CATIE 1983: annual report (IFAD TA 38B Grant)

Abstract

Most of the personnel to be initially financed under the Grant were hired during the first semester of 1982. A total of 50 persons have been hired under the Grant since its initiation; 10 of them have left, including 3 consultants and 4 professionals. Recently a weed specialist was hired as part of the Support Team. At present progress is being made in the recruitment of replacements for the following professionals who signed their positions during the last of 1982 and 1983: Cropping systems specialist within the Support team; Agricultural economist for the Prototype in Nicaragua, and the Training officer in turrialba. The Project made progress in all components without major problems during 1983. An additional Prototype was installed in Los Santos (Panama) and all three teams have increased their interaction with the national institutions. Interest has been shown in installing other similar teams in El Salvador and Panama; Honduras is already installing one. After a brief review of the nature and objectives of the Grant, this report reviews the progress in each component of the Project financed by it. This work serves as a basics for the design and implementation of other research and technology development projects particularly on food crops and usually with separate funding, in the countries of the Central American Isthmus.