Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

8-1976

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Agricultural Economics

Major Professor

D. W. Brown

Committee Members

Anne Mayhew, Jim Snell, Charles Clelland

Abstract

This dissertation was addressed to the problems with initiation of effective projects in less developed countries (LDC's) that seek to help small farmers produce more marketable surpluses. The focus was on projects being prepared for loan and grant support by the Agency for International Development, the World Bank and other international, donor agencies. Special attention was drawn to elements in the political and economic environment of LDC's and to the manner in which projects are brought into being and planned that are conducive to project acceptance and success. The histories of four small farmer projects which the author helped to plan in Ethiopia and Ghana were examined in special detail, as a source of added insights about the problems that can be encountered and their possible solutions during the planning phase. Implications for donor agencies and research institutions, in their efforts to help create better small farmer projects, were drawn. Building on the findings and recommendations of other observers who have evaluated rural development projects in many LDC's, this dissertation explained major features of more desirable small farmer project structures and processes which have recently been recommended to donor agencies. A framework was.then established for identifying important conditions under which more desirable or recommended small farmer project structures and processes could be planned and executed in LDC's with donor-support. Emphasis was given to the desired roles of major actors—policy makers, planners, small farmers in LDC's and donor agencies—in shaping an environment that leads to the necessary and sufficient conditions for maximum project impact. Emphasis was given also to the potential uses of cost-benefit analysis as an important component of an information system which generates better project planning data and monitors project impacts. The major obstacles to planning recommended small farmer project structures and processes were identified by comparing the framework with the author's project planning experiences in Ethiopia and Ghana. Problems common to both of these countries were caused by four major interrelated factors. First were those limitations caused by either an absence of, or lack of commitment to, a strategy which enables the rural population to raise its contribution to LDC growth objectives and development goals. Second were those problems caused by an inadequate understanding of the environment, small farmer systems and constraints, and the conditions under which small farmers are able to generate marketable surpluses most effectively. Third were those obstacles caused by a tendency of small farmers to either distrust LDC governments and project authorities or to expect public institutions to do all things for them. Finally were those problems caused by ineffectiveness of local organizations in representing and communicating small farmer interests. In the context of the limitations encountered in Ethiopia and Ghana the author concluded that a learning-by-doing approach in which specific development hypotheses could be tested and in which small farmers are more directly involved, would strengthen project planning and execution. It was concluded also that much more productive use could be made of cost-benefit analysis as a device for identifying major assumptions and conditions under which desired project benefits and rates of return could be generated and sustained. Finally, the author drew several inferences for USAID and the U.S. research community. It was suggested that USAID field missions be given much more programming, budgeting and implementation flexibility. This would enable phases of the project process to be more effectively integrated and executed in line with capabilities of small farmers and their local organizations to participate in project activities. It was suggested also that the U.S. research community focus much more on applied, action research and work more closely with LDC institutions in identifying critical needs of farm communities for augmenting and mobilizing their own resources for sustained community growth and development.

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