An evaluation of agricultural development projects recently conducted in Uruguay: guidelines for extension

摘要

The objective of this study was to evaluate the implementation of six agricultural development projects recently carried out in Uruguay, South America. This study used qualitative methods to collect and analyze the data;This study attempted to show the importance of other factors, broadly called sociological, for eliciting the kind of results in projects that were expected before their implementation. The study revealed that strategies to implement the selected projects have relied on two basic modalities: the revolving credit system and the community development approach. The researcher found that results of projects based on the revolving credit system were not sustainable, because capacity building activities to the credit organization were by-passed. Community development projects tended to achieve results lasting beyond completion of the projects;Other findings that explained failures of projects were: (a) the communication gap between managers and field extension staff; (b) the emergence of hidden agendas; and (c) the lack of formative and summative evaluation;The emergence of hidden agendas was an obstacle when they became highly divergent. Different agendas were seen: (a) between local governments and agencies in charge of implementing projects (NGOs); (b) between NGOs and cooperative\u27s board of directors; and (c) between NGOs within the project. It was found worthwhile to make hidden agendas explicit to all the actors involved in the program planning process;There is an urgent need for organized and systematic support for the NGO by the public sector. The lack of evaluation procedures has led to a situation in which there is no possibility to learn from experience. The only way to improve extension methodology for the future is to build on the very richness that characterizes past experiences. In doing so, the existing indigenous knowledge has a potential value that should not be ignored. The study developed a set of 13 guidelines to be utilized by extension and project development staff in developing viable and longer lasting development project. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)