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Document of

The World Bank

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Report No. 7444-COB

STAFF APPRAISAL REPORT

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND ADAPTIVE RESEARCH PROJECT

AUGUST 13, 1990

Agriculture OperationsOccidental and Central Africa Department

This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the performance oftheir official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization.

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CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS

Currency Unit = CFA Franc (CFAF)US$1 = CFAF 285 (February 1990)

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

Metric System

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

CAT Centre d'Appui Technique (DRDFV)CCCE Caisse Centrale de Cooperation Economique (France)CNCVRA Comite National de Coordination de la Vulgarisation et Recherche

AgricolesCNSA Centre National des Semences Am6lior6esCRC Credit Rural du CongoCTFT Centre Technique Forestier TropicalDEP Direction des Etudes et de la Planification (MJDR)DRDFV Direction de la Recherche-Developpement, de la Formation et de la

Vulgarisation (MJDR)DRDR Direction Regionale du Developpement RuralDRR Direction de la Radio RuraleEB Encadreur de BaseEDF European Development FundFAC Fonds d'Aide et de Cooperation (France)FAO Food and Agriculture OrganizationGOC Government of the CongoIFAD International Fund for Agricultural DevelopmentMESS Ministere de l'Enseignement Secondaire et Superieur, charge de la

Recherche ScientifiqueMJDR MiT,ist6re de la Jeunesse et du Developpement RuralMUCODEC Mutuelles Congolaises d'Epargne et de CreditOCC Office du Cafe et du CacaoOCV Office des Cultures VivrieresOPVA Operation Pilote et Vulgarisation AgricolePIP Public Investment ProgramPR Promotion RuraleSAL Structural Adjustment LendingSCT Service de Coordination Technique (DRDR)SPR Service de la Promotion Rurale (DRDFV)SSE Service de Suivi-Evaluation (DRDFV)TS, Technicien SpecialiseTSPA Technicien Specialise de Production AnimaleTSPC Technicien Specialise de PiscicultureTSPR Technicien Specialise de Promotion RuraleTSPV Technicien Specialise de Production Vdg6taleUNDP United Nations Development Programme

GOVERNMENT FISCAL YEAR

January 1 - December 31

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY



TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No.

DOCUMENTS CONTAINED IN THE PROJECT FILE .............................. iii

LOAN AND PROJECT SUMMARY ......................................... iv

KEY FEATURES OF THE RURAL SECTOR ..................................... vii

I. INTRODUCTION. 1

II. SECTORAL BACKGROUND. 1A. Economic Setting .. 1B. The Agricultural Sector .. 3

1. Main Features. 32. Government Agricultural Strategy. 43. Institutional Environment. 5

C. Bank Sector Strategy ................................... 11

III. THE PROJECT .. 12A. Project Rationale, Objectives and Summary Description 12B. Detailed Features .. 13

1. Agricultural Extension .132. Adaptive Research .143. Training and Rural Promotion .164. Monitoring and Evaluation .185. Management Support .196. Other Extension Support .207. Agricultural Planning .22

C. Project Costs and Financing . .231. Cost Estimates .232. Financing .243. Procurement .254. Disbursements .265. Financial Management, Accounting

and Audit Requirements .27

IV. ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT .. 28A. General Project Organization .28B. The Extension Service .28C. Adaptive Research .30D. Training and Rural Promotion .31E. Monitoring and Evaluation .32F. Other Extension Support .32G. Agricultural Planning .33

This report is based on the findings of a re-appraisal mission whichvisited the Congo from January 28 to February 15, 1990, consisting ofMessrs. J.-C. Balcet (Mission Leader, AFlAG), A. Seznec (AFTAG), A. BenMayor (AFTAG), M. Tall (Consultant, AFlAG), and Ms. M. Randriamamonjy (FAO).The Lead Advisor was Mr. I. Serejski (formerly AFTAG) who had led theappraisal mission in June 1988. The report was edited by Mrs. M. Layton.The secretarial work was done by Mrs. H. Hoang and Miss Hortense Nguele.

This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the performanceof their official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization.

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TAILE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

V. BENEFITS, JUSTIFICATION AND RISKS .......................... 33A. Project Benefits ....... .......... *..O* ............... 33B. Economic Justification ......... . . .. ........................... * ...*** 34C. Budgetary Implications .................. ............ . 34D. Environmental Impact ... ....... ............... ......... 35E. Risks ........... 35

VI. ASSURANCES, CONDITICNS AND RECOMMENDATION .................. 36

ANNEXES

1. MDJR's Organizational Chart2. DRDFV's Organizational Chart3. DEP's Organizational Chart4. Table 1: Phasing-in of Districts

Table 2: Extension Staff Requirements per DistrictS. Terms of Reference for the Resident Technical Assistance6. Technical Diagnosis and Main Orientations of Adaptive Research7. Adaptive Research: Methodology and Organization of On-Farm

and CAT TrialsS. Cost Estimates

Table 1. Summary Accounts by Project ComponentTable 2. Project Components by YearTable 3. Summary Accounts by Year

9. Financial Implications for the Government10. Estimated Schedule of Loan Disbursement11. Organizational Chart of the Extension Service12. Extension Methods and Organization13. Economic Analysis

Table 1. With/Without Project Yield AssumptionsTable 2: Cropped Area Under Project and Production IncreasesTable 3: Net Economic BenefitsTable 4: Economic Rate of Return and Sensitivity Analysis

WPS

IBRD No. 20853 - Location of Main Project Facilities

IBRD No. 21133 - Phasing-in of Districts

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PEOPLE S REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO


DOCUMENTS CONTAINED IN THE PROJECT FILE

A. Background Documents and Reports

1. Agriculture Sector Project, Identification Report, FAO/CP InvestmentCenter, July 1985.

2. Bil3n Agro-Alimentaire et D4finition des Grandes Options d'unsNouvelle Politique Agricole pour lee Prochaines Ann4es. Comit&National pour l'Agricul* re, March 1986.

S. Les Possibilit6s d'Augmentation de la Production Ovine en RepubliquePopulaire du Congo, Projet UTF/PRC/012/PRC, September 1986.

4. Conercialisation des Produits Agricoles en Republique Populaire duCongo. SEP D#veloppement, February 1987.

5. Document d'Assistance Prdparatoire, PNUD, Occober 1987.

6. Programe National de Vulgarisation Agricole, Rapport de Preparation.53? D6veloppement, December 1987.

7. Mission d'Identification Generale de Projets Agricoles, FAO/CPInvestment Center, January 1988.

S. Agricultural Sector Review, World Bank, April 1990.

D. Vorking Papers

1. Organization of Extension

2. Training Program

S. Elements of Diagnosis of WID Matters in the Context of the Congo

4. Information, Communications and Media

5. KonLtoring and Education

6. Detailed Cost Estimates

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LOAN AND PROJECT SUMMARY

Borrower: People's Republic of the Congo

Beneficiary: Ministry of Youth and Rural Development (MJDR)

Amount: US$15.8 million

Terms: 20 years, including a five-year grace period at theBank's standard variable interest rate

Project Description:The project would support the Government's efforts toincrease the production efficiency and the income ofsmall farmers by facilitating the development anddissemination of relevant agricultural technology. Itwould be the first phase of a longer-term program aimedat building a national extension and adaptive researchsystem responsive to farmers' needs, in particular thoseof the two target groups of the women and youths, andaddressing in an integrated fashion all relevant aspectsof smallholder farming systems.

To further the above objectives the project would help:

(a) reorganize and strengthen the Extension Servicealong the basic principles of the Training and Visit(T&V) system;

(b) strengthen the adaptive research program;

(c) implement a comprehensive staff training and ruralpromotion program using appropriate mediacapabilities;

(d) implement a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) program;

(e) provide management support;

(f) promote extension support for small ruminantshusbandry and inland fish farming; and

(g) strengthen agricultural planning capabilities.

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I ofEstimated Proiect Costs a/ Local Foreign Total Base Costs

_-- (US$ million)----

A. Agricultural Extension 3.5 3.8 7.3 43.$B. Adaptive Research 1.8 1.7 3.5 21.2C. Training and Rural Promotion 1.0 1.2 2.2 13.4D. Monitoring and Evaluation 0.3 0.4 0.7 4.3S. Management Support 0.8 0.7 1.5 9.0F. Other Extension Support

1. Small Ruminants 0.3 0.3 0.6 3.42. Fish farming 0.1 0.2 0.3 1.6

Sub-Total 0.4 0.5 0.9 5.0

0. Agricultural Planning 0.1 0.4 O 3

Total Base Costs 7.9 8.7 16.6 100.0

Physical Contingencies 0.3 0.5 0.8 4.8Price Contingencies 1-4 2-9 4-3 2-,9

Total Project Costs(including taxes) 9.6 12.1 21.7 130.7

Taxes 0.6 -- 0.6

Total Project Costs(net of taxes) 9.0 12.1 21.1

al Including two PPF advances totaling US$1.5 million.

Financing Plan Local Foreign Total(~~~~-USS million) … ----

Government 4.0 0.5 4.5IBID 5.3 10.5 15.8UNDP 0.1 0.8 0.9European Development Fund 0.2 0.3 O S

Total 9.6 12.1 21.7n

sttimated Disbursements from IBRD Loan

IBRD Fiscal Year1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996---------------- US$ mlilllon ---- 7-=---------

Annual 1.9 1.1 3.8 3.9 2.7 2.4Cumulative 1.9 3.0 6.8 10.7 13.4 13.6

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Benefits and Risks

By improving the organization, management and content of theextension and adaptive research system, the project should cause significantgrowth in agricultural output. The T&V system of extension management whichwill be used has been associated in many countries with high crop yieldincreases. The project would benefit directly about 58 percent of fannhouseholds nationwide, 701 of which are headed by women. It would also bean important step in the creation of an overall institutional frameworkaddressing the changing needs of the agricultural sector.

The main factors that could hamper satisfactory project executionare inadequate budgetary support, lower than expected adoption rates ofimproved cultivation practices, unattractive prices and lack of marketingopportunities. Concerning budgetary support, the Bank Loan would provide forabout 50 percent of incremental operating costs on a declining basis over thefive-year implementation period. This would decrease pressure on thenational budget, and, therefore, reduce the risk that the Government'sbudgetary contribution be lower than expected. Farmer adoption rates areexpected to be significant iecause the project would introduce more efficientmethods for managing extension staff and providing extension advice; it wouldalso strengthen adaptive research so that it could generate appropriatetechnical recommendations suitable for dissemination to small farmers.Prices are now market determined, but could be depressed by structuralinefficiencies in marketing and poor infrastructure. Several projects to beimplemented in the near future with external assistance would reduce thisriskt (a) several operations funded by the International Fund forAgricultural Development (IFAD) and the European Development Fund (EDP)intend to provide support for market development; and (b) the Bank's RoadMaintenance and Rehabilitation Project presently being re-appraised wouldcontribute to address the transport constraint.

Economic Rate of Return

19 percent (Extension Component).

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KEY FEATURES OF THE RURAL SECTOR

Unit Average1970-80 1980-86 1987

1. PopulationTotal m 1.1 1.7 2.0Rural as Z of Total X 64 55 42Active Farm Population '000 250 280 246

2. Economic OverviewGDP/Head of Total Pop.

(cons. 1981) $ 878 1462 930Agric. GDP/Head ofRural Population 134 181 210

Agr. GDP as Z of Total X 15.5 9.4 9.7

3. Land UseLand Area sq.km. 342,000 342,000 342,000Perennial Crops '000 ha 17 17 19Annual Crops '000 ha 187 187 142Dense Forest '000 ha 21,500 21,500 21,500Savanna '000 ha 11,200 11,200 11,200

4. OutputCassava '000 tons 578 639 485Plantains/Bananas 32 50 77Groundnuts 16 16 18Yams and Other Tubers n 10 9 10Coffee tons 710 907 975Cocoa 2700 2024 1301Palm Oil n - 1524 508

5. Trade (Current Prices)Total Exports (FOB) $ m 900 650 917

of which:- Agr. Products z 2 1 0- Forest Products 2 12 13 13- Fish Products Z _ _ _

Total Imports (CIF) $ m 660 620 611of which:Food Imports (recorded) Z 10 16 14



STAFF APPRAISAL REPORT

I. INTRODUCTION

1.01 Since its independence in 1960, the People's Republic of the Congohas relied heavily on the public sector to generate employment. Thistendency has accentuated since the mid-1970s due to the rising importance ofoil revenues in the government budget. The softening of oil prices in1984-85 brought liquidity problems and led the Government to launch anambitious structural adjustment (SAL) program to reverse the deterioratingtrend of the economy. The development of the smallholder sector, which hasbeen neglected for over 20 years, is a key element of this program.Consistent with this strategy, the Government has decided to reorient itsagricultural development policy toward peasant agriculture through the recentimplementation of institutional, pricing and ma:keting reforms (para 2.14).To complement these reforms, it has requested the Bank's assistance informulating and financing investments to improve the smaliholder supporLservices, and as a priority extension and adaptive research. To this effect,the proposed project would reorganize and strengthen the Government'sextension and adaptive research system. This would support the Government'sefforts to increase production efficiency and the income of small-scalefarmers by Lacilitating the development and dissemination of relevanttechnology.

1.02 With Bank and UNDP assistance, the Government launched in May 1987a pilot extension operation (Operation Pilote de Vulgarisation Agricole -OPVA, paras 2.19 to 2.21) to test the applicability of the Training and Visit(T&V) system in the Congolese context. The results of these tests have beenpositive and have helped establish work methods and norms which theGovernment intends to use as the basis for implementation of its extensionand adaptive research program. The project was prepared by the Government,with the assistance of national consultants and the Bank, over the periodof approximately a year from Hay 1987 to Hay 1988. It was initiallyappraised in June 1988 and negotiated in November 1988. Subsequently, onaccount of Congo's creditworthiness status, it was decided that continuedBank lending to the country would be contingent upon agreement on asatisfactory financial and economic program. Such a program was not agreeduntil November 1989, at which date it was decided to re-appraise the project.Re-appraisal took place from January 28, 1990 to February 15, 1990.Negotiations took place from May 14 to 16, 1990 in Brazzaville.

II. SECTORAL BACKGROUND

A. Economic Setting

2.01 The People's Republic of the Congo is located across the Equatorin Central Africa. With a total area of 342,000 km2, the Congo had an

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estimated population of 2 million in mid-1988, growing at 3.4 percent perannum. About 80 percent of the population lives in the five southern regionswhich cover 25 percent of the land area. Urban areas, mainly the cities ofBrazzaville and Pointe-Noire, account for about 60 percent of thepopulation. One third of the labor force depends on agriculture for itslivelihood, which is a much lower proportion than in most other Africancountries.

2.02 A small, oil-producing country with an estimated per capita incomeof $930 in 1988, the Congo is in the midst of a major economic and financialcrisis resulting from excessive public spending and borrowing in the late1970s and early 1980s. With the 1986 collapse in oil prices and heavy debtservice commitments coming due, the Government's already difficult financialsituation has become extremely precarious.

2.03 Prior to Independence, Brazzaville was the administrative capitalof the French Federation of Equatorial African States (Afrique EquatorialeFrancaise - AEF) and the center for the region's major transport network,including the Pointe-Noire/Brazzaville railroad (Chemin de Fer Congo - Oc6an-CFCO) and a river transport system extending to neighboring countries. Asa result, the Congo developed into the most prominent service-orientedeconomy in Africa (;0 percent of GDP). The post-Independence period requiredthe Congo to adjust to its reduced role in the region. Forestry became themost dynamic sector of the economy, contributing about 60 percent of totalexports in 1965. In the late 1960s, however, the country chose a developmentstrategy emphasizing government control over major economic activities,giving rise to a large public enterprise sector and a strong bias in favorof direct State intervention. Oil exploitation started in the 1960s, andbecame a dominant activity in the ')70s with the two major oil priceincreases in 1973 and in 1979. The resultant oil rent enabled the Governmentfor years to subsidize the livelihood of a large part of the populationthrough public employment and to deliver free social services. In 1985, oilaccounted for about half of GDP, 90 percent of exports and nearly 70 percentof budgetary receipts.

2.04 Since the early 1970s, the pace of economic activity in the Congohas been determined by international oil prices. The two major oil priceincreases in the 1970s led to a considerable acceleration of GDP growth from9 percent per annum on average in 1974-75 to 14 percent in 1980-82. This hasbeen followed since 1983 by a contraction of economic activity. Meanwhilethe expansion of export revenue from $279 million in 1975 to $1,173 millionin 1985 was accompanied by a more rapid expansion of imports from $324million to $1,385 million, resulting in a persistent deficit in the currentaccount balance during the 1975-85 period. But oil revenues encouraged falsehopes and wasteful policies. By the end. of 1985, the Government was nolonger in a position to service its external debt amounting to about $1.8billion (equivalent to 83 percent of GDP for that year). The acute liquiditycrisis led the Government to launch its own adjustment program in June 1985which aimed for the medium-term at adopting a policy framework for (a)reestablishing macro-economic equilibrium; (b) laying the foundation forsustained growth, with emphasis in particular on increasing opportunities inthe rural sector; (c) diversifying productive activities, especially inforestry and agriculture; and (d) restoring international creditworthiness.

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2.05 In early 1986, the Administration turned to the IMF for support anda stand-by agreement was finalized in July 1986. Debt rescheduling wasobtained under the auspices of the Paris and London Clubs in July and October1986 respectively. In a.dition, the French Treasury in cooperation with theFrench Aid Agency (Fonds d'Aide et de Coop6ration - FAC), and the FrenchCentrale Agency for Economic Cooperation (Caisse Centrale de CooperationEconomique - CCCE), approved a fast-disbursing loan of $35 million which wasfollowed by a Bank Structural Adjustment Loan (SAL I, Loan No. 2866-COB) of$70 million in July 1987. The Bank loan, disbursed over 19M-89, hassupported the Congo's economic stabilization measures already in place andhelped initiate its medium-term adjustment program. The latter aims atrestoring balance between the public and private sectors, to overcome severefiscal and economic imbalances and to foster growth in the non-oil sectors.This program would be supported under a Secona Structural Adjustment Loan(SAL II, FY91) to be appraised by end-1991.

B. The Agricultural Sector

1. Main Features

2.06 Since 1979, the Congo's agricultural GDP has stagnated at aboutCFAF 32 billion (in constant 1980 prices). As a result, its share of GDP,which was about 15 percent, declined to 8 percent in 1986. These datasuggest that agricultural per capita incomes are only 25 percent of thenational average per capita income. The implied rural/urban incomedifferential, although somewhat exaggerated (the data does not account forall subsistence production), has been large enough to contribute to thepresent high level of urbanization and to the aging of the rural population.It is estimated that the economically active rural population fell by 18percent between 1972 and 1982. Presently, agriculture provides a livelihoodto only about a third of the national labor force. The composition of therural labor force has also drastically changed with women now representingthe backbone of the rural economy. The ratio of women to men is 70:30 forthose over 20 years of age, and more than half of households have only womenand children. The low performance of the agricultural sector, and itsdecline relative to other economic sectors, have been the result of thetypical impact of an oil-based economy that led to policies discouragingagricultural production and reducing rural incomes (para 2.12).

2.07 The potentially cultivable area is estimated at about 8.2 millionha. However, only 250,000 ha are actually cultivated (3 percent of arableland), of which 120,000 ha in the South. Much of the remainder lies undertropical forest, and should not be cultivated if environmental degradationis to be avoided. About 34 percent of total cropped area is planted withcassava, 12 percent with other root crops, 12 percent with maize, ten percentwith bananas and plantains, six percent with groundnuts and four percent withmiscellaneous food crops (notably fruits, vegetables and rice). Theremaining 22 percent correspond to export crops on large plantations (12,000ha of sugar cane and 7,000 ha of palm oil) and smallholder plantations ofcocoa (9,000 ha) and coffee (4.000 ha).

2.08 Very severe constraints affect the Congolese agriculture. Fragilesoils with a low level of fertility, and aggressive rains causing enormouslosses through erosion and nutrient leaching make it quasi-impossible forfarmers to intensify and sedentarize their cropping activities without adrastic change in their traditional cultivation methods. Consequently,shifting cultivation systems are still dominant, resulting in increased areasof degraded herbaceous savanna and encroachment on tho rain forest.

2.09 The Congo is also endowed with considerable forest resources (60percent of the national territory covered with mixed tropical forests).Forestry, once the Congo's most dynamic sector, has been adversely affectedby inefficient public sector intervention. Despite the mismanagement byparastatals, the sector generates exports of wood products (about CFAF 20billion p.a., or 10 percent of total) that are still second to crude oilexports. A Tropical Forestry Action Program (TFAP) is being prepared withBank participation to address forestry sector problems.

2.10 Livestock, especially small stock, is becoming increasinglyimportants cattle (27,000 head), sheep (85,000), goats (164,000) andpoultry. Fresh-water fishing and fish farming are other agriculturalactivities that play important nutritional roles in several regions of thecountry. Small ruminants and fish-farming activities relevant to thenational extension and research system would be supported under the project(paras 3.33 to 3.38).

2.11 Agriculture is dominated by the smallholder sector which consistsof about 145,000 households, cultivating an average of 1.4 ha each. With anactive labor force of 360,000, smallholders produce most of the food crops,and all of the coffee, cocoa and tobacco, on about 80 percent of the totalcropped area of the country. They also produce all the fish coming fromrivers and ponds. State farms, which have been the primary focus ofgovernment intervention until recently, still occupy 16 percent ofagricultural land, of which two percent is for food crops, and 14 percent forsugar cane, tree crop plantations and ranches. Private large farms whichwere imnortant during the colonial era now occupy only about two percent oftotal cropped area, and cooperative groups (1,100 representing 30,000members) less than one percent.

2. Government Agricultural Strategy

2.12 In the past, the Government of the Congo emphasized the developmentof parastatals as a means of modernizing agriculture, to the detriment ofsmallholder agriculture. Most public investment was directed toward thedevelopment of State farms. Parastatals had monopoly over the marketing ofagricultural production, as well as input supply (paras 2.33 and 2.35).Extension services were almost non-existent (para 2.18) and agriculturalresearch was neglected (paras 2.22 and 2.23). Investments in ruralir.frastructure, especially rural roads, and their subsequent maintenance weregrossly inadequate. The above policies led to a continuous decline in foodproduction. The resulting food gap was offset by food imports whichincreased from 34,000 t in 1974 to about 90,000 t in 1988. Should thepresent trend continue, total food imports would further increase from CFAF

80 billion in 1988 to 120 billion in the year 2000. Such a course would beunsustainable for the country in the long run.

2.13 The poor performance of the parastatals and their unsustainablerecurrent costs have led the Government to refocus its agriculturaldevelopment strategy. This was signaled by the decision of NationalAgricultural Council in November 1987 to approve a new strategy (a)emphasizing the role of the Government as a facilitator/supportive agentrather than a direct participant in productive activities; and (b) givingpriority to the smallholder sector.

2.14 Consistent with the SAL program, the Government under the newstrategy has taken a series of policy measures aimed at eliciting a supplyresponse in the smallholder sector. These measures have primarily involvedliberalization of agricultural trade, in particular the suppression of themarketing monopolies of the Office for Food Crops (Office des CulturesVivribres - OCV) and the Office for Coffee and Cocoa (Office du Cafe et duCacao - OCC) (para 2.33). Private traders have been allowed to operate incompetition with these agencies, and to freely negotiate prices with farmers.The latter practice has also been adopted by OCC and OCV. In parallel, theGovernment has started to disengage itself from the State farms arnd ranches.These measures, together with actions designed to rehabilitate agriculturalservices and facilities addressing the needs of small farmers, are beingreaffirmed in the context of the Medium-Term Economic and Social Action Plan(Plan d'Action Economique et Social - PAES, 1990-94). The SAL II programunder preparation would support measures and actions along the same policylines.

3. Institutional Environment

2.15 Ministry of Youth and Rural Development (MJDR). Rural sectorinstitutions were reorganized at the end of 1985 with the merging of theformer Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Ministry of RuralEquipment and Cooperative Action, into the Ministry of Rural Development(MDR). Thereafter, in August 1989, the Government undertook anotherreorganization whereby the MDR was entrusted the responsibility for youthaffairs, to become the present Ministry, of Youth and Rural Development(MJDR). MJDR's rural development branch has thirteen technical directorates(see Annex 1) amongst which (a) seven come directly under the Minister'sCabinet, including the Directorate of Development Research, Training andExtension (Direction de la Recherche Developpement, de la Formation et de laVulgarisation - DRDFV, see Annex 2) which is the principal project executingstructure, and the Directorates of Studies and Planning (Direction des Etudeset de la Planification - DEP, see Annex 3) and Rural Radio (Direction de laRadio Rurale - DRR) that would be supported under the project; and (b) sixcoming under the Directorate General of Rural Development (Direction Gdn6raledu Developpement Rural - DGDR) that would also receive support for technicalcoordination of project activities related to small ruminants, fish farmingand specific cropping experiments.

2.16 Field operations are organized into 47 agricultural sectorscorresponding to the 47 administrative districts of the Congo. The sectorsare grouped into 10 regions which are managed by Regional Directors of Rural

Development (Directeur Regionaux du Developpement Rural - DRDRs). Eachsector is headed by a Sector Head who oversees nine technical divisions(Agricultural production; Livestock production; Credit and marketing;Cooperatives; Fish production; Rural engineering, machinery and equipment;Maintenance; and Village - centers. These divisions were set up in December1988, following the National Agricultural Council's decision to decentralizeall field activities with attendant redeployment of plethoric headquartersstaff to field positions. The organizational chart of the regional and sectorservices is presented in Annex 4.

2.17 MJDR maintains little real technical or financial control overoperations, due mainly to poor staff training and lack of means to carry outoperational work. In addition, financial management at DRDR level isinadequate to control operations. DRDR's staff, in particular, are notsufficiently experienced to manage funds in accordance with generallyaccepted accounting standards. To help remedy this situation, aninternationally-recruited financial management and accounting advisor,financed under the first PPF, has already provided short-term technicalassistance in the establishment of satisfactory accounting procedures.Further short-term consultancies of this type would be provided under theproposed project, as part of the project's management support component(paras 3.29 to 3.31).

2.18 The Extension Service. As a result of government policies,smallholders in the Congo have received limited extension services for over20 years. These services were for export crops only, mostly provided by twoparastatals: the Office for Coffee and Cocoa (OCC) and the Office forTobacco (Office de la Culture du Tabac - OCT). The major staple crops of thecountry, including cassava, other tubers, bananas and plantains, wereneglected. Other food crops, such as maize, rice, groundnuts, potatoes andbeans received some marketing assistance from the Office for Food Crops(OCV), but had almost no extension support. Inputs provided by donors havebeen restricted to enclave development projects which have had no significantsustainable impact. In 1987, the Government, parallel to its decision toreorient agricultural development toward the smallholder sector, undertookthe transfer of all extension activities to MDR. The extension service,however, has remained ineffective for lack of a national strategy, poortraining, nonexistent linkages with research, and the absence of fundingother than for salaries. Another difficulty is the lack of funds for vehicleoperation and maintenance, and staff travel which oftentimes prevents stafffrom undertaking field work. Also, the frequent requisition of vehicles bylocal authorities results in work disruptions detrimental to effective fieldwork.

2.19 Faced with an inefficient extension service, the Government inearly 1987 requested the Bank's assistance to prepare an extension andadaptive research project. For this purpose, with the help of a first PPFadvance and UNDP seed money, the Government initiated a Pilot AgriculturalExtension Project (Operation Pilote de Vulgarisation Agricole - OPVA) in May1987. The pilot project covered 10 of the country's 47 districts, selectedin 5 of its 10 regions and representing an appropriate cross-section ofagro-ecological and social conditions. A preliminary survey of thesmallholder agricultural sector and existing extension systems undertaken

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jointly by the Government and the Bank indicated that substantialimprovements could be achieved by (a) more systematic planning and monitoringof field agents; (b) improvement of the agents' technical and communicationskills; (c) better technical backstopping from supervisors; and (d)strengthening of linkages between extension and research activities. Theseobjectives were to be achieved under the pilot project by introducing andadapting the T&V system. The IFAD-financed Kindamba Area Development Project(para 2.38) implemented beginning of 1988 has followed the same approach forits extension component. The pilot project was to serve as basis to preparethe proposed project. Financing has been provided by the Bank (two PPFadvances of $750,000 each) and UNDP ($560,000 for technical assistanceprovided by FAO).

2.20 The pilot project was launched without extensive preparation otherthan basic training provided with Bank assistance. So far, whilst it hasonly been implemented over three cropping seasons, tangible results have beenobtained, inter alia: (a) adoption by all field staff of a time-bound workprogram based on a bimon.hly schedule of fixed visits to groups of farmers;(b) regular training sessions for all extension staff; (c) better links withresearch; and (d) establishment by farmers of about 1,800 small adoptionplots to test the technical recommendations. These plots have of an averagesize of 0.1 to 0.2 ha each and are established with the technical support ofextension agents. The technical recommendations tested are simple and do notrequire an increased use of modern inputs to improve yields. Many farmers arenow applying these recommendations, and a positive impact can be seen intheir fields.

2.21 The results of the pilot project have demonstrated that it isfeasible to implement a nation-wide extension project. Although limited,the current stock of research data and experience is sufficient to allowpreparation of first generation extension messages relevant to smallholders'farming systems. The national and regional management of MJDR has proven itscapability of executing an extension program based on the T&V system. Thissystem has been adapted to the Congolese context. The pilot projectidentified the importance of strengthening the adaptive research program andof improving the technical and communication skills of field staff. Thecosts of the proposed project are based on the parameters established by thepilot project, and benefits are extrapolated from observed farmers' responsesand yield increases.

2.22 Agricultural Research was neglected in the immediate post-Independence period from 1963 to 1976. Thereafter, limited activities wereresumed with French assistance. Particular attention was paid to the cassavaprogram backed by the Office for Scientific and Technical Research Overseas(Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique d'Outre-Mer - ORSTOM) andthe forestry program backed by the Tropical Forestry Technical Center (CentreTechnique Forestier Tropical - CTFT). In other research areas, output hasbeen negligible largely because of insufficient funding. Inadequateplanning, the lack of linkages with international and regional centers, theabsence of communication between research workers and extension staff, andpoor research facilities are other major constraints to agriculturalresearch.

2.23 Furthermore, agricultural research has been mostly carried out infavorable areas like the Niari Valley, with a focus on individual crops.Such research programs are not directly relevant to smallholders' farmingwhich is based on systems (mixed cropping, relay cropping, etc.) rather thanpure stands. Also, these programs have never addressed in a systematicfashion the issue of stabilizing traditional itinerant farming systems. Thisissue is critical to maintain soil fertility and check environmentaldegradation.

2,24 Agricultural research presently falls under the aegis of theMinistry of Secondary and Higher Education in charge of Scientific Research(Ministere de l'Enseignement Secondaire et Sup6rieur, charge de la RechercheScientifique - MESS) and MJDR. MESS concentrates on basic and appliedresearch, leaving adaptive research to MJDR. In addition, AGRICONGO, now aprivate Congolese institute, performs adaptive research and developmentactivities on semi-urban farming systems.

2.25 MESS's research program is carried out by: (a) the AgronomicResearch Center of Loudima (Centre de Recherche Agronomique de Loudima -CRAY..), specializing in cassava, maize and groundnuts; (b) ORSTOM, whichspecializes in marine fishery, soil surveys and analysis, and entomologicaland phytopathological research on cassava; (c) CTFT for forestry matters; and(d) the Veterinary and Animal Science Research Center (Centre de RechercheVeterinaire et Zootechnique - CRVZ) for livestock research.

2.26 MESS's research network consists of three substations located atKindamba and Odziba in the Pool region, and Ewo in the Cuvette region (MapIBRD No. 20853). The Kindamba and Odziba substations are currentlystrengthened under the IFAD-supported Kindamba Area Development Project. TheEwo substation is not operational. MJDR's research program is carried outby DRDFV through its research network presently consisting of five TechnicalSupport Centers (Centres d'Appui Techniques - CATs). This network would beextended to twelve CATs under the project (para 3.13).

2.27 AGRICONGO was created in 1985 by GOC and ELF-Congo to contributeto the national food self-sufficiency plan. At the end of 1989 it wastransformed into a private development institute. Its research program hasfocussed on farming systems adapted to peri-urban areas. This program hasalready produced positive results which are being applied on several smallresettlement schemes near Brazzaville (in Kombe, near the river Djoue and atPK45 on the Brazzaville-Owando road). Some research activities to be carriedout under the project would be executed by AGRICONGO under arrangementssatisfactory to the Bank, in particular to capitalize on the results it hasobtained concerning vegetable cropping and artisanal processing ofagricultural products.

2.28 Agricultural Education and Training. Training at university levelis provided by the Rural Development Institute (Institut de DeveloppementRural) at the Marien N'Gouabi University, Brazzaville. This institute offersa five-year degree program and a two-year associate degree program.Intermediate level agricultural training is provided by the Amilcar CabralAgricultural School (Lycee Agricole Amilcar Cabral) and the National Waterand Forestry School (Ecole Nationale des Eaux et Fordts). Training for lower

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level extension staff is carried out at agricultural colleges and at severaltraining centers. At all levels. agriculture curricula are highlytheoretical and of little relevance for field work. The Rural ProgressCenters (Centres du Progres Ruraux - CPRs), financed by the French Fund forAid and Cooperation (Fonds d'Aide et de Cooperation - FAC), offer a morepractical curriculum with regular on-the-job training. They have alsodeveloped a three-year program for lower level extension staff and trainingprograms for young farmers. Under the project, considerable effort would bemade toward on-the-job training for all staff. This would be supplementedby external training of a specialized nature (paras 3.18 - 3.19).

2.29 Agricultural Credit, Marketing and Inputs. Institutionalagricultural credit is rrovided by the National Development Bank of the Congo(Banque Nationale de De,eloppement du Congo -BNDC), and the Mutual CreditSystem (Mutuelles Congolaises d'Epargne et de Credit - MUCODECs). Mid-1989a specialized institution (Credit Rural du Congo) was created to specificallycater to the needs of the rural sector. In addition to commercial andindustrial loans, BNDC used to provide financing to agro-industrialenterprises and to state farms and ranches, mostly in the form of seasonalcredit and bridge loans. Due to the economic crisis and the resultantcutting back of the activity of parastatals as part of the reforms, BNDClending activities in the above sector have been drastically reduced.

2.30 The progressive development of the MUCODECs is positive on severalcounts: (a) it constitutes a grassroots approach conducive to the effectiveorganization of the rural world; (b) the solidarity of MUCODEC members is astrong guarantee of repayment--a factor which, when coupled with lowmanagement costs, should ensure sustainability of the system; (c) the volumeof savings mobilized, which is already significant, attests to the borrowers'commitment to this project; and (d) this type of financing has largepotential scope and could eventually lead to more important operationsthrough a Central Mutual Fund. The MUCODECs are presently assisted by theFrench FAC in the district of Mindouli in the Pool region. IFAD, under itsproposed Marketing and Local Initiatives Promotion Project (para 2.34) wouldprovide support to MUCODECs in the Niari and Lekoumou regions. The MUCODECs,however, even if they develop nationwide, would not be able to meet all thefinancing needs of rural operators. Thus, the creation of other mechanismsto channel larger scale financing for rural activities needs to beconsidered.

2.31 The Credit Rural du Congo (CRC), created with German assistance,is an agricultural bank whose activities are still incipient. The areas inwhich it aims to intervene are: (a) marketing (loans for sales campaigns,transport facilities, storage, wholesale and retail operations); (b)production (low-risk and/or high pay-back activities, such as vegetablegrowing, coffee, cocoa and cassava) and credit for inputs; (c) processing,particularly that of a primary nature; and (d) handicrafts, small and medium-scale enterprises, and rural housing. CRC's headquarters are located inBrazzaville and presently supported by two agencies being established inOwando and Madingou.

2.32 The deployment of CRC's activities needs to be undertaken withextreme caution, taking into account the recommendations prepared as part of

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the program for the restructuring of the national banking system under SALII. CRC's proposed activities elicit reservations on the following counts:(a) it is a parastatal bank, whose limitations. have been demonstrated bynumerous failures, in the Congo and other African countries, due toprohibitive costs, a rigid structure that precludes contact withbeneficiaries and inefficient management, all of which is conducive to alarge volume of non-performing loans; (b) its envisaged operatingarrangements point to the need for substantial funding (capital, balancingsubsidies, salaries paid by the Government); and (c) its financial viability-- based on a level of activity that would be difficult to sustain -- appearsoverestimated.

2.33 Until recently State monopolies played an important role inagricultural marketing. The main export crops (coffee and cocoa) werepurchased and exported exclusively by OCC. OCV exercised an officialmonopoly on the marketing of groundnuts, maize, paddy, potatoes and beans.These monopolies, however, were often circumvented by farmers who solddirectly to private merchants because OCC and OCV were inefficient and theofficial pricing was unattractive. In 1987, OCV's and OCC's monopolies weresuppressed and prices liberalized. The private sector which had alwayshandled the marketing of cassava, other root crops, bananas and plantains wasallowed to operate freely in competition with OCV and OCC for all crops. Atpresent, producer and consumer prices are determined competitively and varyacross seasons and regions. A potential area for improvement is theprocessing of cassava which is a strenuous and time consuming task onlyperformed by women.

2.34 A major obstacle to crop marketing is still constituted bydilapidated roads and poor marketing networks. The poor state of rural roadsand the dispersion of the population result in high costs of marketing andexclusion of certain areas from marketing circuits. Upgrading of the ruralroads network would be addressed under the Bank's Road Rehabilitation andMaintei:.ance Project being re-appraised. This project would incorporate arural roads component (para 2.39). The proposed IFAD-financed Marketing andLocal Initiatives Promotion Project would incorporate a program aimed atimproving the efficiency of the marketing network through village-levelfacilities and support to small traders. As a first step, its scope ofintervention be would be limited to the Niari and Lekoumou regions.Preparation of this project is scheduled to be completed by end-1990; itsimplementation is anticipated to start in early 1991. Marketing and roadsare important elements of the project supported by the European DevelopmentFund (EDF) which is due to start by end-1990 in the Pool and Cuvette regions.In this latter region, EDF would co-finance the project's adaptive researchcomponent (para 3.13).

2.35 Agriculture uses only limited quantities of modern agriculturalinputs in the Congo. The major users of inputs are still State farms andenterprises. Facilities to supply and distribute inputs to smallholders arenon-existent and demand is not sufficiently strong to stimulate privatesector supply. Smallholders receive only cocoa and coffee seedlingsdistributed by OCC, and small quantities of improved seeds from the NationalImproved Seed Center (Centre National des Semences Ameliorees) at MJDR. Apilot program for supplying inputs on a cash basis to smallholders is

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underway within the IFAD-financed Kindamba Agricultural Development Project.The proposed IFAD and EDF-supported projects also include input supplycomponents.

C. Bank Sector Strategy

2.36 Since the Government clearly opted to place emphasis on agricultureas part of the reforms since 1985, the Bank has proceeded to renew policydialogue in the sector. This was done first in the framework of SAL I (para2.05) and resulted in policy measures aimed at liberalizing agriculturalpricing and marketing (para 2.14). The policy dialogue was pursued using theSecond Technical Assistance Project (Ln. 2753-COB, FY87) which financedstudies to improve knowledge of the agricultural sector, and the PublicParastatal Reform Technical Assistance Project (Ln. 2868-COB, PY88) whichaddressed management problems in agricultural and forestry parastatals.

2.37 In April 1989, with the participation of ~he French (CCCE and FAC)and FAO, the Bank undertook a comprehensive Agricultural Sector Review. Theprimary objective of the review was to examine the Government's strategy todeal with the main constraints preventing the supply response in agriculture.This resulted in agreement over a set of policy measures, inter-alia: (a)retrenchment from State farms and ranches; (b) restructuring of the Officeof Coffee and Cocoa (OCC); (c) dismantling of the Office of Food Crops (OCV);(d) restructuring of the forestry parastatals and the Congolese Office ofWood (Office Congolais du Bois - OCB); (e) establishing an appropriateinstitutional framework for rural credit; and (f) increasing selected tariffson food imports, consistent with policies effective in the Union of CentralAfrican States (Union des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale - UDEAC). Programs ofaction in support of these measures are now being prepared for inclusion intoSAL II (FY9lL) (para 2.05).

2.38 To date, Bank lending to agriculture has been limited to aLivestock Development Project (Cr. 435-COB) completed in 1982. In forestry,the Ouesso Wood Processing Project (Ln. 2298-COB) started in January 1984,to promote integrated logging and wood processing operations. Since 1987,two Bank PPF advances have contributed to finance the pilot project thatserved to design the proposed project (para 2.19). In addition, since 1988,the Bank is acting as executing agency for the IFAD-financed Kindamba AreaDevelopment Project in the Pool region. This project includes a multi-faceted extension program involving not only crop development, but alsolivestock and the formation of farmers' groups for marketing and processingactivities.

2.39 Given the recent favorable policy decisions, the Bank would supportthe core public agricultural services of research and extension through theproposed project. The context is also favorable becaus. the Government isrestructuring its agricultural portfolio to eliminate the less viableprojects, as recommended in the Bank's agricultural sector review. Beyondhelping rebuild extension and research (and other key complementary services)under the present project, future Bank projects would support theGovernment's efforts in the fields of rural infrastructure and environmentalmanagement. In this regard, it has been decided to incorporate a rural roadscomponent in the proposed Roads Rehabilitation and Maintenance Project

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(FY91L) to address the rural transport constraint. This would be pursued ona larger scale under the Transport Sector Prcject (FY93R). In parallel, aNatural Resource Management Project (FY92R) was identified recently. Itwould focus on conservation of land and forest resources, within theframework of a global plan for long-term natural resource management.

III. THE PROJECT

A. Project Rationale, Objectives and Summary Description

3.01 Rationale for IBRD Involvement. The Government recognizes thatdevelopment of the smallholder agricultural sector is a key element of itsagricultural development policy. Also, as part of the SAL program,considerable progress has been made since 1986 -- through the implementationof institutional, pricing and marketing reforms -- in reorientingagricultural development policy toward smallholder agriculture. TheGovernment is now emphasizing the reorganization and strengthening of supportservices, in particular the agricultural extension and adaptive researchsystem, to complement the policy measures aimed at promoting the agriculturalsupply response (para 2.14). Such actions are, however, constrained byinstitutional weaknesses, shortage of funds and the need for Congolese staffto develop the required expertise.

3.02 The Bank's involvement in the project is regarded by the Governmentas necessary in helping develop a national extension and adaptive researchservice. In the past, donors have focused on area-based services withdifferent extension, research, credit and input supply systems. Thedonor-supported projects have proved unsustainable by the Government whendonor financing ended. By channeling donor resources into national programsbuilt around national institutions, the Government's capacity to sustain theinvestments would be increased. The Bank has a long experience in developingextension and research services in other countries. The project would buildupon existing institutions (para 2.15), available plant material andtechnological improvements, and the ongoing pilot prr.4ect (paras 2.19 to2.21). It would be the catalyst for mobilizing the contribution of severaldonors. By helping to foster growth in a non-oil sector, the project wouldalso contribute to the objective of diversification of the sources ofeconomic growth which underlies the Structural Adjustment program (para2.04).

3.03 Project Objectives and Description. The primary objective of theproject is to support the Governm,ent's efforts to increase the productionefficiency and the income of small farmers, by facilitating the developmentand dissemination of relevant agricultural technology. This would beachieved through the establishment and subsequent strengthening of an%ppropriate national system of extension and adaptive research. Otherobjectives are: (a) to promote coordination at field level of all technicalservices that interface with the farmer, with a view to addressing in anintegrated fashion all relevant aspects of smallholder farming operations;(b) to ensure close liaison with upstream research and other technicalservices, so that extension and research activities can build fully on all

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existing technical support; (c) to establish an extension and research systemresponsive to farmers' needs, predominantly those of the two target groupsof women and youths that play a critical role in agricultural production; and(d) to strengthen planning capabilities in the agricultural sector, so thatproject operations and those of other agricultural projects are consistentwith policies and actions set forth under the national Public InvestmentProgram (PIP).

3.04 The project activities would be the first phase of a longer termagricultural research and extension program that would aim at covering theentire national territory. Project activities would take place in 32districts of the total 47 districts of the country. The districts which havebeen selected are those districts that have sufficient agricultural potentialand accessibility, and are not covered separately by other projects (see para3.06).

3.05 To achieve its objectives, the project would implement over a five-year period: (a) core components: extension, adaptive research, and trainingand rural promotion; (b) support actions: monitoring and evaluation,management, and extension support in the fields of small ruminants and fishfarming; and (c) an agricultural planning component. Details on thesecomponents are given below.

B. Detailed Features

1. Agricultural Extension

3.06 The project would organize and strengthen the extension service bysupporting and gradually expanding the Pilot Agricultural Extension Operation(OPVA) from 10 to 32 of the 47 districts of the country. 24 districts wouldbe covered by the end of the second project year. The districts selectedcover the main arable areas of the Congo where about 60 percent of the ruralpopulation lives. The country's remaining districts would be covered underthe planned follow-up pro,ect. They have been excluded from the presentproject because of access problems and extremely low population densities,especially in the Cuvette and Sangha regions. In addition, in some of thesedistricts, other projects exist that already provide support to extension.Project activities in the three districts of the Likouala region, which iscrossed by numerous waterways, would be limited to areas accessible by road.Details on population by district, staff participation, and phase-in of theextension program are presented in Annex 4 (see also IBRD Map No. 21133).Staff requirements for the program can be met with existing staff, butsubstantial retraining and staff redeployment would be required (para 3.18).The phasing of the extension program has been designed to permit such atraining, especially for the field extension agents (Encadreurs de base -EBs, and supervisors) whose number would increase from about 110 (presentlypart of the pilot project) to about 410 over the project period.

3.07 The reorganization of the extension services would be carried outfollowing the basic principles of the T&V system (paras 4.02-4.05). Underthe pilot project, the national staff, with external assistance, has tailoredthis system to the circumstances prevailing in the Congo. The principlesthat have been tested and have proven successful are inter-alia:

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(a) establishing and adopting a detailed, time-bound and closely monitoredwork program for all extension staff; (b) training staff at all levels on aregular and continuous basis; and (c) strengthening links with research.

3.08 The agricultural extension services would aim, based on contactwith selected farmer groups, at disseminating technical recommendationstailored to the needs of farmers in each area. Extension advice would, atthe beginning, concentrate on _mple, low cost/low risk farming practiceswhich have proven to yield substantive results. Improved practices wouldbe introduced on small plots and/or would concern a minute fraction offarmers' productive activities. Gradually, the technical recommendationswould be modified and expanded to cover the most important aspects of farmingoperations.

3.09 The project would continue financing for two years the position ofan internationally-recruited Extension Specialist already filled since May1987 under the pilot project. This position would be co-financed by UNDP andthe Bank under a Cost-Sharing Agreement to be signed between GOC and UNDP,with FAO as executing agency (para 3.15). The signing of the above Cost-Sharing Agreement would be a condition of Loan effectiveness (para 6.02(a)).Terms of Reference for the above position are at Annex 5. The expert wouldprovide specific support to extension activities. He would also be in chargeof assisting in overall project operational management. He would givepriority to on-the-job training of national staff. In PY2, he would be alsoin charge of assisting in the preparation of the project's Mid-TermEvaluation (para 4.16). In addition to the above resident position, theproject would fund four person-months of short-term consultancies to assistextension staff once the resident expert has departed.

3.10 The project would provide vehicles for high level staff (DRDFVDirector, Extension Service Chief, Regional Directors, Subject MatterSpecialists), and motorbikes and mopeds for field staff (supervisors andextension agents). It would finance on a declining basis the vehiclesoperating costs and staff travel allowances to ensure staff mobility.Extension agents would also be provided with a small amount of demonstrationand measuring equipment. Field staff would contribute to the cost of themopeds in 24 equal monthly installments deducted from their payroll. Theircontribution would be equivalent to the residual value of the mopeds aftertwo years, estimated at 50 percent of the purchase price. To this effect,DRDFV has established a moped revolving fund on which the monthlyinstallments are deposited. Proceeds of this fund are to be used only toextend credit to field staff for acquisition of new mopeds. The fund thusfar is managed in a satisfactory manner.

2. Adaptive Research

3.11 The adaptive research program would tailor broad-based findingsfrom applied research to the requirements of more location-specific agro-ecological and/or social environments. Under the project, adaptive researchwould be performed both on farmers' fields and using a network of TechnicalSupport Centers (Centres d'Appui Technique-CATs). Major emphasis would begiven to on-farm research conducted in farmers' fields with the activeparticipation of farmers at all stages of the research process (diagnosis,

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planning, design, experimentation and validation). Information generated byon-farm research would help establish broad priorities for experimental workunder controlled conditions. CATs would be used to carry out such researchwork, and as training/demonstration centers for field staff and farmers.Finally, adaptive research would support programs aimed at improving its ownknowledge on specific topics. The technical diagnosis and the mainorientations underpinning the project's research program are presented inAnnex 6. Details on the research actions are given in paras 3.12 to 3.1.5below, and in Annex 7.

3.12 On-farm research under the project would consist in assiting MJDR'stechnical staff at district level to formulate and manage with farmers andextension staff the field trials planned as part of the Ministry's adaptiveresearch program. The execution of these trials would be supervised by thesubject matters specialists posted at regional level (para 4.07). Theproject would finance the incremental expenditures necessary to carry outthe trials.

3.13 The project would continue developing the network of CATs. Itwould finance in total the creation of twelve CATs amongst which five arealready at various degrees of completion under the pilot project (in thedistricts of Sibiti, Owando, les Saras, Ewo and Mindouli). A CAT averagesabout 10 ha and is provided with small office, storage and housingfacilities. The following activities would be undertaken in the CATs: Ca)a collection of varieties of the main crops would be tested and kept; thesevarieties would also be managed following the husbandry practices recommendedto farmers, for training and demonstration purposes; and (b) fertilitymanagement techniques would be tested with a view to lengthening croppingcycles under smallholder farming conditions, e.g., cover crop and legumefallow included in rotations, application of minimal amounts of criticalinputs such as lime or phosphate, mulching techniques from cover crops orperennials, alley cropping techniques, etc. The project would fund theoperating costs of the twelve CATs over the five-year project period. TheEDF-assisted Rural Development Project would co-finance the establishment ofCAT facilities and their operating costs in the Cuvette region.

3.14 The project would also finance specific research programs to becarried out by other research institutions (paras 2.24 to 2.27) underarrangements satisfactory to the Bank. These programs would concern interalia: (a) agronomic aspects of rotations and fertility conservation, as wellas plant breeding and multilocal trials carried out on the CATs; (b)intensive farming systems supported by mechanization; these systems couldthereafter be tested and developed on small farms in the Niari Valley and onthe Bateke Plateau; (c) vegetable cropping, home gardening and cropprocessing; and (d) the management of rotations, including legume fallow andcover crops, and various soil and water conserving technologies. The trials,carried out on plots bigger than those of the CATs, would help investigatehow to manage these techniques, and anticipate possible bottlenecks that mayhamper their development at farm level.

3.15 Finally, the project would provide technical assistance for overallsupport to the component. It would continue to finance for two years theposition of internationally-recruited Adaptive Research Specialist that has

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been filled since August 1988 by an FAO expert. The specialist would assistin the establishment and management of the CATs, and in the follow-up oftasks sub-contracted externally. He would place special emphasis on the on-the-job training of national staff, so that they be technically equipped topursue the program once he has departed. In addition, the project wouldcontinue funding for a year the position of Research Technician filled bya United Nations Volunteer. This position and the Adaptive ResearchSpecialist's position, would be part of the Cost-Sharing Agreement forprovision of technical assistance for adaptive research and extension, to besigned between GOC and UNDP, with FAO as executing agency (para 3.09).Finally, the project would fund ten person-months (two per year) of short-term consultancies to help collect the data and prepare the first generationextension messages required to establish and implement the adaptive researchprogram. Terms of reference for the resident TA positions are at Annex 5.

3. Training and Rural Promotion

3.16 Training. The project's training component would aim at: (a)improving the technical and managerial expertise of staff at all levels, sothat they can effectively manage the extension and the related services; (b)developing specifically the educational and communication skills of trainersand fields agents, so that they be able to effectively interface withfarmers, both to deliver the technical messages and provide feedback from thegrassroots; and (c) strengthening the operational capacity the TrainingService of the Directorate of Development Research, Training and Extension(DRDFV) to ensure adequate programming and implementation of the project'straining activities, and their sustainability thereafter.

3.17 DRDFV staff working under the pilot project have already receivedan initial training that has enabled them to get acquainted with the newextension system. This training has consisted of a three to five dayorientation provided by DRDFV headquarters staff with the assistance of theresident expert in charge of extension. This orientation training would bepursued systematically, as the project's geographic coverage graduallyexpands and new staff are brought into the extension system.

3.18 In addition to the training received through visiting missions andthe on-the-job coaching provided by the resident experts, the core projecttraining activities would emphasize (a) permanent in-service tra:ning forextension agents along the principles of the T&V system (para 4.05); and (b)periodic refresher and specialized training targeted to medium level andsenior staff. The in-service training would include inter-alia fortnightlyand monthly specialized workshops by subject matter specialists (TechniciensSpecialises). Periodic training activities would be undertaken through avariety of means, including (a) technical workshops on various project-related topics, such as general administrative and financial management,accounting procedures, management of adaptive research, media communication,monitoring and evaluation, etc.; (b) courses on specialized subjects, e.g.soil and moisture conservation, plant protection, farming systems, etc.; (c)study tours abroad to benefit from the experience of other countries(preferably in the sub-region); and (d) limited short-term overseas trainingaimed at upgrading the managerial, technical and communication skills ofstaff.

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3.19 Under the project, provision would be nade to fund the seminars,workshops, overseas visits and training sessions envisaged as part of theabove training activities. In addition, the project would financeappropriate office and educational equipment, vehicles and incrementaloperating costs for DRDFV's Training Service. Finally, porvision would bemade for 16 person-months of short-term consultants to assist the TrainingService in the planning, execution and monitoring of training activities.These consultants would also cover assistance to rural promotion activitiesand use of the media.

3.20 Detailed training arrangements are given in Working Paper No. 2.At negotiations, the main orientation of the training program for PY1 wereagreed with the Government. Assurances were obtained that, by June 30 ofevery calendar year, DRDFV would submit an action plan for staff training aspart of the annual work program and budget for the following year (para3.55).

3.21 Rural Promotion. Promotion activities are meant to (a) mobilizeand organize farmers into cooperative groups; (b) assist in the functioningof these groups for the purpose of input supply, production activities,marketing and processing; and (c) support the implementation ofsavings/credit systems. They also aims at raising farmers' capacity toabsorb technical messages and at facilitating the adoption of newtechnologies. They are undertaken as integral part of extension activities.Rural promotion activities under the project would be implemented on a pilotbasis and would focus on women and youths. They would consist of (a)providing extension support to productive activities of interest to women andyouths, that can serve as a basis to establish production groups; (b)implementing a functional literacy program; and (c) preparing studies,organizing seminars/conferences on women and youth matters and developingcommunications media. In the Niari and L6koumou regions, promotionactivities would be undertaken in close liaison with the proposed IFADMarketing and Local Initiatives project.

3.22 To implement the above component, the Extension Service would bestrengthened by the addition in five pilot regions, of one subject matterspecialist for rural promotion (Technicien Sp6cialis6 de Promotion Rurale,paras 4.11 and 4.12). This subject matter specialist would oversee a dozenor so contract farmers (paysans contractuels, para 4.13). His/her workprogram would be initially established, and subsequently revised yearly, onthe basis of background studies aimed at assessing the need of the two targetgroups of women and youths. This program would complement, and be undertakenin close liaison with, those of the other rpeional subject matter specialistsserving agriculture. It would emphasize any activities of specific interestto women and youths that can serve as the basis to promote the emergence ofgrassroots work groups, e.g. transport and marketing activities, processingof agricultural products, home gardens, vegetable growing, fruit production,etc. The project would finance a four-wheel-drive vehicle, motorcycles andoffice equipment to equip the Rural Promotion Service, and its incrementaloperating expenditures over the project period; in addition, it would fund16 person-months of specialized short-term consultancies, ten of which wouldbe provided by national consultants firms.

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3.23 The functional literacy and communications campaigns would beprepared by specialized consultants, and executed by Rural Radio Directorate.The project would finance two person-months of short-term consultancies inPYl to prepare an operational program for such campaigns. It wouldsubsequently provide the Rural Radio Directorate with moLorcycles,communications equipment and funding for incremeentai operating expenditares,reittired for implementation of the above program. Activities envisaged aspart of this sub-component would he undertaken in close liaison with theIFD-.financed Marketing and Local Initiatives Proiect. This project woaldincorporate a resident technical expert to assist in the admii1nistra?.ion ofthe literacy campaign in the Niari and Lekoumou regions.

3.24 Project promotional activities will only have a positive impact ifthey eventually lead to the development by farmers of viable economicactivities. In this perspective, close liaison would be maintained with theMUCODECs system which provides farmers the required credit facilities toembark on production activities. In the Niari and Lekoumou regions, theMUCODECs would be assisted by IFAD for this purpose.

3.25 As part of rural promotion acti-ities, resources would also beprovided to hold a yearly seminar on Women in Development (WID) and youthmatters, to prepare studies on these topics, and to undertake study tours tofacilitate exchange of views (a) between regions within the Congo; and (b)abroad with neighboring countries having experience of this kind of program.Also, the media would be developed as a specialized tool to assist ruralpromotion and training activities. Actions related to media would aim atidentifying, developing and/or adapting a wide range of printed and audio-visual material suitable as communications and training devices fo.: extensionactivities. They would also aim at developing national expertise in thefield of communications and the media for extension purposes. To thiseffect, the Rura' Promotion Service would be provided with five person-mor.thsof specialized short-term consul-ancies and specialized equipment, includingaudio-visual equipment, teaching aids, technical documents, etc.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

3.26 M&E activities would aim at providing project management with(a) permanent information on the execution of adaptive research and extensionactivities, with appropriate analysis of implementation problems; and (b)periodic evaluation of the project's impact on the increase in agriculturalproduction. As part of monitoring activities all data prepared by theadaptive research and extension system staff would be systematicallycollected and processed, with a view to producing appropriate information onkey management indicators. Under evaluation activities, a series of surveyswould be undertaken amongst the target population (smallholders, with focuson women and youths) to determine the rate of adoption of new technologies,as a means to assess the project's impact on production. These surveys wouldhave as objectives to (a) first establish the characteristics of the "pre-project" situation; (b) thereafter, follow periodically a number of keyparameters that would enable to assess the impact of the project onproduction, and ultimately the "post-project" situation; and (c) undertakespecial investigations on the origin and causes for recorded results.

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3.27 As part of the pilot project, a Monitoring and Evaluation Service(Service de Suivi/Evaluation) has been established within the Directorate ofDevelopment Research, Training and Extension (DRDFV). It is not yet fullyoperational. This service would be staffed at the central level by the Chiefof Service (already in post) and by two Division Chiefs in charge ofanalytical methods And of data collection and processing respectively. Atthe local level, an enumerator would be posted in each of the regions coveredby the project. This enumerator would have the rank of a subject matterspecialist and would be part of the team of subject matter specialistslocated at the regional directorates of rural development. He/she would workin close liaison with the regional Planning and Studies Service which wouidbe supported under the project's planning component (para 3.40).

3.28 Under the M&E component, the project would provide eight person-months of specialized short-term consultancies to assist in the planning andimplementation of the proposed M&E activities. It would also finance onevehicle at central level, one motorcycle for each enumerator at regionallevel, office and data processing equipment, and the operating expendituresof the M&E Service during the project period. Assurances were obtained atnegotiations that the enumerators would be selected and deployed in the fieldno later than June 30, 1991 (para 6.01 (f)).

5. Management Support

3.29 This component is designed to strengthen the administrative andfinancial management capacity, primarily of the Logistics Service of theDirectorate of Development Research, Training and Extension (DRDFV), and ofthe General Directorate of Rurel Development (Direction Generale deD6veloppement Rural-DGDR). The objective is that project operations beeffectively managed, and, subsequently, that management be sustained in thelong run. This would be achieved by (a) providing short-term consultanciesto help establish, and subsequently apply, appropriate financial andaccounting procedures, and carry out the required financial audits; and (b)furnish the necessary equipment and office facilities.

3.30 The visiting experts program would consist of approximately twoperson-months of consultancies yearly to assist in financial management, andone person-month yearly for external audit purposes. Also, in view of thecomplexity of the project, five person-months of short-term consultancies(one per annum) have been provided to enable DRDFV to capitalize onsupervision tasks undertaken by the Bank and the co-financiers, and togradually strengthen its own project supervision capacity.

3.31 The project would provide for (a) refurbishing of office space; (b)acquisition of office equipment, supplies and vehicles; and (c) funding ofDRDFV's and DGDR's incremental operating expenditures. DRDFV's office spacerequirements are estimated at around 280 m2 for its central staff atheadquarters in Brazzaville who number approximately 35 persons. These staffare presently located with the other MJDR's central staff, in total officespace of only 120 m2. Since no additional office space is presentlyavailable at MJDR's central building, DRDFV would have to be relocated.Assurances were obtained at negotiations that DRDFV would be relocated inpremises satisfactory to the Bank no later than June 30, 1991 (para 6.01

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(a)). Other facilities provided as part of the component include two four-wheel-drive vehicles (one for DRDFV and one for DGDR), office furniture andequipment (including telecommunications equipments: additional telephonelines, telex and fax). Incremental operating expenditures, including officesupplies, allowances, subsistence expenses during missions, and salaries ofcontractual staff, would also be funded under the project.

3.32 To date project vehicles have been frequently requisitioned bylocal authorities for purposes not related to project implementation (para2.18). In order to prevent further violation of this standard covenar;t (seethe General Conditions for Bank loans and credits), the Government has nowtaken appropriate measures to prohibit the use of goods acquired under theproject for purposes not related to the execution of the project.

6. Other Extension Support

3.33 Small Ruminants. Raising small ruminants is an activity that haspotential in the Congo. It is likely to be readily pursued by smallholdersas part of their traditional production systems, as it requires limitedcapital and produces results in the short-to-medium term. With view tosupporting this activity, the project would include two types of actions:(a) a specialized extension activity aimed at demonstrating basic techniquesto improve the productivity of small ruminants; and (b) a fattening programdesigned to assist small farmers who wish to embark on improved sheep-raising activities. Subject matter specialists specialized in livestockactivities (Techniciens Specialises de Productioni Animale) would be givenresponsibility to implement the above actions. One such subject matterspecialist would be posted in each region that has potential for raisingsmall ruminants.

3.34 The specialized extension program would concern mostly sheep.Under this program the extension agents, guided and assisted by the livestocksubject matter specialists, would (a) sensitize village communities on theproblem of animal wandering; (b) carry out, with selected farmers,demonstrations whereby a few animals would be penned, and properly fed andwatered, to emphasize the beneficial effects of such improved practices onlowering mortality of the young animals and increasing weight gains of theadult animals being fattened; and (c) assist farmers who wish to pursue thisline of activity, so that it can be gradually integrated into largerproduction systems (starting with home gardens) to capitalize on the use ofthe manure produced in the pens.

3.35 The sheep fattening program would be organized in liaison with theSmall Ruminant Center at Inoni-Falaise. The project would acquire a feederflock of about 200 improved animals that would be branded and kept by theInoni-Falaise Center. The increase in the feeder flock would serve toconstitute small flocks at farm level (one male and 5 to 10 females).Traditional animals brought in by farmers would be swapped against improvedanimals from the feeder flock. The project would also finance theacquisition at regional level of revolving stocks of basic veterinary andmineral products. These would be managed by the livestock subject matterspecialist under financial supervision of the regional financial andadministrative services. These products would be sold in cash to farmers so

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that there be sufficient financial resources to replenish the stocksregularly. The livestock subject matter specialist would train the extensionagents so that they acquire and pass on to farmers the basic techniquesrequired to tend the newly-formed animal flocks, with emphasis on respectingminimal feeding, health and hygiene standards.

3.36 The project would finance a contract with the Inoni-Falaise CenteIproviding for (a) the acquisition of the feeder flock of animals and theirupkeep; (b) the training of livestock subject matter specialists (twotraining sessions yearly); (c) the construction of a sinall ruminants sub-center near Madingou and the refurbishing cf the Makoua Sub-Center, bothcoming under the Inoni-Falaise Center; (d) the acquisition of two four-wheel-drive pick-ups to transport animals; and (e) the incremental operatingcosts of the Inoni-Falaise Center and of the two sub-centers. Funds requiredto carry out these activities would be made available on the basis of acontract satisfactory to the Bank entered between the Government and theInoni-Falaise Center.

3.37 Fish Farming. This activity has potential in many parts of theCongo and would be supported under the project since (a) it can bringsubstantive additional income to small farmers because fish is in high demandon local markets; and (b) it can even become a full-time line of work forselected farmers giving attractive returns. In line with actions alreadyinitiated as part of pilot project, the project would emphasize thedissemination of technical themes aimed at promoting semi-intensive small-scale fish farming, including identification of favorable sites, constructionof ponds, feeding and selection of fish, etc. These themes have beendeveloped by MJDR's technical services, partly under the UNDP-financedSmallholder Fish Breeding project headquartered at Djoumouna and covering thePool and Bouenza regions. Extension activities concerning fish farming wouldbe undertaken by extension agents assisted by specialized subject matterspecialists (Techniciens Specialises Piscicoles) who would form an integralpart of the extension system. One such subject matter specialist would beposted in each of the regions with favorable potential for fish farming.

3.38 In addition to the incremental expenditures of the ExtensionService arising from the activity of the subject matter specialists, theproject would fund a contract with the Djoumouna Fish Breeding Station,designed to (a) train the subject matter specialists who would gradually bedeployed in the regions covered by the project; (b) equip and provideoperating means to a team of two technicians who would prospect sites forfarmers; (c) renovate and equip a sub-station in the district of Ewo, andprovide for its incremental operating expenditures over the project period.This sub-station would supply technical assistance and inputs (in particularfingerlings) to the project areas North of Brazzaville; and (d) providespecialized equipment (in particular tanks and oxegenators) and one four-wheel-drive pick-up to carry fingerlings from the fish-breeding stations tothe farmers' ponds, arnd a small vehicle for liaison purposes. Funds requiredto carry out these activities would be made available on the basis of acontract satisfactory to the Bank entered between the Government and theDioumouna Fish-Breeding Station.

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7. Agricultural Planning

3.39 This component aims at strengthening MJDR's strategic planningcapability. The planning function is of particular importance as aninstrument for MJDR to (a) articulate its agricultural development strategy,(b) specify and implement appropriate projects in support of its strategy;and (c) ensure the required interface with the Ministry of Planning andEconomy, and the other technical ministries as part of the national planningprocess. MJDR's planning function is entrusted to the Directorate of Studiesand Planning (DEP) (pare 2.15). Under the UNDP-financed AgriculturalPlanning Support Project implemented since mid-1988, the DEP's operationalcapacity has progressed significantly, especially in the areas of macro-economic planning, cost-benefit analysis, monitoring and evaluation, andsectoral studies. Continued assistance is required for DEP to furtherstrengthen its capacity.

3.40 For the benefit of DEP's central office and its regional branches,the project would finance (a) training activities, including seminars andshort-term internships (both in the Congo and abroad), to improve thetechnical expertise of staff; (b) two person-years of resident technicalassistance; (c) the purchase and operating costs of two four-wheel-drivevehicles, as well as incremental expenditures for operational travel, tosupport field work; and (d) the acquisition of office and computingequipment, with a view in particular to establishing operational data basesto monitor and evaluate existing projects.

3.41 The resident technical advisor to be recruited for two years wouldhave expertise in the following areas (a) macro-economic planning; (b) cost-benefit analysis; (c) monitoring and evaluation; and (d) sectoral studies(see terms of reference in Annex 5). Additionally, he/she would contributeto the establishment of, and provide subsequent management assistance for,the Documentation Division recently created within DEP. The formal trainingactivities in the form of seminars, conferences and workshops, etc., wouldcomplement the daily on-the-job coaching provided by the resident advisorto DEP's counterpart staff. The project would provide the above technicalassistance over a two year period as part of a Cost-Sharing Agreement betweenGOC and UNDP, with funds from the Bank Loan being disbursed in PY1 and UNDPfunds being disbursed in PY2. Signing of this Agreement would be a conditionof Loan effectivennes (see para 6.02 (b)). This arrangement would maintainthe required continuity in assisting DEP, with in particular FAO continuingto act as executing agency for the program. At the end of PY2, as part ofthe project Mid-Term Evaluation, the opportunity of extending the Cost-Sharing Agreement would be examined. In order for DEP to take advantage ofthe assistance provided under the project and increase its work efficiency,the Government would provide it with an additional 60 m2 of officefacilities, as its present office space is grossly insufficient. This wouldnot be financed under the project.

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C. Project Costs and Financing

1. Cost Estimates

3.42 The total cost of the proposed project over the 1991-95 period,including all incremental capital and recurrent expenditures, is estimatedat CFAF 6.2 billion (US$21.7 million), of which CFAF 3.5 billion (USS12.1million) or 56Z of total cost in foreign exchange, and about CFAF 180 million(US$635,000) or 3Z in taxes and duties.

3,43 Base costs have been estimated at February 1990 prices using therate of exchar.ge prevailing at that date (CFAF 285 to the US dollar).Physical contingencies have been allowed on investment and operating costs,except for technical assistance, PPF-financed activities and staff salaries.The average physical contingency amounts to 5.1Z of base costs. Pricecontingencies have been applied to base costs over an estimatedimplementation period of five years (1991-1995). Price contingencies onforeign exchange costs based on the Bank's projections of international priceincreases have been included at an average of 4.9Z from 1991 to 1995. Pricecontingenciee on local costs are based on annual price increases of 7Z for1991 and 1992, and 5Z thereafter Go reflect current inflation trends in theCongo. Total price contingencies amount to 25.9Z of base costs.

3.44 Project costs are summarized below, and detailed estimates for eachcomponent given in Annex 8 and Working Paper No. 6.

Project Cost Summary

Local Foreign Total Local Foreign Total X Foreign X Total------(CFAF million) ---(USS million)--- Exchang! B. Costs

A. Agricultural Extension 976.1 1,103.3 2,078.4 3.6 3.8 7.3 53.1 43.8B. Adaptive Research 498.4 607.7 1,006.1 1.8 1.7 3.6 50.5 21.2C. Training A Rural Promotion 286.1 347.7 633.8 1.0 1.2 2.2 64.9 13.4D. Monitoring A Evaluation 97.6 106.3 203.8 0.3 0.4 0.7 62.2 4.3E. Management Support 239.0 189.9 428.9 0.8 0.7 1.6 44.3 9.0F. Other Extension Support

1. Small Ruminants 102.9 66.9 168.8 0.3 0.3 0.6 35.2 3.42. Fish Farming 42.3 32.7 76.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 43.7 1.6Sub-Total 146.2 W88. 233.8 0 4 07 T I" n

0. Agricultural Planning 29.7 126.6 165.2 0.1 0.4 0.6 80.3 3.3

TOTAL BASELINE COSTS 2,271.0 2,469.0 4,740.0 7.9 8.7 16.6 62.1 100.0

Physical Contingencies 86.3 164.1 239.4 0.3 0.6 0.8 64.4 4.8Price Contingencies 378.8 828.0 1,204.6 1.4 2.9 4.3 88.7 26.9

TOTAL PROJECT COSTS 2,732.9 3,451.1 6,184.0 9.6 12.1 21.7 66.8 130.7(including taxes)

2. Financing

3.45 Project costs would be borne by co-financiers in the followingamounts and proportions.

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Financing Plan by Category of Goods and Sorvices

IBRD UNDP EDF QOVT TOTAL FOR. LOCAL DUTIES AEXC4 (Exci TAXES

Taxes)---- (-U--------------------(uS million)----------------------------

A. Civil Works 1.1 0.0 0.8 0.0 1.4 0.7 0.7 0.0S. Vehileos 3.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.9 S.7 0.2 0.0C. Technical Assist. 2.6 0.9 0.0 0.0 a.6 386 0.0 0.0D. Equipment 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.6 0.1 0.0E. Training 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.9 0.8 0.6 0.0F. Research Support 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.8 0.4 0.00. Operating Costs 4.4 0.0 0.2 4.6 9.1 2.8 6.2 0.6H. PPF 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 0.8 0.7 0.0

Financing Roquiroments 15.8 0.9 0.6 4.6 21.7 12.1 9.0 0.6

Share of Financing --------------------------------X----------------------------------

With Taxes 73.0 4.1 2.3 20.6 100.0 66.7 41.6 2.8Without Taxes 76.0 4.2 2.4 18.4 100.0 67.8 42.7 -

3.46 The proposed loan of US$15.8 million would finance about 75Z ofproject costs (net of taxes). The Government's financial contribution to theproject would include 100% of taxes and duties, and recurrent expenditureson an increasing basis starting at 202 in PY1 and reaching 70% in the lastyear of the project (para 3.52). Yearly allocations by the Government to theproject to meet recurrent expenditures and taxes commitments would be basedon annual work plans and cost estimates of work prepared by the Directorateof Development Research, Training and Extension (DRDFV).

3.47 To facilitate project implementation, the Government would open aSpecial Account in a banking institution, and under terms and conditions,acceptable to the Bank. After Loan effectiveness and upon the Government'srequest, the Bank would deposit in the Special Account an amount ofUS$300,000 to finance project expenditures. Thereafter, the Special Accountwould be replenished regularly whenever its total has decreased by more thanUS$100,000. Should any disbursements be made from the Special Account forineligible expendituree, the Government would be required to replenish theAccount in the corresponding amount, or reimburse said amount to the Bank.

3.48 To assure adequate and timely provision of counterpart funds, theGovernment would open a Project Account with a banking institution, and underterms and conditions, acceptable to the Bank. It would deposit in thisaccount an initial amount of CFAF 100 million equivalent to about half of itsfinancial contribution for PY1 (Annex 9). Opening of the Project Accountand deposit of the initial amount would be a condition of effectiveness (para6.02(c)). Assurances were obtained at negotiations that funds correspondingto the Government counterpart financing of the project would be budgetedyearly in appropriate amounts and subsequently deposited quarterly in advancein the project account (para 6.01 (b)). These amounts would be used only forthe purpose of the project.

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3.49 Project Preparation Facility. Two PPF advances of US$750,000 eachwere awarded to the Government for project preparation and start-upactivities (para 2.38). The PPFs have been used specifically under the pilotproject (para 2.19) to: (a) carry out training of project staff; (b) startpilot extension activities in five regions; (c) build up implementationcapacity through provision of technical assistance, vehicles, equipment andoperating costs; (d) establish adequate accounting procedures; and (f)finance preparation reports by independent consultants. The total amount ofUS$1.5 million would be refinanced upon effectiveness of the Loan Agreement.

3. Procurement

3.50 Unless otherwise indicated, all goods and services financed by IBRDunder the project would be procured in accordance with Bank guidelines. Foritems financed by cofinanciers, procurement would be in accordance with thecofinanciers' guidelines. Civil works for the construction of the CATs aretoo small, too scattered geographically and too spread over time to besuitable for International Competitive Bidding (ICB). Contracts for theseconstructions aggregating to US$1.1 million would therefore be awardedthrough Local Competitive Bidding (LCB) procedures, which have been reviewedand are acceptable to the Bank. Contracts for the procurement of goodsvalued at US$200,000 equivalent or more would be procured through ICB. Suchcontracts would include mainly vehicles, micro-computers and software.Procurement for these goods would be prepared on an annual basis and donethrough grouped bidding packages to allow for ICB. When bulking is notfeasible, contracts for vehicles and data processing equipment not exceedingUS$200,000 but over US$50,000 may be awarded on the basis of LCB procedures,which are acceptable to the Bank, subject to an aggregate ceiling ofUS$500,000 worth of goods to be so procured during the entire project period.LCB would be advertised locally and foreign contractors would be eligible tobid.

3.51 Purchase of small off-the-shelf items would be allowed under prudentshopping procedures with at least three price quotations from reliablesuppliers. The total value of items purchased this way would not exceedUS$200,000. All consultants and technical assistants financed by IBRD wouldbe recruited in accordance with Bank guidelines under agreed terms ofreference (see Annex 5). Technical assistance financed by UNDP would beselected in accordance with UNDP and Bank guidelines. The total value ofIBRD goods to be procured through ICB would be about US$4.1 million (19% oftotal costs); through LCB: US$1.6 million (7Z); and through other methods:US$10.1 million (47Z). All bidding documents for contracts exceedingUS$50,000 would be made available to the Bank for prior review. Procurementarrangements are summarized below.

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Procurement Arrangements a/(US$ million)

Items ICB LCB OTHER COF b/ TOTAL

1. Civil works - 1.1 - 0.3 1.4(1.1) (1.1)

2. Vehicles 3.7 0.2 - - 3.9(3.7) (0.2) (3.9)

3. Technical Assistance - - 2.6 0.9 3.5(2.6) (2.6)

4. Equipment 0.4 0.3 - - 0.7(0.4) (0.3) - (0.7)

5. Training - - 0.9 - 0.9(0.9) (0.9)

6. Research Support _ - 0.7 - 0.7(0.7) (0.7)

7. Operating Costs - - 4.4 4.7 9.1(4.4) (4.4)

8. PPF - - 1.5 - 1.5

(1.5) (1.5)

Total 4.1 1.6 10.1 5.9 21.7(4.1) (1.6) (10.1) (15.8)

a/ Amounts in parenthesis indicate IBRD financing.b/ Cofinancing by other donors would be made under they own procedures.

4. Disbursements

3.52 Disbursement of the IBRD Loan of US$15.8 million is shown over a 6-year period starting January 1, 1991 (Annex 10). Project disbursementsfollow IBRD's standard profile for the Congo, but start at a higher level asthey include US$1.5 million of PPF-financed activities. Disbursement fromthe Loan would be made as follows:

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Disbursement of IBRD Loan

US$ million Z of ExpendituresCategory Equivalent To be Financed a/

1. Civil Works 1.0 9022. Vehicles and Equipment 3.5 10023. Technical Assistance 2.3 100%4. Training 0.8 10025. Research Support 0.6 10026. Small ruminants/fish farming 0.6 10027. Operating Costs 3.9 Declining basis b/8. PPF Refinancing 1.59. Unallocated 1.6

Total 15.8

a/ of amount net of taxesb/ 802 until 12/31/1992, 55Z until 12/31/94 and 302 thereafter

3.53 All disbursement claims would be fully documented, except forexpenditures and contracts below US$30,000 equivalent for which certifiedStatements of Expenditures (SOEs) would be used. Documentation of SOEs wouldbe held for review by Bank supervision missions and verification by externalauditors. The Bank would not honor direct payment requests below US$30,000equivalent or reimbursement requests below US$50,000 equivalent.Replenishment of the Special Account (para 3.47) would be for no less thanUS$100,000 equivalent.

5. Financial Management, Accounting and Audit Requirements

3.54 The Logistics Service of the Directorate of Development Research,Training and Extension (DRDFV) would be responsible for financial control,accounting and procurement. To strengthen this service, the project wouldprovide ten man-months of short-term consultancies in financial managementand accounting. The consultant would ensure (a) the maintenance of soundaccounting and budgetary control procedures; (b) prompt and adequate flow offunds to the regions; (c) preparation and follow-up of disbursement claims;and (d) preparation of bidding documents and advice on bid evaluation. Theconsultant would also be responsible for training Congolese staff infinancial management and accounting, both at MJDR Headquarters and in theregions.

3.55 Detailed budgets and work programs would be submitted to the Bankfor approval no later than June 30 prior to the beginning of each calendaryear. Assurances to this effect were obtained at negotiations (para6.01(c)). The proiect accounts would classify expenditures by region andcomponent for budgetary and management control purposes. There would be

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tight physical control of vehicles and equipment. DRDFV's Logistics Servicewould ensure the transfer to separate regional bank accounts of sufficientfunds to cover two months expenditures, with monthly replenishment accordingto the annual budget. Project accounts would be audited according tointernational standards by independent auditors acceptable to the Bank. Theauditor would be required to express an opinion on the reliability of SOEprocedures, the legitimacy of expenditures made out of the Special Account,and the utilization of goods and services financed under the IBRD Loan. Theaudited accounts and the auditors report would be submitted to the Bank nolater than four months after the end of the financial year. Assurances onthe foregoing were obtained at negotiations (para 6.01(d)).

IV. ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

A. General Project Organization

4.01 Overall responsibility for project implementation would rest withthe Directorate of Development Research, Training and Extension (DRDFV), withthe Director of DRDFV acting as Project Manager. The project'sadministrative and financial management would be the responsibility ofDRDFV's Logistics Service that would be strengthened to this effect (para3.29). DRDFV would implement the various project components (a) eitherdirectly using its own operating structure at local and central level; thisstructure would be expanded to accommodate the needs arising from projectactivities; or, (b) by sub-contracting to individual projects (both withinMJDR or outside) or external institutions (both government-controlled orindependent); or, (c) by a combination of the above two possibilities. Inall cases, the project would place emphasis on strengthening the implementingstructures/institutions so that project activities be sustained in the longrun. Also, due care would be taken to ensure that project activities areconsistent with the Government's overall rural development policies andremain coordinated with other government services. To this effect, a projectSteering Committee internal to MJDR, would be established. It would bepresided by the Minister MJDR of and would include participation ofrepresentatives of the Ministry of Planning and Economy, concerned MJDR'sCabinet members and the staff responsible of the project's various executingstructures. Establishment of such a Committee, with functions,responsibilities and membership acceptable to the Bank, would be a conditionof effectiveness (para 6.02(d)).

B. The Extension Service

4.02 Under the project, the Government would continue to graduallyorganize its extension service based on the approach and methods of the T&Vsystem of extension management. Responsibility for the above task would bevested with DRDFV's Extension Service. The Extension Service Chief wouldcontinue to be advised for twc years by an internationally-recruitedExtension Specialist (para 3.09) (see Terms of Reference for this positionin Annex 5). The organizational chart of the Extension Service is shown atAnnex 11. Details concerning the methodological and org&nizational aspectsof extension are given in Annex 12.

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4.03 The basic field management unit at district level consists of theChief of the Extension Division who is one of the nine division chiefsreporting to the District Chief of Agriculture Sector. The Chief ofExtension oversees about eight extension agents with, in the case of largerdistricts, an intermediary echelon occupied by one or two extensionsupervisors reporting to him. Under the project, each extension agent wouldbe assigned an area with approximately 350 farmers which is the ratiopresently applied under the pilot project. This ratio could be increased to400 if it is demonstrated that extension agents can be given responsibilityfor a greater number of farmers and keep equal management standards.

4.04 The extension agent represents the front-line element of theextension system. This agent also serves as general interface between theAdministration and the farmers for advice on productive activities.Therefore, although he/she is formally supervised by the Extension Chief,he/she is also the interlocutor of all other technical division chiefs atdistrict level. Such a situation entails an evident need for coordination.In this perspective, to avoid duplication of activities and to allow theextension service to receive the full technical support of the otherservices, the project would provide to these services the incrementalresources (essentially travel and subsistence allowances) necessary for themto furnish specific technical support. In fact, in certain districts, giventhe status of productive activities, no such support is needed at present,and the activities of certain specialized divisions may be redundant. Inthis regard, specific positions in the above districts should not be filled,or, if they are already filled, staff should be redeployed. This wouldenable to make the best use of scarce government resources.

4.05 At the regional level, a team of two to four subject matterspecialists would be posted at the Technical Coordination Service. Thismeans that there would be two subject matters specialists for cropactivities, and one each (if needed) for livestock and fish farmingactivities. Subject matter specialists would have a critical role as linksbetween extension agents (therefore the farmers) and research staff. Assuch, they would allocate a third of their time equally to (a) providingtechnical support and guidance to extension agents (and supervisors) in theirextension activities; (b) training these staff during the fortnightlytraining sessions; and (c) building their own knowledge and expertise throughregular visits and discussions with the research staff. The Chief of theTechnical Coordination Service would coordinate training activities at theregional level, and would be responsible for the planning and organizationof the fortnightly sessions. The subject matter specialists capacity totrain and provide technical support to extension agents would be graduallyimproved through monthly technical workshops to be organized by DRDFV'sTraining Service, in collaboration with DRDFV's Development Research Service.

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C. Adaptive Research

4.06 Responsibility for implementation of the project's adaptive researchcomponent would rest with the chief of DRDFV's Development Research Service(Service Recherche-Developpement). He would continue to be assisted for twoyears by an internationally-recruited Adaptive Research Specialist (para3.15) (see Terms of Reference in Annex 5). The initial adaptive researchprogram would be based on a technical diagnosis (a) summarizing thecharacteristics of the prevailing systems in the country; and (b) identifyingthe major constraints encountered under these systems. Th'.s diagnosis,performed at the onset of the project, would allow establishment of researchpriorities and research content. Thereafter, the adaptive research programwould be revised yearly. To assist in the preparation of the diagnosticwork, and in the subsequent establishment and follow-up of the yearlyprograms (including specification and supervision of adaptive research tasksto be contracted out), provision would be made under the project for twomonths of consultancy yearly by a highly qualified agronomist.

4.07 The adaptive research program would be implemented (a) within theTechnical Support Centers (Centres d'Appui Technique-CATs) created under theproject; (b) on farmers fields; and (c) through sub-contracting to externalinstitutions. Each of the twelve technical support centers envisaged underthe project would be managed by a national agronomist with appropriateranking to help attract and retain the most qualified and experiencedcandidates. The CAT manager participates in the on-farm research programwhose responsibility, however, rests with the subject matter specialist. Thelatter has a target of about 10-15 on-farm trials to undertake per season.A UN volunteer, who has appropriate training and experience in agriculture,is already in post in the CAT of Owando to help coordinate implementation ofthe research program in the Cuvette region. He would continue to be fundedfor a year under the project.

4.08 Certain components of the adaptive research program would be carriedout under specific contracts with external research institutions (para 3.14).Such contracts would comprise: (a) technical documents giving the principlesunderpinning the specific research task to be completed, including itsduration and details on (i) the specific actions to be undertaken (areas,crops, varieties, calendar, etc.); (ii) the cropping tPs-iniques to be tested,(manual and mechanical practices, timing of farming operations, use ofinputs, etc.); and (iii) the data to be produced (key indicators, methodologyfor data collection, etc.); and (b) contractual documents specifyingestimated costs, payment arrangements and each party's obligations, e.g.supervision and support by adaptive research services, reporting (technicalreports, accounts, etc.).

4.09 The adaptive research annual programs would be established jointlyby DRDFV's extension and adaptive research services, and subsequentlypresented for discussion to the National Agricultural Extension and ResearchCoordinating Committee (Comite National de Coordination de 'a Vulgarisationet de la Recherche Agricoles). Assurances were obtained at negotiations that(a) DRDFV would prepare its proposed adaptive research program for the nextyear by June 30 of each year, as part of its overall annual work program and

- 31 -

budget (para 3.55); and (b) the National Committee would be established withmembership and responsibilities acceptable to the Bank (para 6.01 (e). TheCommittee would meet twice a year to: (a) analyze results of researchprograms implemented over the previous year; (b) review the adoption ratesof technical recommendations during the previous season; (c) agree onresearch programs and extension recommendations for the following year; and(d) review the content of training programs for extension staff to be carriedout by research.

D. Training and Rural Promotion

4.10 Training. The training program would be prepared and supervised byDRDFV's Training Service. It would be based on a detailed description of thejob content of the various positionis required for project implementation, andan assessment of staff expertise and experience against these profiles. Thiswould lead to establishing DRDFV's long-term manpower needs, locate possiblesources of training, and design a corresponding manpower development program.This program would be implemented through a variety of means, including shorttraining sessions, study tours in the country and overseas, seminars, etc.The project would provide for short-term consultancies to advise in theplanning and programming, and subsequent management, of training activities.At negotiations, assurances were obtained that DRDFV would prepare, each yearby June 30, a training program for the next year to be submitted forconsideration by the Bank as part of its overall work program a&- budget(para 3.55).

4.11 Rural Promotion activities would be the responsibility of the RuiralPromotion Service to be created within DRDFV. These activities woul. ':eexecuted, as integral part of extension work, by rural promotion subjectmatter specialists (Techniciens Specialises de Promotion Rturale). Thesesubject matter specialists would have primary expertise in group formationand would be assisted by contract farmers (paysans leaders, see para 4.13).The functional literacy program would be sub-contracted to the Rural RadioDirectorate.

4.12 One rural promotion subject matter specialist would be assigned ineach of the following five regions: Cuvette, Lekoumou and Kouilou, coveredby the pilot project; and Niari and Pool. He/she would report to the Chiefof the Rural Promotion Service through the regional Chief of the TechnicalCoordination Service, and would liaise closely with the other subject matterspecialists in order to coordinate their work programs.

4.13 Contract farmers would be selected amongst the best performingfarmers. They would initially be given the task of mobilizing and organizingfarmers into cooperative groups. They would work part-time for the project,under the direct supervision of the rural promotion subject matterspecialists and in close liaison with the local extension agents. For thiswork, they would receive appropriate comper.sation. Each rural promotionsubject matter specialist would initially follow on a pilot basis a dozen orso contract farmers. This number would increase over the project period ifthe experiment proves positive. Successful contract farmers would graduallybe given additional tasks. They would eventually become fully-fledgedcontractual extension agents, replacing the Administration's extension agents

- 32 -

and being compensated mostly by farmers' groups. This would pave the way fora gradual transfer of responsibility for extension to local communities.

4.14 The general arrangements under which contract farmers would berecruited were agreed at negotiations. Assurances were obtained that thefive rural promotion subject matter specialists be appointed and deployed onthe field by June 30, 1991 to enable timely execution of rural promotionactivities (para 6.01(f)). The creation of the Rural Promotion Service, andthe appointment of a Chief of Service with qualifications acceptable to theBank, would be a condition of Loan effectiveness (para 6.02(f)).

E. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

4.15 M&E activities will be the responsibility of the DRDFV's M&EService. It would use a network of enumerators in charge of organizingcollection of primary data at field level. There would be one enumerator perregion covered by the project. He/she would report to the Chief of the M&EService through the Regional Director of Rural Development (DRDR). He/shewould also liaise closely with the regional Planning ana Studies Service thatwould be strengthened under the project (para 3.40). Assurances wereobtained at negotiations that the two division chiefs of the M&E Service andthe five regional enumerators be appointed and in post by June 30 1991, toenable timely execution of the M&E component (para 6.01 (f)).

4.16 The Chief of the M&E Service would be a member of NationalCoordinating Committee for Extension and Adaptive Research, since thiscommittee would base many of its decisions on data provided by M&Eactivities. The M&E Service would report the results of current field workimmediately through brief reports and would synthesize information on coreindicators before each meeting of the Committee. It would cooperate withMJDR's Studies and Planning Directorate (DEP) in conducting the project Mid-Term Evaluation envisaged by end-PY2. The objective of the evaluation wouldbe to assess whether (a) implementation is proceeding as planned; (b) theproject is reaching its targets (institutional and at farm- level); and (c)the chosen extension and adaptive research strategies are appropriate.Within six months of final Loan disbursement, the M&E Service would preparea Project Completion Report (PCR) focussing on the efficiency of the chosenextension and adaptive research strategies, changes in farming practices, andlessons learnt for future extension and adaptive research activities.P-surances were obtained at negotiations that the Mid-Term Evaluation wouldbe held no later than December 31, 1992 (para 6.01(g)).

F. Other Extension Support

4.17 These activities concern small ruminants husbandry and inland fishfarming. They would be carried out respectively by the Small RuminantsCenter at Inoni-Falaise and the Fish Breeding Station at Djoumouna. Thesetwo entities presently operate as independent projects (although for Inoni-Falaise external assistance stopped in mid-1989). Since they haveadministrative and financial autonomy, they can enter into contractualarrangements with external agencies. Their contracts with DRDFV would coverall aspects of the technical support to be provided to the Extension Servicein their respective fields of activity, including training, supply of inputs,

- 33 -

data collection and specific studies (paras 3.36 and 3.38). DRDFV'sExtension Service would ensure the technical follow-up of these contracts,with the assistance of the General Directorate of Rural Development; DRDFV'sLogistics Service would manage them financially.

G. Agricultural Planning

4.18 This component would be implemented over two years by MJDR'sDirectorate of Studies and Planning (DEP) within the framework of a Cost-Sharing Agreement between UNDP and GOC. This agreement would be of aninitial duration of two years. It could be extended thereafter to continueassisting DEP if required. The planning component would be organized andmanaged independently of the other components by the Director of DEP whowould be accountable directly to the Director of DRDFV acting as ProjectManager. Operationally, close liaison would be maintained with DRDFV'scentral services for specific activities, including M&E and training, and atthe regional level between DEP's regional services and the enumerators incharge of field data collection.

V. BENEFITS, JUSTIFICATION AND RISKS

A. Project Benefits

5.01 The project would significantly improve the organization andmanagement of extension and adaptive research. The T&V system has beenassociated in many countries with significant yield increases because of itscapacity to teach farmers timely application of improved cultivationpractices. The project would benefit directly about 58 percent of theCongo's active farm population, spread across the country. The improvedcultivation practices to be disseminated under the project would imp.:ovefarmers' productivity and rural incomes. The project would specificallybenefit women and youths as recipients of custom-made messages under theproject's rural promotion component. Overall, the project would directlybenefit the poorer segments of the Congo's population and help reduce theimbalance in urban vs rural income distribution.

5.02 The organizational aspects of the T&V system also generate importantinstitutional benefits. The systematic nature of the approach--a simplifiedorganizat.ional structure geared to the needs of the recipients and internallymonitored--provides an invaluable training ground for developing MJDR'scapabilities to plan, coordinate and implement extension programs at thenational level. The emphasis on formal linkages between farmers, extensionagents and research staff, and the strengthening of the adaptive researchprogram would help foster a favorable environment for accelerating the paceof technological change. The project therefore represents an important stepin the creation of the institutional framework needed to provide appropriateservices to the agricultural sector.

- 34 -

B. Economic Justification

5.03 It is difficult to estimate the economic rate of return (ERR) of anation-wide project of this type. The first problem arises when attributinga precise level of benefits to extension and adaptive research alone. Otherimportant factors such as pricing policies, the availability and cost ofinputs and credit, and climatic conditions also greatly influenceproduction. The second problem involves predicting the adoption rates ofrecommended practices. This problem arises because the project coversseveral regions with different resource base and constraints, and farmers atdiffering levels of technological development. With these caveats, an ERRhas been estimated for the extension component based on broad country-wideassumptions. The details of the assumptions and analysis are presented inAnnex 13. Yield levels are presently low, and experience under the pilotproject and other similar exercises have shown that available messages couldalready increase on-farm yields by 20-40 percent. With conversativeassumptions on the coverage of the extension services (350 farmers perExtension Agent against the final objective of 400, and an adoption rate ofimproved practices on only 25 percent of the area covered), yields would needto increase by only 15 percent to generate an ERR of 19 percent. Theseassumptions are conservative by any standard and are entirely feasible gihenthe progress achieved so far under the pilot project. Sensitivity analysison coverage, adoption rates, and yields is shown in Annex 13. Results showthat the project would still be viable if achievements were to fall below themodest Base Cast assumptions.

5.04 The Base Case assumptions on extension coverage, area and yieldswould generate an annual increase in total farm income of about CFAF 970million (US$3.4 million equivalent) at full development as of end-PY5. Thisincrease in income would accrue to an estimated 143,850 farmers or 58 percentof total active farm population (Annex 13), all of whom belong to the poorerincome groups of the Congo. The estimated average benefit per farmer wouldbe about CFAF 7,000 per annum, i.e an increase of approximately 10X ofhis/her present income.

C. Budgetary Implications

5.05 The financial implications of the project on the Government's budgetare shown in Annex 9. The project impact on the budget would be relativelymodest. The Government's contribution (net of taxes) is expected to increasefrom about US$230,000 (CFAF 66 million) equivalent in 1991 to US$1.6 million(CFAF 460 million) in 1995, or about four percent of the combined annualinvestment and recurrent budgets of MJDR in 1989. The project would notdirectly generate fiscal revenues as there are no taxes levied on farmproduction in the Congo. Eventually, there would be fiscal revenuesindirectly generated from taxes on the additional expenditures of farmers astheir incomes increase. The level of these revenues, however, cannot bequantified at this point.

- 35 -

D. Environmental Impact

5.06 The project would have a beneficial impact on the environment. Theadaptive research component would develop and adapt technologies geared topreserving the farmer's resource base, such as improved soil management,anti-erosion and fertility maintenance techniques. Technologies directed atstabilizing farming, eliminating shifting cultivation and intensifyingcropping systems would reduce farmer encroachment into forest areas. Thiswould be the most effective action possible in conserving Congo's tropicalforests which are now being encroached upon by shifting cultivation.

E. Risks

5.07 The extension system has been tried in priority zones under thepilot project and is now adapted to Congolese conditions. Therefore, themain factors which could hamper satisfactory project execution would not berelated to the extension approach or methods. Rather, they might arise from(a) inadequate local budgetary support; (b) lower than expected adoptionrates; and (c) unattractive prices and lack of marketing outlets. Detailson these factors are given below.

5.08 Government Budgetary Support. Whilst the Government, despite severeliquidity problems, continues to pay all MJDR's staff salaries regularly,there is evidence of underfunding in certain areas (e.g., vehicles, operatingcosts, travel allowances). Therefore, to minimize the risk of inadequatebudgetary support, Bank funding would be provided under the project fornearly 50 percent of incremental operating costs. This funding would be madeon a declining basis to allow the Government time to develop its capacity toabsorb incremental costs (para 3.46).

5.09 Adoption Rates. Implementation of the T&V system of extension mightbe hindered by ineffective management and lack of farmer incentives to adoptimproved technical recommendations. Effective management is crucial becausethe project would introduce and support new ways of managing extension staffand new methods of disseminating extension advice. These significant changeswould involve considerable reorientation of the extension system. Theproject would thus provide MJDR with the consultancy services and technicalassistance required during project implementation and appropriate trainingfor Congolese staff. Irrelevant technology, inappropriate prices and poormarketing services could reduce farmer incentives. Concerning technology,failure of the adaptive research program to produce appropriaterecommendations is a risk inherent to research. However, special effortswould be made under the project to minimize such a risk, in particular (a)introduction of an appropriate methodology for on-farm research; (b) supportto key external adaptive research programs; and (c) strengthening of linkagebetween extension and research.

5.10 Prices and Marketing. Following the removal of State monopoly overagricultural marketing under the SAL Program, prices of all crops are nowmarket-determined (para 2.14). However, poor infrastructure and marketingarrangements could depress farmgate prices to unattractive levels. There isevidence, for example, that the elimination of OCC and OCV's monopolies has

- 36 -

evidence, for example, that the elimination of OCC and OCV's monopolies hascaused some disruption of marketing activities and dissatisfactior, amonggrowers in recent years because of delayed collection and reduced pricesoffered by private trader. In addition, crop marketing is seriously hamperedby inefficient marketing networks and poor feeder roads. Measures to improvethe marketing of agricultural products and rehabilite key feeder roads aretherefore essential to achieve project objectives. In this regard IFAD andEDF are now preparing projects to provide support for market development andthe proposed Bank Roads Maintenance and Rehabilitation Project (FY9lL) wouldcontribute to addressing the infrastructure constraint.

VI. ASSURANCES, CONDITIONS AND RECOMMENDATION

Assurances Obtained at Negotiations

6.01 (a) DRDFV's staff would be relocated in facilities satisfactoryto the Bank no later than June 30, 1991 (para 3.31);

(b) the Government's counterpart funding of the project would bebudgeted yearly and subsequently deposited quarterly inadvance on the project account (para 3.48);

(c) DRDFV would, by June 30 of each calendar year, submit anannual work program, including a training program, and abudget for the following year (para 3.55);

(d) project accounts would be audited arnually and the auditreport submitted to the Bank no lacer than four months afterthe end of the fiscal year (pare ..55);

(e) the National Coordinating Committee for Extension and AdaptiveResearch would be established with membership andresponsibilities acceptable to the Bank (para 4.09);

(f) MJDR would appoint and deploy line managers and subject matterspecialists (including enumerators) in adequate numbers, byJune 30, 1991 (paras 4.14 and 4.15); and

(g) DRDFV would prepare a Mid-Term Evaluation to be held no laterthan December 31, 1992 (para 4.16).

- 37 -

Conditions of Effectiveness

6.02 (a) signature of a Cost-Sharing Agreement between GOC and UNDP forthe provision of technical assistance for the extension andadaptive research components (paras 3.09 and 3.15);

(b) signature of a Cost-Sharing Agreement between GOC and UNDP forthe provision of technical assistance for the planningcomponent (para 3.41);

(c) opening of a Project Account and evidence of initial depositof CFAF 100 million (para 3.48);

(d) establishment of the project's Steering Committee withresponsibilities and membership acceptable to the Bank (para4.01); and

(f) creation of DRDFV's Rural Promotion Service and appointmentof a Chief of Service with qualifications acceptable to theBank (para 4.14).

6.03 Recommendation. With the above assurances, the proposed project wouldbe suitable for a loan of $15.8 million equivalent to the People's Republicof the Congo on standard IBRD terms, with 20 years maturity.

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF THE CONGONATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND ADAPTIVE RESEARCH PROJECT

Organizational Chart

MINISTERE DE LA JEUNESSE ET DU DEVELOPPEMENT RURAL

I I I I I -

DRECTION D S CO ROEC ETO DE RECTION CENO TRESNEON F REE OPMN ET ECO NDES CO OPR AT E SD| IE EUES I LAEU ESS RE DUAG ICUTRDDDlRECTION DE DIRECTION DIRECTION RECHERCHE- I CTION DES ACTIONS

DRECTIONALES DIESCTVION DUVCNAOA OPERATION DEVEATIPTQEMENT DIRECTIONDELA SICOOPERATIVES,LADU

ETUDES ErOCLEUONTROLE ETD LA RADIO VILLAGES- FORMATION ET ECOLES CREDIT ET DE LALA PLANICATION IOEIENTrATION RIU|A E CENTRES VULGARISATION L COMMERCIALISATION

|S I IFIANCTI t I DIRECTION

I I IET DU PERSO^ELI I I I I I I IET DU PERSONNELI IU

DE LA JEUNESSE ~~~~~~DEVELOPPEMENT RURAL]

DIRECTIOS DIRECTON DiFtETION DUDIRECTION BUREO LRCIO E AAU DESREGIONALESDES ACTIVITES SERVICE NATIONAL opROucTIO STATISTIQUE DISCECUTIURE L ARHVS ET DEz LA

(10) SOCIocUiLTURtELLES OBUGATOIRE PAGCCULURELOCUENTATIO

DIRECTION DIRECTION DES BRAUDSDIRECTION DU GENIE DIRECTION DESAFFAIRES ~ ~ ~ ~ IRCTON RURAL. MACHINISME AFFAJRES DIRECTIONS

DES ACIVITES ADMINISTRATIVES. ARCHIVES ET DE LA PRODCIN ET EQUIPEMENT ADMINISTRATIVES. REGIONALESECOWOMIOL,ES FIACERS DOCUMENTATION ANIMALE AGRICOLE AINANCIERES (10)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ET DU PERSONNELETDPRSNL

EK/W46907B

Ix



MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MJDR)

Directorate of Development Research. Training and Extension (DRDFV)

Organizational chart

. , .. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~...................sERVIma 1ENYICE . s5ERYcE

mEOiamEm SVICE SERVICE SERVICE suIVI . POWITOHN*31VE1L EENET V tULGARISATION _ FOMUATION . .. isT.e . EVALUATIO. N tALE

DIVISION DIVISION DIVISION .RECHERCHE DIVISION METHODES DIVISION ANALYSE ET ..... DIVISION .PRODti ON FORMATION ET DIFFUSION FINANCES METHODES .PROHOTION.

VEGETALE

DIVISION DIVISION DIVISION DIVISION DIVISION | DIiISIONRECHERCHE AUDIO IAPPUI A LA MATERIEL ET TRAITEMENT ... MEDIAPRODtCTION VISUELLE I PRODUCTION EQUIPEMENT DES DONNEES

DIVISIONREC4EROtEPRODtCTIONPISCICOLE

DIVISIONRECHERCHE

I SOCIO- ECONOMIQUE

DIVISIONRECHERCHEI

Ie TECHNOLO- I S

LA*nd: .. Structure to bo created as part of the proj ct. 1



MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MJDR)

Organizational chart for the Directorate of Studies and Planning (DEP)

CABINT

SECRETARIATDIRECTION

0 SERVICE | | SERVICE DES | SERVICE SERVICESERVICE SUIVI- SERVICE -t

PLANIFICATION ETUDES ET DOCUMENTATION FORMATION EVALUATION COOPERATION o

PROJETS ETSTATISTlQUJES

DIV ISION DIVI'SLION DIVISI1ON DIVISION DIVISION DIVISIONPROGRAM- PRODUCTION DONNEES RESSOURCES SUIVI COOPERATION I

_ MNATION VECETALE PROJETS HUUAINES EXECUTION BILATERALEPHYSIQUE

l DIVISIQN | r DIVISION l l DIVISION | | DIVISION VIIISION |V| DIVISION N

I POLITIqUES I I PRODUCTION I I DONNEES I I PRDGRtAMMES I IDSUIVI FMI COOPERATIONA IACRICOLES MIMALE ECON Mn |JES DE FORMATION FINANCE V INTERNATIONALE

DIVISION I DIVISION DIVISIONAUTRES [ DOCUMENTATION EVA WATIONSOUS-SECTEURS

A:%GAF.&A



PhasinR-in of Districts

Pilot Phs -- P-Project Period----- - PostPrTodWaeON (OPVA) First Phoe Second Phase Pertod

(1997/96) (PYI/PY2) (Old-Tem (PYS/PY4/PYS) (a. of 1996)Review)

11eI I leg Vllei Hila Kba&ammdk

Maias KeElect - __Ivakes RII'ft. -ayebo

Ukeumas Si bitt Rea ss.3wmin

peel Kidedmae *Iad.eiI MPl_ - L4 1* D3_olo -abol

1N'S1b N 'Com TO& Tai

Cevette Eve Owand Louhol6lK6116 Oyo Meto..SOundJI MossehOlkojo M'Som

Seegha --- SembSo"atSousnt&Mok6ko

Do""Ep6

Number of districtsU 14 8 15

0 0

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO______________________________

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND ADAPTIVE RESEARCH PROJECT…-----------------------------------------------------------_

EXTENSION STAFF REQUIREMENTS PER DISTRICT

ACTIVE RURALREGION/DISTRICT POPULATION EXTENSION AGENTS (EBS)/SUPERVISORS SUBJECT MATTER SPECIALISTS (TSs) a/ TECHNICAL

--------------- ----------- -------- ------------------------------------------------- ---- ~---- ---------------------------- SUPPORT CENTERS

OPVA PY1 PY2 PY3 PY4 PYS TSPV TSPA TSPC TSPR ESE (CATs) b/

(87/90) (90/91) (91/92) (92/93) (93/94) (94/95)KOUILLOU 2 - -1 1

M'VOUTI 6,800 17/2 17/2 17/2 17/2 17/2 17/2 OPVA

HINDA 4,800 - 10/2 12/2 12/2 12/2 12/2…________ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------

SUBTOTAL 11,600 17/2 27/4 29/4 29/4 29/4 29/4

NIARI 2 1 1 1 1

LOUVAKOU 16,200 - 33/4 38/4 38/4 38/4 37/4 PYl

MOUTAVBA 6,800 - 15/2 17/2 17/2 17/2 16/2 PYl

KIMONGO 2,800 - - - 6/1 8/1 8/1KIBANGOU 2,400 _ - 6/1 6/1 6/1 6/1DIVENIE 3,200 - _ _ _ 8/1 8/1

…________ ----- - ---- ------ ------ ------

SUBTOTAL 30,400 - 48/6 61/7 67/8 77/8 75/8

LEKOUMOU 2 1 1 1 1

SIBITI 10,800 27/4 27/4 27/4 27/4 27/4 26/4 OPVA

ZANAGA 3,200 - - 7/1 8/1 8/1 8/1

KOMONO 3,200 - - - - 8/1 8/1…________ - ----- - ---- ------ ------ ______

SUBTOTAL 17,200 27/4 27/4 34/5 36/6 43/S 42/B

BOUENZA 2 1 1 1 1

MOUYONDZI 12,800 - 25/4 32/4 32/4 32/4 31/4 PY2

MADINGOU 6,800 - 11/2 14/2 14/2 14/2 14/2 -

MI'FOATI 4,000 - - - 10/1 10/1 10/1 _

N'KAYI 4,000 - - - 2/1 10/1 10/1 _

LOUDIMA 4,400 - - - - 11/1 11/1 -

BOKO SONGNO 2,800 - - - 2 1/0 7/1 -

SUBTOTAL 33,800 - 38/6 48/6 58/8 78/9 83/10

POOL 2 1 1 1 1

KINDAMBA 5,60 14/2 14/2 14/2 14/2 14/2 14/2KINKALA 10,400 - 20/3 26/3 26/3 26/3 26/3MINDOULI 8,000 - - 20/2 20/2 20/2 19/2 PY1 Pt

N'GABE 8,000 - _ 20/2 20/2 20/2 19/2 co-________ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ______

SUBTOTAL 32,000 14/2 34/6 80/9 80/9 80/9 77/9

o -

A:\AN4P2.DG: m

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO______________________________

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND ADAPTIVE RESEARCH PROJECT------------------------------------------------------------

__

EXTENSION STAFF REQUIREMENTS PER DISTRICT

ACTIVE RURALREGION/DISTRICT POPULATION EXTENSION AGENTS (EBs)/SUPERVISORS SUBJECT MATTER SPECIALISTS (TSs) a/ TECHNICAL

-------------- _ _________________________________________________________- _____________________-------------------SUPPORT CENTERS

OPVA PY1 PY2 PY3 PY4 PYs TSPV TSPA TSPC TSPR ESE (CATs) b/

(87/90) (90/91) (91/92) (92/93) (93/94) (94/95)

PLATEAUX 1I

LEKANA 2,400 - 8/1 6/1 8/1 6/1 6/1 PY2

GAMBOMA 6,400 - - 14/2 16/2 18/2 1S/2

DJAMBALA (NGO) 4,400 - - - - - PY3

ABALA 4,800 - - - - - 12/1

SUBTOTAL 18,000 - 6/1 20/3 22/3 33/4 34/5

CUVETTE 2 1 1 1 1

EWO 4,000 10/1 10/1 10/1 10/1 10/1 10/1 OPVA

KELLE 4,800 12/2 12/2 12/2 12/2 12/2 12/2 4

BOUNDJI 2,800 7/1 7/1 7/1 7/1 7/1 7/1 -

OKOYO 2,100 6/1 5tl 5/1 S/1 6/1 6/1

OWANDO 6,000 - 15/1 15/1 15/1 1/1 15/1 OPVA

OYO 1,600 - 4/1 4/1 4/1 4/1 4/1

SUBTOTAL 21,300 34/5 U5/7 t3/7 53/7 53/7 53/7

SANCHA

SOUANKE - - - - - - - PY3

LIKOUALA 1 1

DONGOU/IMPFONDO 7,200 18/3 18/3 18/3 18/3 18/3 18/3 PYl

/EPENA

TOTAL 171,300 110/lB 251/36 341/44 3S6/47 411/49 411/52 14 7 6 6 7 12

a/ TSPV = Crop Production TS (Technicien Sp6cialis6 de Production V6g6tale)

TSPA = Animal Production TS (Technicien Sp6cialis6 de Production Animale)

TSPC = Fish Farming TS (Technicien Specialis6 de Pisciculture)TSPR = Rural Promotion TS (Technicien Sp6cialis46 de Promotion Rurale)

>

ESE = Monitoring and Evaluation Enumerator (Enqu6teur de Suivi-Evaluation)

b/ OPVA = Means Technical Support Centers created under the pilot project (1987/90) o C

A: \ANX4P3.DOC

L 4:

- 44 -

Annex 5Page 1 of 3



Terms of Reference of the Resident Technical Assistance

1. Extension Specialist

- Title/Accountable to: Senior Technical Advisor to DRDFV's Director(who is also the Project Manager) for extension and general administrativematters, posted with the Chief of the Extension Service. The expert is alsothe Principal Technical Advisor (Chef Technique Principal - CTP) of the UNDPproject for provision of technical assistance for research and extensionactivities, financed under the Cost-Sharing Agreement between GOC and UNDPwith FAO as executing agency.

- Location/Duration: Brazzaville, with frequent routine short-termmissions within the country; two years.

- Job Description: The expert would: (a) as primary responsibility,assist in designing and implementing a national extension system based on T&Vmethodology; and (b) as other responsibility, assist in general projectimplementation matters. Concerning extension, he would advise the Chief ofthe Extension Service specifically on: (a) the design of the extensionmethodology and its subsequent implementation; (b) the development oflinkages with agricultural research; (c) the review and approval of extensionaids; (d) the conduct of courses, seminars and workshops on extensionmethods. Concerning general operational matters, the expert would assistDRDFV's Director in: (a) preparing the required bi-annual projectimplementation progress reports; (b) coordinating and organizing the workprogram of external missions (donor supervieions and project technicalconsultancies); and (c) preparing the Project Mid-Term Evaluation that wouldtake place end-PY2.

- Qualifications/Experience: Graduate or equivalent degree inagriculture; at least 15 years of experience in a leading position concerningextension management, with a minimum of five years in Africa. Specificknowledge and experience in the Congo would be an advantage.

2. Adaptive Research Specialist

- Title/Accountable to: Senior Technical Advisor posted at DRDFV'sDevelopment Research Service (SRD), reporting to DRDFV's Director through theChief of SRD. The expert would be Senior Technical Advisor for adaptiveresearch under the Cost-Sharing Agreement to be signed between GOC and UNDPfor provision of technical assistance for E&R activities, with FAO asexecuting agency.

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Annex 5Page 2 of 3

- Location/Duration: Brazzaville, with frequent routine tripsupcountry; two years.

- Job Description: Expert to be responsible for assisting in thedevelopment of a suitable adaptive research program, including: (a)definition of initial priorities based on baseline surveys and secondarydata; (b) annual programming with CNCVRA; (c) support to gradual expansionof the network of CATs; (d) establishment and supervision of trials infarmers' fields; and (d) management of research sub-programs contracted outto external institutions. In undertaking the above tasks, expert to liaiseclosely with the Extension Service and the research establishment, and toperform on-the-job coaching and participate in formal training activitiesconcerning adaptive research.

- Qualifications/Experience. Graduate or equivalent degree inagriculture; at least 10 years of relevant adaptive research experience ina developing country, with five years under agro-ecological conditionssimilar to those prevailing in the Congo; required familiarity with extensionactivity; specific knowledge and experience in the Congo would be anadvantage.

3. Adaptive Research Technician

- Title/Accountable to: Technical advisor posted in a CAT, reportingto DRDFV's Director through the Chief of the CAT and the Chief of theDevelopment Research Service. The expert would have status of UnitedNations Volunteer under the Cost-Sharing Agreement to be signed between GOC,and UNDP for provision of technical assistance for E&R activities, with FAOas executing agency.

- Location/Duration: Owando, frequent trips in the Cuvette region,12 months.

- Job Description: Under the technical supervision of the AdaptiveResearch Specialist, expert to assist the Chief of the CAT in the regionwhere he/she is posted (and possibly other CATs) in (a) establishing theyearly research program for the CAT; (b) implementing the planned CAT trialsand collecting/interpreting results; and (c) establishing and following-uptrials on farmers' fields. Expert would liaise closely with the TSs inundertaking above tasks, in particular to incorporate any pertinent feedbackfrom EBs. He/she would provide on-the-job coaching to counterpart staff.and, upon request, participate in formal training of research staff.

- Qualifications/Experience: Undergraduate or equivalent degree inagriculture with at least five years of professional experience in researchor related field. Acquaintance with conditions prevailing in Congo would bean advantage.

- 46 -

Annex 5Page 3 of 3

4. Agricultural Planning Specialist

- Title/Accountable to: Senior Technical Advisor for strategicplanning activities reporting to the DEP's Director. The expert is alsoPrincipal Technical Advisor (Chef Technique Principal - CTP) of the UNDPAgricultural Planning Support project financed under a Cost-Sharing Agreementbetween GOC and UNDP, with FAO as executing agency.

- Location/Duration: Brazzaville, with frequent short-term missionswithing the country; two years renewable.

- Job Description: The expert's main responsibilities are to assistthe DEP's Director in the areas of (a) macro-economic planning; (b) cost-benefit analysis; (c) monitoring aid evaluation; and (d) sectoral studies.Additionally, the expert would contribute, to the establishment andsubsequent management of the Documentation Unit that has been created withinDEP. Formal training activities in the form of seminars, conferences,workshops, etc. are also an important task assigned to the expert, beyond thedaily on-the job coaching that he is to provide to DEP's counterpart staff.

- Qualifications/Experience: Graduate or equivalent degree inagriculture (agronomomy, agricultural economics or related field), with atleast ten years of relevant experience of which five in Afr'ca. Specificknowledge and experience in the Congo would be an advantage.

*:cobanS.s8rCOBO1

- 47 - Annex 6Page 1 of 3



Technical Diaanosis and Main Orientations for Adaptive Research

1. Background. In the Congo, agricultural activities are carried outunder difficult conditions, including: (a) a climate characterized by heavyrainfalls which lead to leached soils and rapid erosion if plant cover isdeficient; and (b) low fertility, sandy and often acid soils which, becauseof their weak structure, do not resist the mechanical action of rainfall.Their retention capacity for nutrients is very low. Therefore, cultivationpractices result in severe erosion and in a rapid fall of biologicalfertility and productivity after one or two cycles. Soil capacity for waterretention is also reduced and periods of hydrous deficit have been rioted evenunder the current high rainfall conditions.

2. Conditions inherent to the Congo therefore allow production onlyover very short periods (one to three crop cycles) and force farmers tocontinuously clear primary forests or old forests under fallow (more than 10years old). Although this phenomenon occurs mainly in cassava productionareas, it also happens where banana/plantain production is as important ascassava production. Indeed, even if banana plantations are more perennial(6-10 years), soil fertility losses lead to rapid yield reduction and, asearly as the second year, to a search by farmers for higher fertility plotsin other forest areas.

3. In the Niari valley, which has more potential, agriculture iscarried out under a system of short fallow (about three years). However,the system of mechanized farming already practiced on large plantationsrequires lime and phosphate applications in order to maintain the productionlevel that justifies this cultivation method. There also, leached soil3 arethe cause of their low chemical fertility.

4. Production systems and their constraints. Under the aboveconditions, traditional production systems can only be extremely extensiveand take considerable space. The constant forestry clearing by cutting, orby fire in the savanna, is an activity carried out by men who also hunt,fish, build dwellings and provide maintenance for coffee and other commercialcrop plantations. Most agricultural activities in cassava areas are carriedout by women. In the south, which is a cassava/banana/plantain productionarea, men are more involved in farming activities because sweet banana andplantain production is a source of scarce monetary revenues. This tendencyis aggravated by the crisis confronting traditional cash crops such as coffeeand cocoa, since revenues from these crops are diminishing and manyplantations whose production is unsold are progressively abandoned.

5. Constraints, according to priority, are: (a) marketing, i.e., thepossibility for producers to dispose of their produce in exchange for theminimum monetary revenues they need; in this respect, access, which is linkedto rural roads conditions and entails considerable travel and transport time,


remains a major constraint; (b) the heavy and strenuous workload entailed byagricultural activities which are still undertaken manually; 1/ thisconstraint is not strongly voiced by farmers, although they are aging,because it is part of their daily routine, but it is nevertheless a majorconstraint to cropping intensification; and (c) the lack of extensionservices.

6. Technologies. The URDFV's Research and Development Service iscarrying out, under OPVA and through its CATs, several cropping experimentsin order to: (a) improve available planting material, especially for cassavaand groundnuts; and (b) test improved crop practices against traditionalpractices. Interesting results have already been observed and severaltechnical elements have been included in extension packages, in particularregarding plant density (cassava, banana) and sowing (groundnuts). However,the main problem, i.e., the definition of a technical avenue to ensurefertility conservation, overcome weed problems, and thus stabilize crops andstop slash-and-burn cultivation, has yet to be addressed.

7. To remedy this situation, it would therefore be useful to launcha series of tests based on the following principles: (a) avoid as far aspossible keeping soils bare and therefore work on mulching techniques andvegetal cover (Pueraria); (b) seek to maintain soil fertility throughvegetationt introductior. nf legume fallow (stylotanthes), edges of perennialplants for cutting and mulching (Leucaena, Pennisetum, etc.); (c) study ofthe impact of fertilizer treatment (lime, phosphate) to accelerate fallowutilization; and (d) control of weeds through plant cover (see (b) above).These methods should at least result in the extension of cultivation cycles;however, chemical fertility will remain low and the search for highproductivity (e.g., exceeding 2.5 t/ha for maize and 1 t/ha for groundnuts)will require a supply of external organic (manure, compost) or chemicalfertilizer.

8. Technical Packages for Extension. The OPVA launched its extensionprogram based on a few themes corresponding to available technical packages,including: seeding and planting densities and schedules; use of improvedcutting material, specific maintenance messages, etc. However, the stock ofexisting themes is limited and adaptive research should now rapidly generatenew technical packages so that extension would not be short of technical

1/ For example, in cassava growing areas, the plowing, burning ofvegetation, building of heaps, planting of cuttings (and their priortransport to the field) are a series of long and strenuous tasks. Withtwo weedings, it amounts to 150 to 200 workdays per hectare. To thesetasks must be added travel and transport time. Due to the continuoussearch for more fertile land, cropped plots are often located at longdistances from the farmer's living quarters. This represents a longtime (typically 3-4 hours per workday) commuting to and from cultivatedareas. Crop evacuation can require up to 500 return trips, i.e., fora plot located at say 7-10 km from the farmer's house, about 3,500 to5,000 km carrying loads of 40 to 50 kg.

Annex 6- 49 - Page 3 of 3

messages, in particular those designed to address specific constraintsrelated to farming systems or overall farmer strategy. 21

9. Some new technical packages that could be disseminated throughextension are the following:

(a) The home garden, a small enclosure for household garbage disposalwhere compost pits could be made and where farmers could grow avariety of grain crops, vegetables or tubers, to improve familynutrition, both quantitatively and qualitatively; home gardenswould have to be protected from small ruminants and fowl.

(b) The raising and fattening of small ruminants kept in enclosuresor tied, end fed by children, could be very productive and bringvaluable revenues; marketing of small ruminants is in general easy;water supply for drinking could be a limiting factor, andreservoirs or barrels to collect rain water may have to be providedto promote this activity.

(c) Overall, the wandering of domestic animals is destructive; itcauses damages on home plots, on surrounding fields, etc.; thispractice should be stopped; to this effect, all villagers shouldbe sensitized to this change which should be carried out as acollective activity.

(d) Regarding grain crops (maize, groundnuts, cowpeas, soybeans, etc.),packages aimed at improving seed quality should be rapidlydisseminated; they would cover (i) grading, drying and storage ofseeds; and (ii) treatment with fungicides before sowing; becausethis package is easy to adopt, it guarantees a tremendousimprovement in plant emergence and density per hectare.

10. Improved Productivity. Any attempt to introduce new packages aimedat intensifying production will face a major obstacle: the time availablefor work. Therefore, if one wants farmers to improve their cultivationpractices which will require more working time per hectare, it will benecessary to reduce the time they spend on other tasks. This objective couldbe reached by reducing time spent on travel and transportation, and cropprocessing (especially cassava processing into foufou and chickwangue), whichare time-consuming activities. Transport and travel time may take about 50percent of the total time spent on agricultural activities, excluding theprocessing of agricultural produce.

2/ As an illustration, when marketing is hypothetical, as is now the case,farmers are reluctant to adopt packages dealing with timely workprograms for cassava planting. They prefer a gradual planting ofcuttings corresponding to their work capacity; this, moreover, allowsthem to meet their food needs by carrying out harvesting on a longerperiod of time.




Adaptive Research: Methodology and Organization of On-Farm and CAT Trials

1. The project's adaptive research program would tailor broad-basedfindings from applied research to the more location-specific requirements ofthe micro agro-ecological and/or social environment in which farmers operate.The adaptive research program - except the minor part sub-contracted toexternal research institutions (para 3.14) - would be performed both (a) onfarmers' fields; and (b) in Technical Support Centers (Centres d'AppuiTechniques - CATs).

2. On-Farm Research. Major emphasis would be placed on-farm researchconducted on farmers' field with the active participation of farmers. At theonset, information on farmers' circumstances would be gathered by aninterdisciplinary team of research and extension staff. The team would (a)assemble and analyze background data from secondary sources (e.g. census andrainfall data), and note those factors which would guide the questioning offarmers; and (b) conduct informal interviews with farmers and other economicagents with knowledge of farmers' circumstances; it would also observefarmers' fields. This exploratory work would give the team a first-handknowledge of farmers' work environment and problems. It would also providea basis for organizing a formal survey covering the whole farming system toverify and quantify data from the exploratory work. The formal survey wouldpay particular attention to analysis of the gender and age group differencesin labor allocation and in access to control of resources, so that problemsof the two target groups of women and youth be best addressed.

3. The surveys would enable to determine priorities amongst thevarious themes to be researched. Thereafter, an experimental plan would bedesigned including methodology for treatment (usually single replicate,simple farm trials repeated over a number of locations); AND MANAGEMENT OFEACH TRIAL (tuned to farmers practices, capacity and resources).

4. The process of systematically obtaining information on farmercircumstances should be integral part of the process of undertaking on-farmexperiments. The view that farmers are experimenters or researchers in theirown rights, and that experiments should be jointly planned by scientists andfarmers and executed by farmers with minimum support of scientists, would becentral to this approach.

5. A suggested timetable for an on-farm research program of surveysand experiments is given below:

- 51- Annex 7

Page 2 of 2

Y.ii* T ~~~~~~~~~~~~~Yea, 2n th iclSo th a1 2 3 * S 6 7 8 O 10 11 :2 11 2 3 * 5 6 7 a

I First Ceo, Cycle / I Scond Crop CycleCatie-no Secondary Dcta on I

Reg on _ _

E£.lo e Story S vb . . . . . . .. .| _ 2!_. . . .b/

Formal Suetoy I

AnglyainaZ er ostsa i@ Ak

On-Form Exp.r; mmita Planning

4_ IPrei eaton -__ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ B.e IEscuto _ _____ 1 _20-25 k .1E:.al.*t"ion __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _s o

Reporting RAesults and Planning Nest Cycle'sAct e.. ____________ |___________________________ ______r_________,__

a, P.Pleateng; l4 -t.e

D/ Dotted Ines ind,..t. that t *ct" actite ay be I@o then full t,me for the ,c.od.c/ P,aarsPt.on eet-itiec ,nclud* "ccling of farmers' design of oueetionnerec, treannge, *ec. foe tbe foeralsuevey *nd cite ccl.ct.ion, *_ccly of cate,sle etc. for c.per#uentat.ot.

6. Adaptive Research on CATs. With a strong on-farm research program,adaptive research on CATs would be primarily aimed at developingtechnological components which require more controlled conditions. Also,CATs can be used to screen new techniques for their undesirable effects onfarmers fields.

7. A typical CAT program would have three parts:

(a) Experiments. The sitting and layout of experiments would bedependent on local conditions prevailing on the CATs. The trialswould aim at adapting recommended husbandry practices from researchstations to local conditions; they would be simple (randomizedblocks or factorials), generally comparing increments of a singlevariable (e.g., fertilizer rates or straight first orderinteractions (varieties and soil moisture conservation practices;varieties and fertilizers); a series of trials under CRAL'sdirections would be carried out on agronomic matters, and varietyselections;

(b) Demonstrations. Demonstration plots would provide the necessaryteaching facilities, primarily for extension staff. They wouldillustrate for instance field techniques of land preparation, cropestablishment, production, and the use of appropriate technologyfor crop processing and storage. Additionally, in each CAT one orseveral educational plot(s) (parcelled didactique) would beestablished to show farmers the effect of recommended practices.These plots would be located on the most visible and easilyaccessible part of the CAT; and

(c) Observations. Selected agronomic practices and the yieldperformance of selected crops would be further tested onobservation plots in representative areas outside the CATs priorto inclusion in future demonstrations. New techniques such as azero tillage, cropping under mulch, cover crops, alley cropping,etc. would be introduced on these observation plots.

NATIONAL ACRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND RESEARCHPROJECT

Su_mry Account by Project ComponentFCFA

MEIITORIN Physical Pricea A AGRICULTU Contin gnc;-s Contin.ecies

ADAPTIVE TRAININC EVALUATIO MANAGENEN SMAL INLAND RAL -------------------------------------

EXTENSION RESEARCH A MEDIA N T SUWPORT RUMINANTS FISHERIES PLANNIIN Total % Amount X Amount

1. INESTREW COSTS

A. VEJICULES 627879.0 67760.0 64600.0 81200.0 80000.0 19600.01 180.01 17320.0 682429.0 8.7 74160.0 36.1 311606.5S. EUI1PSNSOT 29636.0 88028.0 27000.0 6750.0 519S0.0 1680.0 10160.0 9880.0 170519.0 8.1 13778.0 24.2 41274.6C. SATIMENTS 0.0 I9S900.0 70000.0 0.0 22400.0 14440.0 7000.0 0.0 818440.0 S.9 27609.0 21.6 67864.90. ASSISTANCE TEOCNICQE 206496.5 217568.0 124000.0 46000.0 87000.0 0.0 0.0 92626.0 774709.5 0.2 1200.0 23.3 14128.0E. FORMATION 18500.0 9000.0 146128.0 1550.0, 0.0 500.0 4200.0 18820.0 202148.0 9.0 19844.0 28.4 47885.3F. STOCK ANIMAUX . 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 7620.0 0.0 0.0 7620.0 1.4 106.0 8.4 641.3a. PPF INVESTISSEMENT 7800.0 10000.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 17800.0 2.1 865.0 3.1 1897.9

Total INDESTUENT COSTS 38184O.6 588959.0 422608.0 100450.0 193180.0 44010.0 84860.0 182595.0 2848100.5 6.8 187862.6 27.3 658788.8

II. RECOiT COSTS r

A. IM)EITES 266688.0 8976.0 0.0 7710.0 8000.0 750.0 0.0 0.0 277074.0 0.0 0.0 15.1 41767.0B. FRAIS DE MISSION 470946.5 64628.5 70411.0 86507.6 28s87.5 7750.0 17376.0 9984.0 784964.0 0.0 0.0 16.4 120461.7C. SALADIES 40816.0 129790.0 4200.0 0.0 4600.0 4329.0 0.0 0.0 18847.0 0.0 0.0 16.7 80580.40. SUPPORT RECiERCHE 0.0 175100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 175100.0 10.0 17610.0 28.7 50290.8E. FOCKTIONEMfENT VEHICULES 897832.0 68105.0 84360.0 25760.0 20000.0 10000.0 11876.0 3000.0 570412.0 8.8 49987.0 88.3 192694.7F. FONCTIONNEMENT DIMERS 2S891.0 21586.0 102862.0 6000.0 131000.0 92000.0 12000.0 4646.0 456537.0 7.7 48418.0 25.5 115110.7

--------------------------------------------------------------- __------------__----------_-_---------------------------------------------------

Total RECURRENT COSTS 1194624.6 407280.5 211828.0 108497.5 287687.5 114829.6 40760.0 22682.0 2892624.6 4.8 102110.0 28.0 500694.8

Total BASELINE COSTS 2078488.0 1006189.5 688926.0 208947.6 429017.5 166889.6 76100.0 166227.0 474065.1 6.1 289472.6 26.4 1204688.6Physical Contingencie. 94289.6 45084.0 42661.3 9520.0 28038.0 18946.0 5772.6 6261.8 289472.6Price Contingnc;ie 640490.3 206878.3 166166.6 59874.4 116716.7 227.1 19800.4 86985.8 1204688.6 6.1 78785.9

Total PROJECT COSTS 2718168.4 1269698.8 862768.4 272e41.9 567772.2 212011.7 100172.9 196474.1 6164791.4 6.1 818203.6 19.6 1204688.6

Taxes 96248.6 32487.0 82611.6 3067.9 6186.2 2212.1 2406.6 1608.6 180S4.4 8.6 16491.2Foreign Exchange 1556096.0 663082.0 SD6040.0 155386.9 276886.2 64881.7 4s970.e 162446.6 8461689.9 6.2 218240.2

Values Scaled by 1O00.0 6/11/1990 17:86

'CU03O aMW

NATIONAL AGRICURLTURAL EXTENSION AND RESEARCHPROJECT

Project. Coponenta by Year

Totals Incleding Contingenci-e Totalc Including ContingsnciesFCFA

t901 1992 1993 1994 109S Total 1991 1092 1093 1994 1996 TotalA. EXTENSION 910977.8 307721.8 372929.4 54222.7 4A910.8 2713182.4 3196.4 10.5 160.5 18012.6 1716.9 9S19.9D. AOAPTI ffSEARCH 527271.7 248228.9 192064.7 1C0606. 143203.2 2219690.6 1350.1 664.0 674.0 629.2 502.5 4419.0C. TRAINMO & UEDIA 200659.9 156566.0 129306.4 1597M3.1 12U434.0 862753.4 1016.4 549.4 450.2 660.6 450.6 3027.2D. USITNOA A EVALUATI96 63400.7 61219.9 36627.6 6147.6 86119.9 272841.9 292.6 170.7 135.6 215.7 13.1 967.3E. tUMMN3T SIDPURT 160492.9 63796.6 68440.4 104921.J 110116.9 567772.2 6O3.3 t.0 J10.3 36.1 ue.4 192.2F. U8-SECWTOAL SULFOR

1. SMALL RUMINANTS 7673e.6 26451.6 OOS7.1 43645.0 33118.9 212011.7 266.6 0.6 105.5 153.1 116.2 743.o w2. DLAND FISHERES 44768.1 9469.7 10029.6 24636.4 11062.2 100172.9 157.1 ".3 $5.2 *7.2 3.6 351.5 I

Sal-TOtal 121501.9 37941.5 40066.7 e0463.3 44171.1 312184.6 426.6 133.1 140.7 240.6 165.0 1006.4

4. AOlICUmtWAL PULSU 122020.4 7445U.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 196474.1 42.1 261.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 066.4

Total PrOECTS COSTS 2235s25.6 1047032.2 O477.8 1067666.0 906335.0 61647M3.4 764.2 un67.0 "1.1 361.5 846.1 21701.0

Velem Scaled by 1000.0 6/11/1080 17tJS

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rcF us 6

son so am lo son Tot 1ao Im am low son Tsui

t. ti3i1 CMI

A. mIA1M 54MW.9 m.s 14us1.o soNwa.. Win41 1. Isom.$ 18.7 8n.* 161.3 171.8 0.7. 4816_.7

s. Now s uIM .a aI1.9 1890.7 1411-0.0 611.6 f16371.6 M. 7.o 41.6 6.0 U. . 76.6

C. 0bm1W 1746.1 36631.3 366.4 46.0 4111t6.9 4_6661.0 m1 240.6 16.0 . 1.4 16.2 1451.7

S. MST IESEI 466M.4 294090. m S .? 11167.0 a67m .7 $soon.$ 13.0 M.7 110.0 241.0 13.4 MI66.6

it. pimim Wn0.9 u. 48M.3 4M.* o1a40.2 us .9 214.e 2.6 1.0 551 124.3 901.1

P. 616 MIIU 67. 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 GM.$ W.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.4

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~In0. PW 31 SU 1102.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 906.0 60.9, 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 16.0

T~. aUuSiinw is33 6766.0 61467.0 17048.4 466'.3 366617. MM156.* 510. 13.7 100.5 M6. 1047.3 110136.0

tt. 1T CaM

A. mmtW Fs 90161.4 66000.4 W.6 nom.0 010.9 o mU4Ul.0 111.6 171.9 197.9 210.2 2m.2 111.7

0. FSI 01 ItSTN 171677.2 141919.0 171700.9 I60.0 1640.9 0 6415.7 0.1 403.1 0.1 M0. 634.6 OO1.t

C. mUIS 333.1 4177.0 4n11.7 44210.2 447.0 214010.0 1O.$ 16.1 147.0 166.1 102.9 760.

D. SUPOT OIOE 84330.0 48230.3 12173.0 6417.8 t671.6 242100.8 112.4 161.9 108.4 101.6 202.1 6.8

E. FONC1_I5 V3ICULES 192201.4 141981.9 146664.0 160917.6 170427.9 01600M.7 674.4 410.0 21.8 61.8 606.0 241U.0

F. FOUMtISIOOET DIVER 14S46.0 1022.0 109094.0 110164.8 122703.2 001200.0 621.0 84.7 86.6 407.0 480.0 2100.7

Total RECUOEWT COSTS 064816.4 620474.1 631044.9 610800.7 614680.8 8046629.4 2802.7 1047.8 210l.S no6.7 2207.7 1o666.1

Total PRO.ECT COSTS 228826.8 1047002.2 e60477.8 10n76o0.6 068868.0, 614791.4 748.2 1 677.0 019.2 816.6 s843.1 n27.o

W1.e_ Sealed by 1000.0 6/1111900 178S

xODIA)_

0X.1

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF THE CONGONATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND ADAPTIVE RESEARCH PROJECT

Financial Implication* for Government

1991 1992 1993 1994 1996 1996 1997 2000 2006 2010

Project Cost -----------------------(CFAF million) -…--…----

VYhIcles 584 97 lO 834 184

Equipment 1S8 22 13 1S 7

Civil Works 271 e8 59 4 4

Technical Assistance 499 264 6o 68 87

Training 70 70 48 47 as

Invostment 8 0 0 0 0

PPF Investment 19 0 0 0 0

Operating Costs 664 626 S81 1e8 654 327 327 327 327 327

Total 2233 1047 859 1086 951 327 827 327 3so 360

Debt Charges

Interest A Co_ itment Fe. 11 49 78 1l6 244 306 349 258 154 64 U,

Principal 0 0 0 0 0 345 349 349 349 349

Total 11 49 78 16l 244 651 698 607 503 403

TOTAL OVTFLOWS 2244 1096 937 1247 1196 978 1025 934 853 753

External Financing

IBRO lSS 1015 631 616 397

UNDP 194 0 0 0 0

EDF so 40 8a 20 10

Estivated taxes on project costs 3S 36 34 38 35 13 13 13 18 13

TOTAL INFLOWS 2144 1090 701 671 442 13 13 13 13 13

Net Govt. Contribution to Costs 66 136 274 397 459 327 327 327 327 327

Govt. Contribution after debt 77 18s 362 658 703 978 1026 934 830 780

Charges

OQ

xD1-

Fh

- 56 - Annex 10

Page 1 of 1

PEOPLE'S REPU3LIC OF THE CONGO

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND RESEARCH PROJECT

Disburs ement Profile

IBRD's IBRD's Projoet's Estimted Profile Standard ProfileFYs Semeters Per Semeter Cumulative Per Semester Cumulative

-------- s0ooo--- --- X--- ---- 000-- - X-

1991 I 790 790 6 0 0 0II 1106 1896 12 474 474 a

1992 I 474 2870 16 1106 1580 10II 882 8002 19 1660 8160 20

1998 I 1788 4740 0o 1788 4696 81II 2064 6794 48 2054 6962 44

1994 I 2212 9006 2212 9164 58II 1788 10744 6 1788 10902 69

1996 I 1422 12 77 1264 12166 77II 1264 80 86 1106 18272 84

1996 I 1106 4586 92 646 14220 90II 948 15484 98 790 16010 96

1997 I 816 16800 100 790 15600 100

lo -

19~~~~~~9R C

14 -

13-

12

11

4-

3-

2

1131 11 1112 11 18331 I 1314 AI'lK IE I I

a IflkWE INBaF AY 4 P13711

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF THE CONGONATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION & ADAPTIVE RESEARCH PROJECT

Organization of the Extension Service

OPRD

DIRECTEURS REGIONAUX (10)

SErVICE DES SERVICE DE SERVICE SERVICEETtIDES ST DE COORD94ATM ADMIN~~~~~~ISiRAlIF DE L-A

LA PLAN04CATION IECHNKM ~~~~~~~~FINANCIER ET MAINTENANCE

(SEP) (WT) ~~~~~~~~~~~~DU PERSONNEL (S?4

|rs) (CAI)ODISTRICT

CHEFS DE SECTEUR 147)

DV CHEF DEDPV VPA DCC DA DP L ULGARISATION DGRMEA M

(CV)

(I (, I (i)

LEGEND: ZONE

- OBRE EiDSTRICT S aSUPERVISEUR (SP)

(6 - MERE EBISTRICT > a 6-S PAR CV

DPV - DMSION PRODUCTION VEGETALE

OPA - DMSION PRODUCTION AWNUALEVILLAGE VILLAGE

DOC - DMSION DU CREDIT ET DE LA COMMERCLAWSATION

DAC - DMSION DE LACTION COOPERAVE ENCADREUR DE ENCADREUR DEBASE (E.B.) BASE (E.B.)

DP - DIVISION DE LA PISCICULTURE 6 PAR CV 6-8 PAR SP

DV - DMSION DE LA VULGARISATION

DGRMEA - DMSION GENIE RUlRAL. MACHINISME ET EQUIPEMENT AGRICOLE

DVC - DMSION DES VILLAGES-CENTRES E ATIONS X

DM - DMSION DE LA MAINTENANCE EIVW46907A

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Page 1 of 3



Extension Methods and Organization

Extension MethodoloaX

1. Each field extension worker (Encadreurs de Base-EB) would beassigned a number of farm families in a compact area (circle), depending onlocal conditions such as population density, settlement patterns, agro-ecological and farming systems, topography and accessibility. The specificzone assigned to an EB would be determined on the basis of a detailed surveycarried out by the agents themselves during the first two years of projectimplementation.

2. To systematically reach farmers in the operation circle, each EBwould divide it into eight zones. In each zone, the EB would organizefarmers into three or four groups of about 10 to 12 farmers (contact groups),based on location and affinities. Extension work schedules would beadvertized to all farmers to allow a full-day visit to each zone (andtherefore each group of a particular zone) once every fortnight on the sameday of the week. It is estimated that, during the first year of the project,only about 25? to 30X of the farmers of a particular zone would activelyparticipate in a given contact group. This proportion is expected toincrease from 50Z to 602 during the fourth year of the project.

3. The EB would work primarily with active members of the contactgroups, demonstrating, on the field of one of them, the cultural practicesthat should be followed during the next two weeks. During each visit, theEB would concentrate on a few selected recommendations relevant for theparticular phase of the crop cycle. The extension messages would be simpleand, at the outset, emphasis would be on low-cost improvements (e.g. correctplant density, timely weeding, pruning and spraying of coffee and cocoa, aswell as correct crop harvesting, on-farm sto. ige, improved raising techniquesfor small stock and pond construction for Aish farming) that most farmerscould afford. To reduce risk, cultural recommendations involving significantdepartures from existing practices would first be recommended for adoptionon only a small part of farmers' fields. The EB would try to involve as manyfarmers as possible -- especially women and youth, the most important targetgroups -- in discussions and demonstrations. He/she would also visit thefields of non-participating farmers upon request.

4. Each EB would spend eight days in a two-week period visiting farmercontact groups. Another day each week would be spent alternatively attendingtraining sessions conducted by Subject Matter Specialists (TechniciensSpdcialises - TSs) or programming/debriefing sessions with the ExtensionSupervisors (see para 5). The last two working days in the two-week period

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Page 2 of 3

would be devoted to making up for missed visits or undertaking specialextension activities.

Planning and Supervision of EB Activities

5. The activities of front-line extension agents would be planned andmonitored by Extension Supervisors. Each supervisor would oversee eight toten EBs, i.e. planning their fortnightly visit schedule, ensuring that thevisits are actually conducted and providing technical guidance. He/she wouldspend eight days each fortnight making field visits and would alsoparticipate in the fortnightly training sessions. The tenth day would beused to meet with EBs to establish their program for the next fortnight andprovide information and guidance upon request. The remaining two days wouldbe spent providing extra support to weaker EBs or following-up on interestingextension-related matters.

Technical Backstopping

6. To ensure a continuous flow of suitable farm recommendations andthe adequate training and technical backstopping of field extension workers,technical support staff at the regional level would be strengthened. Theproject would provide one team of two to four TSs located at the headquartersof each region. Specialization would typically include crop production(Techniciens Specialises de Production Vegetale - TSPV), animal production(Techniciens Specialises de Production Animale - TSPA) and fish-farming(Techniciens Specialises de Pisciculture - TSPC). The TSs would be selectedamong existing MJDR and MESS staff and no additional personnel would berequired. The TSs would have important roles as they would liaise withfarmers, extension and research. As such, they would spend one third oftheir time training EBs and supervisors, another third in field visitsproviding technical support and 6uidance to field extension staff, and theremainder in improving their own b. " ls through regular dialogue withresearch workers, simple field trials and short-term training courses.

Extension Training

7. Three kinds of training activities are planned: (a) orientationand refresher training; (b) in-service training; and (c) other training.

8. Orientation and Refresher TraininR. All extension agents wouldcomplete a short pre-project training course (three to five days) to becomefamiliar with the basic elements of the T&V system. Refresher and/orcomplementary training would be given to all field extension staff to bringtheir technical skills to satisfactory levels. In particular, newlyappointed or promoted TSs would take an intensive complementary trainingcourse (one-month) in their field of specialization; staff to be involved inadaptive research would complete a three to six months training programconducted on-station by the concerned research institutions; and staffinvolved in monitoring and evaluation activities would complete a one-monthinduction training program in survey methodology and techniques.

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Page 3 of 3

9. In-Service Training. The project key extension training componentwould be continuous in-service training of field-extension staff. It wouldinclude: (a) fortnightly training sessions, and (b) monthly workshops.

10. (a) The fortnightly training sessions would be organized for the EBsand their supervisors at the district level. This training wouldbe organized by the regional Technical Coordinator and conductedby the TSs. Training during these one-day sessions would be verypractical and concentrate on the few specific recommendationsrelevant to farming operations in the coming fortnight. Fieldextension staff would also have an opportunity to raise and discussproblems encountered during the past two weeks. Part of the timewould be spent doing field work, practicing recommended culturalpractices. Time would also be spent learning about preparation anduse of teaching materials and communication techniques.

11. (b) The monthly workshops. Two-day multi-disciplinary monthlyworkshops would be organized at the regional level for TSs, SectorChiefs, and other selected regional extension staff, to discussproblems identified in the field by EBs and TSs. The frequency,activities and composition of monthly workshops make them the keylink between extension and research. These monthly workshops wouldserve mainly to train TSs but would also play a critical role in:(i) reviewing the success of production recommendations extendedduring the past month and their acceptance by farmers; (ii)selecting and discussing recommendations and impact points for theforthcoming month after adjusting them to specific circumstances;(iii) reviewing the program of on-going field trials, analyzingfarmer response, and suggesting topic for new trials; and (iv)evaluating the success of fortnightly training sessions for front-line extension agents.

12. The monthly workshops would be organized by DRDFV s TrainingService. However, their technical content and actual implementation wouldbe the joint responsibility of extension and research staff. They would takeplace at regional research stations or agricultural training institutions,with regular visits to field trial locations, to review and discuss progressin adaptive research efforts.

13. Other Training. The project would also include a series ofworkshops for senior staff, to be conducted by consultants. These workshopswould focus on topics such as general management principles, communicationand extension skills with emphasis on specific problems related to female andyoung farmers, media production farm management, operation of the adaptiveresearch program, and monitoring and evaluation. In addition, a variety ofin-service training would be offered throughout the project period to upgradethe technical skills of extension and adaptive research staff on the basisof specific skills gaps identified during project implementation. Finally,study tours for senior staff would be arranged under the project toneighboring countries with operational T&V systems, so that they can learnfrom the experience of others involved in the reform of extension services.

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Annex 13PGe, 1 of a

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CONGO


Economic Analysis

Table 1. With/Without Project Yield Assumptions

IncreaseWithout UnderImproved ImprovedPractices Practices 1/

…------- Tons/ha ------

A. Food Crops

Cassava 6.6 0.9

Other Tubers 6.6 0.8

Maize 0.7 0.1

Plantains/Bananas 4.0 0.8

Grour.dnuts 0.6 0.1

Rice 0.8 0.2

B. Commercial Crops

Cocoa 0.36 0.06

Coffee 0.26 0.04

1/ The basic assumption is that yields under the proj.-t would increase by a factor ofabout 15% over yields Nithout project.

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Annex 13Page 2 of 3



Economic Analysis (Cont'd)

Table 2. Cropped Area Under Project and Production Increases

---------------- Project Year ------------PYl PY2 PY3 PY: PYS 1/

onward------------------ Number ----------------

- Number of Extension Agents 261 341 388 411 411

- Estimated Active Population 2/ 87,860 119,350 128,100 143,860 143,850

- Percentage of National Active FarmPopulation 38 48 62 58 58

-- ---------------- Hectares --------------

- Total Area Under Project 3/ 70,280 96,480 102,480 116,080 125,080

- Area Under Improved Practices 4/ 10,642 14,322 15,372 17,2e2 17,282of which: 5/

Cassava (26%) 4,744 6,446 6,917 7,788 7,788Yams (16%) 1,681 2,148 2,308 2,689 2,589Maize (12%) 1,286 1,719 1,845 2,071 2,071Plantains/Bananas (15) 1,681 2,148 2,308 2,689 2,589Cocoa (8%) 843 1,148 1,230 1,381 1,381Coffee (S%) S27 71B 789 863 883

------------------- Tons -----------------

- Estimated Increases in Production 8/Cassava 4,270 5,800 8,226 8,991 8,991Yams 1,306 1,772 1,902 2,138 2,138Maize 133 180 194 218 218Plantains/Bananas 949 1,289 1,383 1,664 1,564Cocoa 44 80 65 73 73Coffee 20 27 29 32 32

1/ As of PY6, cropped area and production increases are assumed to remain constant

2/ Average number of active rural population per Extension Agent: 350

!/ Average area per farmer: 0.8 ha., assumed to remain unchanged over the project period

4/ Proportion of area under improved practices: 26% of area under project

!./ The percentage in brackets corresponds to the area covered by each crop as a percentageof national cropped area

6J Soe Tablo 1 for yield assumptions



NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND ADAPT:VE RESEARCH PROJECT

Economic Analysis (Cont'd)

Table 3: Not Economic Benefits

PYl PY2 PY8 PY4 PYS 19961991 1992 1998 1994 1996 To 2014

-------------------- CFAF Million ------------------

A. Benefits (Value ofIncreased Production)

- Cassava 427 680 628 699 699 699- Yams e6 89 96 107 107 107- Maize 11 15 16 18 18 18- Plantains/Bananas 76 103 111 124 124 124- Cocoa 9 12 13 15 15 15- Coffee 5 7 7 8 8 8

Total Benefits 693 806 866 972 972 972

B. Costs

- Extension 797 309 280 383 a31 165- Adaptive Research 466 196 147 113 103 80- Training, Rural Promotion

A Media 233 121 96 113 88 39- Monitoring A Evaluation 68 40 29 44 28 24- Management Support 153 70 70 78 78 48- Sub-Sectcral Activities 106 32 32 60 82 14

Physical Contingencies 95 60 48 42 39 26

Total Costs 1,918 827 700 822 697 396

C. Net Benefits -1,324 -21 168 150 276 678

Table 4: Economic Rate of Return (ERR) end Sensitivity Analysis

BaseCase Sensitivity Analysis

Number of Active Pop. Per Extension Agent- 360 876 400 300 300-------------------- -----------------

Area Covered Under Improved Practices 26 20 26 20 26

Yield Increase 16 15 10 15 12

Economic Rate of Return (ERR) 19 15 13 10 10

MAP SECTION

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