a result of poor animal disease control, poor nutrition, and particularly in the Central and Southern regions, theft and slaughter. It has proved difficult to convict livestock thieves in the courts because of the inability of farmers to prove legal ownership of stock. Donors have expressed resistance to providing further assistance to the livestock sector until Government action is taken to address the problem of theft and insecurity.

Project Objectives and DesignThe project aims to design an identification system for farm animals, compatible with systems in use or planned for other SADC countries, and to draft legislation for Livestock Identification appropriate to Malawian conditions. Animal identification will then be recorded in an official registered, allowing traceability of stock after sale, transfer or slaughter. Media campaigns will be designed to increase public awareness of the objectives, nature and benefits of the proposed identification and recording system. These objectives are fully in line with Government Policy.

4 Monitoring of implementation and results has only just started.

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Institutional arrangementsThe project has been implemented through the Ministry of Agriculture, in conjunction with a consultant company sub-contracted by the original consultant group contracted by FAO5.

Project implementation and resultsIdentification systems used in SADC countries were investigated, and the ones most appropriate for different livestock species under Malawian systems were selected. These were branding for cattle, showing the country, district, Tribal Authority and owner identity, and tattooing for small ruminants. Ownership would be registered at District Offices, and also stored on a National Database. The owner would receive paper certification, informing the Registration Officer and passing documentation to the new owner when the animal was sold or slaughtered. Proof of ownership would be necessary to obtain a Livestock Movement Licence.

Existing legislation was investigated and draft legislation has been prepared for a Livestock Identification and recording bill. The draft legislation has been accepted by the Ministry of Agriculture, and is currently with the Ministry of Justice. It is anticipated that the bill will be submitted in the next parliamentary session after the National Election on 18 May 2004.

Meetings with stakeholders have been held, and a media campaign has been designed to raise public awareness.

Conclusion Based on initial exposure to the system, there is strong public support for a traceability system as a means of reducing the threat of livestock theft. The designed marking system is comprehensive, and the recording system should provide a valuable database. Assuming that the necessary legislation is tabled by the Ministry of Justice after the election and passed by parliament, the success of the marking and recording scheme will depend on enforcement.

The project is an appropriate response to a long-recognized problem, and a good performance of the system would be relevant to other SADC countries. (SADC passed a resolution for all SADC countries to introduce a recording scheme.)

RecommendationsA proposal for a pilot project to field test the system is being initiated. As there has been interest in the proposed Malawian approach from other countries, results of the pilot study would be keenly anticipated. It would indicate the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed system under practical circumstances, and provide an indicator for estimating the cost of implementing the system nationwide.

It is highly probable that the cost of nationwide implementation will be beyond the financial capacity of the Malawi Government, and donor support for provision of hardware, software, training and probable for transport for the enforcement units will be required. An additional factor to consider is the on-going recurrent expenditure costs, together with the ability of the Malawi Government to provide funding. It is essential that a budget be drawn so that these costs are transparent. Proposed charges to stock owners for branding and recording may not be sufficient to make the system self financing. The proposed legislation allows for the scheme to be extended to all domesticated animals. Estimated of the costs of implementation must be prepared for each species before an extension of the system beyond cattle can be considered.

5 It appears that the consulting that won the contract did not have all the required expertise available until a recommendation made by FAO led to the sub-contracting of a South-African consulting firm.

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Mission assessment of the project on a scale of 1-3 where 3 is optimumRelevance 3Clarity of objectives 2Design 3Input Delivery 2Outputs 2Process 1-2Cost-effectiveness 2Sustainable effects and impact 2

10. SWAZILAND

TCP/SWA/ 2802: Support for the Diversification Component of the Special Programme for Food Security (2002 – 2003)

Project Objectives and DesignThe overall objective is to help Swaziland improve its food security and Human nutrition situation through sustainable and financially viable increases in livestock production and productivity for direct consumption and income.

This was to be achieved through:

farmer training and demonstrations to improve smallholder poultry production farmer training and demonstrations to show improved goat production, distribution of superior

indigenous bucks, and doe distribution farmer training and demonstrations to show improved commercial pig production, and

distribution of commercial breeds. Based on the outcome of these activities, a proposal for an expansion during a second Phase will

be prepared

Institutional arrangementsThe project was implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, with South-South technical assistance. Technical support was also provided by the Animal Production Research Institute, Irene, RSA.

Project implementation and results 6 Start of the project was delayed and is far from completion. Currently, orders have been placed for the importation of poultry, pigs and goats, but orders are still to be placed with suppliers. It is planned that indigenous stock will be purchased locally.

An initial PRA for the project areas has been much delayed. Although four of the five proposed sites coincide with locations selected under the Irrigation component of SPFS, no attempt was made to integrate activities (potentially saving time and resources) between the different SPFS components.

Study tours and training sessions for government staff on controlling Newcastle Disease control have taken place. Training of farmers, which must occur before animals arrive, is planned to follow.

6 The mission was not able to obtain comprehensive information on the project as the National Field Manager had already left her position, and the National Coordinator was away from the office on sick leave.

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Conclusion The project is seriously behind schedule, but insufficient attention has been paid to identifying the causes and finding solutions. Additional external support is needed to drive the project forward. This does not augur well for post project sustainability. An extension of the project has been granted; however, the timing of the project is now such that much of the learning effect will be compromised as there will be little time to observe and guide the actual implementation process.

It appears that backstopping the project from Rome perhaps contributed to running up such massive delays. However, the then incumbent sub-regional AGA officer was kept busy during the period mainly with animal health related activities, and the FAO representation in Maputo lacked the continuous presence (and also the expertise) to intervene decisively. It appears that a combination of factors (distance, expertise, availability, commitment of national staff and above all government commitment) contributed to the poor performance of the project.

RecommendationThe proposal from AGA in Rome for an external consultant should be implemented if the project is considered to be salvageable. However, from the evidence so far sustainability will depend on the drive and enthusiasm of direct beneficiaries, and the likelihood of it making a long-term contribution must be questioned.



TCP/SWA/0166: Revision and Upgrade of the Livestock Database Management System (2001-2002)

In May 2000, the Government of Swaziland requested FAO technical assistance to upgrade their livestock database management system. Swaziland is one of the few countries in Africa that successfully holds an annual census of all cattle, sheep and goats. In 1993, with TCP assistance (TCP/SWA/2353 - Livestock Sector Review) the livestock census figures were put onto a computerized database and a programme developed to analyse the information. This enabled the results to be analysed and collated accurately within weeks rather the months that were required when the operation was done manually. This system remained operational and highly valued as a planning tool since then but was not considered Y2K compliant. Furthermore, after seven years the software needed upgrading.

Project Objectives and DesignThe objective of the assistance was to review the existing livestock census software and determine with the Department of Veterinary Services how the functionality and use of the system could be improved. The programming language was to be reviewed and, if considered appropriate, to be converted into a suitable industry standard software package that would also ensure Y2K compliance.

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Institutional arrangementsThe Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives was responsible for implementing this project. The consultant who undertook the earlier programming was an AGA staff member by the time of project formulation and was the expert identified to undertake the requested upgrading (hence TCP ATS arrangements were well suited).

Project implementation and resultsThe dBase system used in Swaziland was revised and upgraded as necessary. It was agreed that it would be preferable to use Access software for easier entry and data checking, rather than entry directly into dBase. The visiting expert promised to send the necessary Access entry programme but this has not occurred. As a result it has not been possible to switch from dBase to Access for entry and checking. In the meantime data entry work has continued using the modified dBase system.

Conclusion The project was completed as planned within the proposed time frame. However, dBase is not a preferred format for large scale data entry and checking, which can be achieved more simply using Access programme. Provision of a suitable Access data entry window for ease of entry, tailored to the data collection format, was discussed by the visiting FAO consultant. Although this was not part of the project terms of reference, but would be relatively simple to produce at limited cost.

RecommendationsIt is strongly recommended that the final step is taken and a suitable Access entry programme is designed and provided. This would simplify data entry and checking for entry errors. It may be possible to draw additional conclusions if the data sets from the various components of the SPFS project which are located together. The Vulnerability Assessment Mapping unit in the ministry of Agriculture could act as a focal point for the different data sets.


Mission assessment of the project on a scale of 1-3 where 3 is optimumRelevance 2-3Clarity of objectives 3Design 2Input Delivery 1-2Outputs 2Process 2Cost-effectiveness 2Sustainable effects and impact 2

11. KENYA

TCP/KEN/0167: Restructuring the Kenya Dairy Board (2001 – 2003)

Project Objectives and DesignThe objective of the project was to prepare and initiate the implementation of a programme to restructure and commercialize the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) into a modern cost-efficient, self reliant body that works to meet consumer needs by promoting the sustainable development of a dynamic dairy industry.

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Based on a participatory needs assessment study, an organizational and staffing structure for KDB was to be developed to make KDB capable of responding to the dairy services and information needs of stakeholders. Furthermore, a Dairy Industry Bill and Dairy Policy were expected to be put to parliament to legalise the suggested changes in the structure and role of KDB. The new Bill will transform KDB from its former role as a regulator into a Service provider. KDB was expected to introduce a set of dairy quality standards and best practices. The project was to facilitate the necessary training, and information delivery and collection systems for this to occur, and organize media campaigns to raise public awareness.

A five year strategic plan for KDB, with a detailed programme of work and budget (Business Plan) was to be developed.

Institutional arrangementsThe project was executed by the Sub-Department of Livestock Production in the Ministry of Agriculture are Rural Development, and the Kenya Dairy Board in association with FAO. Stakeholder training was contracted to the Naivasha Dairy Training Institute.

Project implementation and resultsRestructuring packages for KDB have been developed, staff retrenchment has occurred and new personnel with specific skills have been recruited and training courses offered to assist in the transformation from regulator to that of serving the industry. Dairy quality standards have been set and agreed with the Kenya Bureau of standards, and best practices agreed. Licensing, certification and Cess collection have also been improved. Equipment and supplies has been obtained for KDB laboratories and offices. Training courses have been held, in association with the Naivasha Dairy Training Institute, for all levels of stakeholders from informal milk traders to managers of large/medium scale processing units. Media campaigns have been organized to raise public awareness about milk nutrition and safety.

A draft KDB Corporate Strategic Plan (2003-2008) has been produced, with a mission to facilitate the stakeholders activities towards a sustainable dairy industry that provides quality and affordable dairy products, and with 8 strategic priority areas for fulfilling its mandate, and two for its functions.

The new Dairy Industry Bill has been prepared with stakeholder assistance and forwarded to the Minister of Agriculture (now Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Development). To date, the bill has not yet been presented to parliament. There is ongoing public discussion on the sale of raw milk in Kenya (which is technically illegal, even though only 20% of marketed product is pasteurised before sale). The use of lactoperoxidase, widely promoted through FAO as a means of increasing milk safety from producer to processor, will remain illegal under the proposed Dairy Industries Bill.

One key aspect remains under discussion – the status of raw milk sales. Eighty per cent of milk reaching consumers passes through the informal sector untreated, and licences are issued to informal milk traders, but the commercial processing sector is lobbying hard for the draft Dairy Industries Bill to be changed in their favour.

Conclusion The project successfully achieved its aims in restructuring and refocusing the mandate of the Kenya Dairy Board, guided by policy information documents produced by FAO funding to ILRI. In conjunction with its predecessor projects (see below), the project can be seen as representing a successful integrated approach, providing assistance in a wide range from earlier technical training activities to policy advice in the concluding phase.

However, the projects also shows that policy advisory work is also subject to political changes. It appears (although the final decisions have not yet been made) that with the change in government also

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the orientation of the legislators has shifted. The envisaged opening towards the informal sector seems now to be less favoured by the Ministry and the decision-makers, perhaps necessitating a modification in the proposed bill.

RecommendationsThis project is at the apex of a number of FAO-funded activities aimed at informing policy makers. While each project have their own set of objectives, the overall achievement is greater than the sum of the components since a favourable policy environment favours, as proposed in the draft Dairy Industry Bill will benefit both producers and consumers. FAO has been able to work with a strong partner in Kenya, a luxury not available in many countries. This series of projects involving training, milk collection, marketing, processing and policy advice are also linked with production oriented studies. It is recommended that FAO work within integrated programmes where appropriate to multiply the probable impact of individual activities.



TCP/KEN/6611: Training Programme for the small-scale dairy sector (1996-1998)

Project Objectives and DesignThe project objective was to assist the emerging small scale milk processing industry by developing, designing and organising short term, tailor-made training courses at Naivasha Dairy Training Institute (DTI). Trainees were envisages as persons and organizations involved in milk collection, transport, processing and marketing in the small scale dairy sector to improve efficiency and quality throughout the milk chain from producer to retailer. The project was guided by a project steering committee representing the main stakeholders in the small scale dairy industry, assisted by national and FAO specialists.

The training programme was based on a participatory needs assessment from across the sector, backed up by a marketing survey, from which training modules and detailed lesson plans would be produced. Training courses would be published. It was also envisaged that the courses would become self –financing.

Institutional arrangementsThe project was jointly financed by the Government of Kenya and FAO, and implemented at the Naivasha Dairy Training Institute.

Project implementation and resultsA comprehensive training needs assessment survey was conducted across many different entrepreneurial and established groups involved in milk collection, through to retailing. Priority training subjects were identified, and six training modules drawn up. Curricula were prepared, with detailed lesson plans and materials. A number of specific processing guides were also prepared.

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Facilities at Naivasha were up-graded, including the renovation of the existing teaching dairy, and a new small scale processing demonstration unit established.

With assistance from DANIDA, study tours were organized. An initial Training of Trainers course was held, followed by 13 other courses targeted at groups ranging from Informal milk Handlers (Collectors and sellers), small scale processors, to senior supervisors from medium/large scale processors. Six training and/or capacity building workshops were held from staff at the Kenya Dairy Board. Courses and workshops were held at DTI or at a dairy processor-workplace as appropriate.

Conclusion Project aims were achieved with relevant courses designed and held. By the end of the period, cost recovery had reached 50%, but full cost recovery was planned for subsequent courses. Although women play a crucial role in the dairy processing sector, this was not reflected in course participation. Greater publicity effort was recommended in order to fill all available training places.

RecommendationsThe importance of training for the emergent informal milk collection/ processing/ marketing sector can be seen from its 80% market share. Off-site training is essential for DTI to ensure their participation, and to help in the provision of hygienic dairy products for consumers. Future dairy projects in Kenya should ensure that continued attention is paid to the informal milk processing sector (see recommendations for KDB –TCP/KEN/0169) and that the Dairy Training Institute has the necessary resources to meet both on- and off-site demands.



E. LATIN AMERICA (MEXICO, ECUADOR AND PERU)

1. MEXICO

TCP/MEX/0166: “Mejoramiento de la producción y la transformación de la leche en el Estado de Veracruz” [Improvement of milk production and transformation in the state of Veracruz]

Priority and relevance to national needs The overall project objective was to improve the production capacity and the incomes of Veracruz’s cattle breeders through the implementation of modern dairy techniques (i.e. for production and processing). Taking into account that Mexico is the major milk importer in the world and considering the high potential for livestock and dairy development in Veracruz, the project was considered by the local authorities as very relevant. However, it is difficult to conceive how such a small project could

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have a substantial impact on such an important matter if it did not include additional components (i.e. besides the final workshop) of outreach beyond its local area of influence, as well as influence on policies.

Quality of project formulationThe project was conceived, on one hand, to introduce new varieties of silvopastoral forage (leucaena and mulberry) in order to improve feed resources quality and availability, and thus enhancing milk production. At the same time, the project supported the development of a milk processing plant where to produce local- and export-types of cheese. It seems that having two different components, both of them challenging and complex enough to implement, resulted in a highly demanding project. However, the strong field partner chosen was able to cope with both sets of activities.

ImplementationThe project was implemented over the period 2001-2003 by INVEDER, a rural development organization funded by the State government. With the assistance of local and international experts, a wide range of activities were undertaken, including the establishment of “productive model farms” and the set up of a milk processing plant. Considering the results obtained; and the comments received from different stakeholders, the mission concluded that the project was implemented in an effective manner.

Results and outcomeThe project document enlisted the following expected results:

5 model farms -located in producers’ own lands- established. At least 40 producers and technicians trained on dairy herd management. At least 50 producers and technicians trained on milk preservation and transformation. A producers’ organization established and recognized by the government. A milk collection system established at two different levels: first, at the stock point where milk is

weighted and treated with lactoperoxidase, and second, when milk is moved to the cooling centre. A milk cooling centre and a model cheese plant established close by the most advantaged milk

production area. A marketing strategy for dairy products defined. A financial formula developed to monitor the profitability of the milk processing plant.

According to INVEDER, the following results were achieved:

A milk processing plant was installed and equipped in Emilio Carranza. 24 producers were technically assisted and supported to create a producers’ organization in charge

of managing the plant. 5 “productive model farms” were established in producers’ own lands. Inputs provided were as

follows: 7.5 t of fertilizers, 5 electric fences, 5 earring machines, 500 earrings, 10 scissors, etc. 348 producers were trained on silvopastoral systems, artificial insemination, cattle breeding, etc.

A final workshop was organized at the end of the project to further disseminate the results, which was attended by 119 producers, FAO staff and national and international invitees.

Delays in assisting and procuring equipment as well as getting funding from the State counterpart resulted in the milk processing factory being implemented towards the end of the project. INVEDER, nevertheless, managed to provide more training sessions than expected, due to farmers’ interest in the introduced pastures and new techniques applied in the productive model farms.

Because of sanitary constraints and the costs involved, use of lactoperoxidase was discontinued. An export-type of cheese was not produced because of the lack of markets. Instead, a local type of cheese (“maduro”) – with an interesting but small local market – was being produced.

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Follow-up, sustainability and possible impactINVEDER has followed up after project closure, in particular the milk processing plant. The introduced leucaena and mulberry is likely to spread, backed up by the positive (and profitable) experience in the (productive) model farms. Media and farmers attention given not only to the silvopastoral technology but also to the “gender-sensitive” insemination technique (the so-called “torito” method) will also contribute to the adoption of project results beyond the targeted area.

The milk processing plant, on the other hand, requires further support on marketing and management. The main issue now is for the producers to be assisted on business plans development and implementation. Work in this area should also address the producers’ need of obtaining access to revolving funds, which would allow them to buy more milk and increase their cheese production.

Another issue threatening project sustainability is the absence of price differentiation for good quality cheese (i.e. produced with pasteurized milk) in the local market. These issues clearly require further work in identifying and reaching new markets other than the local ones.



12. ECUADOR

TCP/ECU/2901 “Microempresas modelo a bajo costo de procesamiento y comercialización de leche” [Low-cost milk processing micro enterprises]

Priority and relevance to national needsThe impressive development of the dairy industry in Ecuador during the last 10 years has had limited positive impact on the poorest farmers. Although selling fresh milk to large plants of multinational corporations is feasible, the collection and pricing mechanisms has affected them to the extent that they have become disfavoured clients of the multinationals and middle-men.

The overall objective of the project was to contribute towards the improvement of the small-scale milk producers’ income level, through the establishment of self-administered milk processing micro enterprises. Despite of the strong initial interest from the Ministry of Agriculture in the project; in practice, priority given by the government was rather low during execution. There were limitations to provide counterpart funding as well as technical follow-up. However, at the local level, project activities were considered very relevant since the project beneficiaries were in high need of assistance to process their dairy products.

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Quality of project formulationThe project addressed three major issues which came up very strongly at the end of the Dutch funded project (GCP/ECU/067/NET): the need for adding value to the product through its processing, the need for developing marketing and business strategies to assure the sustainability of the self-administered milk stocking centres, and the need for strengthening the producers’ organization. Through this specific support, it was expected that the two CALs targeted would become financially profitable overtime.

ImplementationThe Ministry of Agriculture was the implementing agency of this project. The weak government capacity caused serious resources and time constraints as the project counted on their in kind and monetary contribution to implement the foreseen activities. The project budget had to be revised to include purchasing of e.g. vehicles. This weak capacity also resulted in a limited field presence since FAO project staff was only recruited for specific activities and in a short term basis.

Results and outcomeThe project document contains the following expected results:

Two model micro-enterprises installed and administered by the producers’ organizations. 200 producers trained on quality milk production. Improved offer of good quality pasteurized milk in support of food security. Two business plans developed.

The mission visited both model micro-enterprises, which were fully functioning and working according to plan. The mission was however unable to get project records about e.g. number of producers trained. Notwithstanding this lack of information, and certain problems related to the milk pro system7, the project achieved most of the expected results and outcomes (i.e. business plans were prepared, there is an improved offer of pasteurized milk, producers are now ready to process the milk and market their products, etc.).

Follow-up, sustainability and possible impactDue to the structural weaknesses of the government to provide follow-up, technical backstopping was provided in limited amounts. However, given that the project provided to the producers’ organizations the necessary training and equipment to perform as micro-enterprises, the sustainability challenge is for them to start applying the knowledge gained, for instance, to consolidate the markets developed and seek new ones, develop new products, access to financial resources through commercial loans for increasing their production, etc. Further assistance (i.e. follow-up by FAOR) should be nevertheless considered regarding the implementation of the business plans prepared.

Since expectations of further dissemination of the project results and follow-up through the government are low, and taking into account FAO’s valuable and regarded experience on dairy development projects, FAO should consider continuing its cooperation on dairy related work especially through the preparation and dissemination of related publications (e.g. “Empresas Asociativas Lecheras: sistematización del proceso en la provincial de Cañar – Ecuador”), and the development of follow up initiatives aimed at influencing local policies.


Mission assessment of the project on a scale of 1-3 where 3 is optimumRelevance 3

7 It was reported that the milk pro system did not have the capacity (max. 1000 l) for processing enough milk to reach the profitability level, and it seemed to be difficult to find replacements for damaged parts. Parts of the system were locally available e.g. the sealing machines, which had to be replaced soon after installation.

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Clarity of objectives 3Design 2Input Delivery 2Outputs 2Process 2Cost-effectiveness 2Sustainable effects and impact 2

13. PERU

TCP/PER/2803: “Fabricación y comercialización de quesos de cabra” [Production and marketing of goat cheese]

Priority and relevance to national needsThe original project request came from the Peruvian Health Ministry, given that an outbreak of brucellosis in the project area was threatening local public health. It was concluded that the main dissemination mechanism of the disease was through the informal small-scale goat cheese industry, which did not comply with the required sanitary regulations.

Given that goats are generally owned by the poorest producers, and the informal production of goat cheese is not a sufficiently profitable activity for the producers, the project addressed two highly relevant issues; on one hand, food safety and quality, and on the other hand, sustainable livelihoods of small scale goat producers.

Quality of project formulationThe project was well designed, targeting the goat producers, and including from the beginning financial indicators to monitor the financial sustainability of the goat milk processing plant. Some concerns were raised relating to the innovative tripartite project management approach (NGO-Producers’ Organization-Government). Nevertheless, in light of the results, it seems that it worked well.

On the other hand, the time spent during project formulation (almost three years), was reported as one limiting factor for adequate project implementation.

ImplementationThe project was implemented by the government (Ministry of Agriculture) and an NGO (PROCABRA), in coordination with FAO. PROCABRA was in charge of day-to-day management and project coordination, although the milk processing plant was expected to be a joint venture between the NGO and the producers’ organization. The NGO benefited from an AECI8 grant, which allowed it to quickly build and procure supplementary equipment for the milk processing plant.

Results and outcomesThe project was expected to achieve the following results:

Goat milk production increased by 50%. 150 goat milk producers trained. 200 kg of “fresh” cheese produced and marketed on a daily basis. A model cheese plant built and equipped. A technical and financial handbook prepared.

8 Spain International Cooperation Agency.

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The project has reached most of the expected results (goat milk production increased, the plant was built, the producers were trained and organized, the milk processing equipment procured, etc.). Besides, from observation and meetings with PROCABRA and government staff, as well as milk producers, it was asserted that the project had a significant positive effect on productivity and producers’ income. A key milestone was the contract with E. WONG stores to sell directly to the store. Also, as it is usual with supermarkets, E. WONG selected a type of cheese to be marketed with their brand. Overall, having created adequate standards and an image of quality are the greatest achievements, which must be preserved.

Follow-up, sustainability and possible impactThe NGO has been further supporting producers to improve the genetic quality and management of their goats. Likewise, MINAG is closely following up the project and through SENASA continue vaccinating goats against brucellosis.

The main risk threatening project sustainability is that the milk processing plant has not yet achieved the profitability level required (it should process at least 600 l/day9), and indeed is located in and managed by PROCABRA, without much involvement of the producers’ organization. A follow-up project should focus on strengthening the participation of the local organization into the project management, without however undermining the importance of maintaining a business-oriented approach. Issues such as cost-sharing of vaccination campaigns, access to new markets (e.g. restaurants, hotels, other supermarkets chains, etc.) and development of new products (e.g. yogurt, cheese creams, etc.), etc. also represent challenging activities in the short term.

As in other projects, the absence of documented outcomes limits a precise assessment of impact. However, some positive effects have already been noticed, such as:

Reduction of brucellosis outbreaks and related medical cases in the project area. More profitable markets accessed by the local producers. Creation of job opportunities and development of business-oriented attitudes among the local

producers.



9 Lambert’s BTOR (2003)

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TCP/PER/6712: “Capacitación para la Operación de Mataderos Modulares” [Training for Operating Modular Slaughterhouses]

Priority and relevance to national needsIn rural areas of the Sierra there is limited availability of slaughterhouses which comply with the minimum sanitary standards. This causes loss and contamination of meat, whose sale in some cases represent around 50% of the total farmers´ earnings. The impact of such losses on the small scale producers can seriously affect their efforts to overcome poverty and increase their income. Since the problem is so widespread, especially in the Andean region, the project was considered as very relevant and responding to an urgent national and regional need. However, it was reported that the priority given by the relevant government entities was low (with the health and local authorities exceptions).

Quality of project formulationFrom the project document, it can be said that the project had a relatively sound design in terms of addressing not only technical but also some management issues. However, it might have been sounder to incorporate more training on organizational aspects and follow up funding provisions. Likewise, the weak institutional setting was not properly addressed by the project. The fact that it was formulated as a pilot project, without involving an organization capable of (and interested in) replicating the model (e.g. SENASA, the regional government or the association of municipalities) was a serious weakness.

ImplementationThe project was implemented by the Maranganí municipality, with technical inputs from FAO national and international consultants who visited the project site in short –term assignments. FAO project staff assisted the locally recruited Project Coordinator and delivered training sessions together with the Instituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Altura (IVITA) on slaughtering techniques and use of meat sub products.

Results and outcomeThe project document did not include specific expected results other than the modular slaughterhouse being established and the training delivered. The mission was unable to visit the field site; however, from project records10, it seems that problems regarding unexpected modifications of the infrastructure caused some delays. The training sessions provided in Marangani, and carried out by IVITA, were considered relevant, as well as the materials and documents produced. From the terminal report, it can be concluded that the lack of governmental commitment, the poor meat quality – especially of camelids affected by sarcosistiosis, and the weak law enforcement regarding food safety seriously limited the achievement of outcomes.

Follow-up, sustainability and possible impact4 years after its construction, there are no official records about the slaughterhouse11. Besides lack of follow-up, the project had limited sustainability prospects given its extreme location and poor institutional setting. Nevertheless, this is an area still requiring assistance from FAO given the serious health related risks those informal slaughterhouses pose on public health. FAO should give more attention to the institutional setting of the project as well as to strengthen management capacities of the counterpart(s), incorporating a more aggressive business approach to this kind of projects (e.g. more focus on management and influencing on local and national policies regarding meat safety).

10 Garcia de Siles’ BTOR (2001-02)11 From informal consultations with SENASA, the mission learnt that in the project area there are no authorized slaughterhouses.

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Mission assessment of the project on a scale of 1-3 where 3 is optimumRelevance 2Clarity of objectives 2Design 1Input Delivery 2Outputs n.a.Process 2Cost-effectiveness 1Sustainable effects and impact n.a.

14. REGIONAL PROJECTS

TCP/RLA/0177 & TCP/RLA/2001: “Evaluación y reforzamiento del sistema de prevención de la Encefalopatía Espongiforme Bovina (EEB) y el sistema de control de calidad de piensos” [Assessment and strengthening of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis (BSE) prevention system and the animal feed quality control system]

Priority and relevance to regional/national needsFAO responded timely to a regional request12 to work on this area made by several countries in the region (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, México, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. Bolivia was also included after the project started). These countries considered a priority to work on this area, as it affected trade relations and food safety.

In the case of Mexico, the need for improving the national BSE prevention system at the time of the project formulation was a top priority. Due to the absence of other major diseases such as FMD and the amount of livestock trade with the USA and Canada, work in this area was considered timely and very relevant for the country. Likewise in Peru, where the fact that fish meal exports are banned by the EU due to illegal cross-contamination of fish meal with bone meal within Europe, has made of BSE a very sensitive issue in the country trade agenda. Here the project was also seen as highly relevant.

Quality of project formulationThe project objective was to assess the situation of BSE in selected countries of the region as well as to ascertain the systems in place for preventing its introduction and controlling the quality and safety of animal feed. The project therefore aimed at strengthening the capacity of the animal health services to deal with the surveillance of the disease as well as preparing a country-tailored communication strategy to inform about the health risks associated to BSE and its implications for the livestock industry. Even though the capacity, the priority given and the particular needs of the animal health services differ from country to country, it was in general acknowledged that the project was well designed, having as key components the methodological approaches established for follow up and replicability at regional & national level.

ImplementationThe project was implemented by RLC, in conjunction with the national coordinators (i.e. representatives of the Animal Health Services). In order to define the methods to be used as well as to carry out the initial assessment, an expert meeting took place. There it was decided to use a self-evaluation questionnaire, which was designed to be filled in by the animal health authorities in each of the countries. A team of external consultants were then recruited to assess different elements of the

12 Originally the request was discussed during the regional OIE meeting in 2001 in Argentina.

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animal feed quality control system and the BSE prevention system. Their work also included analyzing the results of the self-evaluation questionnaire. Training-of-Trainees events were conducted, as well as “second-generation” national workshops. A website was setup to follow up and share the lessons learned and experience gained beyond project participants.

Results and outcomeExpected results of the project were the following:

Critical points in the BSE prevention systems of the participant countries identified. 40 instructors trained in different areas such as epidemiological disease surveillance, HACCP

applied to meat industries, normative and standard setting procedures, communication and dissemination aspects, etc.

Risk analysis and BSE-related units of the Animal Health Services strengthened. HACCP handbook relating to techniques applied to animal feed production prepared. Pamphlets designed and articles prepared relating to communication and dissemination of BSE

technical information and epidemiological surveillance data.

In the case of Mexico, the consultants who visited the country (2003) to certify the validity of the information provided in the self-administered questionnaire, concluded and suggested the following recommendations:

Regulations against introduction of the BSE disease were in place, but yet needed to be enforced. A traceability system needed to be established for imported animals. The current surveillance system was rather passive and not able to provide early warning. It was needed to tighten BSE-related regulations against countries where it was not possible to

exclude the possibility of future outbreaks. The risk analysis for BSE had to be regularly updated, so that a special unit to deal with BSE

matters was needed.

The responsible agency at national level, SENASICA, reacted implementing the following measures:

Established a specific unit within SENASICA for BSE surveillance and prevention (SIINIGA). The BSE prevention system was improved through e.g. the inclusion of bovines older than 30

months in the epidemiological sample for surveillance, the increment of the sample size, the use of a quicker test (i.e. western blot analysis) for disease diagnosis, training inspectors and maintaining an updated BSE risk analysis.

In the case of Peru, the recommendations of the project such as the use of new BSE diagnosis tests and increase the size of the sample were not yet implemented, especially because the different country situation regarding the disease (i.e. Peru is not a major importer/exporter of meat). Besides, current efforts (and investments) on animal health are concentrated on eradicating FMD.

With regard to the communication component, Mexico is currently preparing a new handbook for BSE identification based on the guidelines prepared with project assistance.

Follow-up, sustainability and possible impactThe mission found that the simple but effective measures to follow-up (i.e. maintaining an active and updated website to serve as information and dissemination tool; etc.) and assure replicability (i.e. “seed” money was readily available for each country to undertake national workshops, to which some countries like Mexico added their own resources) included in the project design were crucial to materialize the impact achieved (i.e. improved confidence levels among participating countries due to transparency, enhanced networking and regional knowledge of the disease, etc.).

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The mission strongly recommend following the same successful approach in similar capacity building projects (i.e. there is interest from OIRSA to replicate the project in Central America).

It should be also taken into account however the degree of relevance that the subject may have for each of the participating countries, since depending on the attention given to the disease and the timeliness of the project, government follow up and interest could greatly vary (i.e. in this project, it was reported that only 5 out of 9 countries carried out national workshops despite of the availability of seed money from FAO for such second-generation events).



TCP/RLA/8931: "Capacitación Regional en Inspección y Tecnología de la Carne" [Regional Training on Meat Inspection and Technology]

Priority and relevance to national needsAs mentioned in the case of other projects dealing with meat technology (TCP/PER/6712, TCP/RLA/2914), the proliferation of informal slaughterhouses in the LAC region, which do not comply with the minimum food safety standards, represents a serious risk to public health and also affect meat prices, especially in rural areas. This project was thus relevant since it contributed towards enhanced human capacity in the subject. However, this area is not always a top priority among livestock units’ staff, and somehow is hidden by the attention given to livestock issues related to international (and not so much local) trade.

Quality of project formulationThe project goal was to improve the availability of good quality meat and meat sub-products. For this purpose, two regional training courses were carried out to improve the knowledge of livestock industry staff on meat technology and inspection. However, project design suffered from limited follow-up mechanisms. Given the nature and importance of the second-generation training, more than monitoring missions should have been incorporated in the project.

ImplementationThe project was implemented by FAO, having as counterpart the Colombian National University’s Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos (ICTA). Two regional courses were held at ICTA, one on meat inspection and the other on meat technology. National follow-up courses were expected to be carried out by the former participants.

Results and outcome15 professionals from the region were trained in meat inspection and other 15 in meat technology. However, national workshops were not held until FAO provided further technical and financial support in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. Limited outcomes were observed in the countries visited (Peru and Ecuador), given the lack of interest in undertaking national follow-up courses and poor networking among participants. Nevertheless, some of the former trainees have been applying

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the knowledge gained in the regional training during their professional activities (at the university, working in slaughterhouses, etc.).

Follow-up, sustainability and possible impactAs indicated above, some participants were in an individual basis disseminating – especially through university teaching – some of the techniques learnt during the regional training. As a lesson learned in this project, FAO has to consider funding follow up mechanisms to support the development of national, and if possible also a final regional, workshops. The mission strongly support the recommendations of the terminal report, where it is suggested to establish a long-term regional programme in the subject, as well as to set up a regional centre for meat technology and inspection training located in Colombia, for which resource mobilization activities should be undertaken.



TCP/RLA/2914: “Apoyo a la crianza y aprovechamiento de los camelidos sudamericanos en la region Andina” [Support to breeding and improved use of South American camelids in the Andean region]

Priority and relevance to national needsAs recognized in the 7th CODEGALAC meeting, South American camelids represent a big potential for alleviating poverty in the Sierra. To release such economic potential, wool and meat quality and safety issues need to be addressed. Presence of diseases, under nutrition, diminished genetic performance and management related matters are the main cause of high rates of infant mortality and low quality of fibre. The presence of sarcosistiosis in particular limits the market value of meat. The project focuses on the issue of meat quality, which has been considered relevant in Peru by local authorities and the IP (CONACS and the Cayetano Heredia University). Less interest was shown in Ecuador, where populations of camelids are not representative, thus meat production and marketing is very limited. Nevertheless, the project is considered as addressing a regional need which involved the livelihoods of an important part of the Andean peasants.

Quality of project formulationThe project objective was to improve current knowledge on South American camelids infant mortality; reasons and preventive methods, including research on enterotoxaemia and sarcosistiosis. Besides, it was expected to promote the use of meat processing techniques for elaborating sub-products (e.g. sausage). It was instrumental for FAO to engage AECI -through its Araucania Initiative- in the project as development partner. However, even when meat quality and processing is an important issue, there is an evident need to approach the problem of health, nutrition, genetics, and productivity within a more comprehensive approach. More partnerships with other donors and organizations working on the subject (besides the AECI-sponsored Araucania Initiative, there is an ongoing EU-funded project worth Euro 6 million) would have enhanced the project impact.

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ImplementationThe project is implemented by RLC, and coordinated at the regional level and in Peru by staff of the Cayetano Heredia University’s Faculty of Veterinarian Science, together with CONACS. Besides, in Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina there is a national coordinator. Despite some delays in procuring the laboratory equipment, research work has already been carried out on sarcosistiosis and enterotoxaemia. A regional workshop in meat technology was also held, which was attended by participants of the recipient countries.

Results and outcomeThe project expected results and outcomes are listed as follows:

At least 15 instructors trained on camelids meat technology. Improved knowledge of the sarcosistiosis epidemiology. Prevention and control of sarcosistiosis in South American camelids. At least 20 instructors trained on prevention of infant mortality. At least 20 instructors trained on sarcosistiosis control and prevention. High quality and safe camelids meat and meat sub-products offered. Producers’ incomes increased. Camelids infant mortality decreased. Increased availability of camelids for slaughtering and fibre production.

The project is still ongoing, so that some expected results and outcomes have yet to be achieved. Work related to the first two bullet points has already been undertaken. In regard to the regional training course, it became clear that for some countries (like Ecuador) the issue of meat technology was not very relevant since its population of camelids does not exceed 15,000 animals. Efforts to replicate the course at national level have sometimes failed (as in Ecuador) due to lack of counterpart funding (in this case, the government). So as for creating a regional network among former participants. In regard to the improved knowledge of the sarcosistiosis epidemiology, scientific research has been undertaken and as a result, new information related to the disease has been found. However, prospects for further work on the subject e.g. developing a vaccine for sarcosistiosis, has not been considered as it was not included in the original project document.

Follow-up, sustainability and possible impactFAO has so far started working in a highly relevant matter for the Andean region, however, need for following up on the subject is required in order to assure the use and sustainability of the results. For instance, albeit country counterparts are now better equipped to undertake future work on developing a vaccine for enterotoxaemia and sarcosistiosis, FAO could be instrumental in helping to mobilize external resources (e.g. from AECI, the EU, etc.) needed for expanding and disseminating the results of the research. This would also support the achievement of impacts at the producer level (i.e. which are referred in the last three bullet points of the project Expected Results and Outcomes section).



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Documents

THEMATIC EVALUATION OF TCP Report.doc · Web viewTCP/ZIM/0169: Integrated Natural Resources management in the semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe (2002-2004) ongoing 33 9. Malawi 33 TCP/MLW/0065: