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Project-Financed PHN Research

# _Agriculture_

agricultural research systems; (2) an examination on a regional basis for the lack of effectiveness of The other major recently published study of research components; (3) evaluation of the effecproject-financed research is _Lending by the World_ tiveness of policy-based lending in the develop- _Bank for Agricultural Research-A Review of the_ ment of agricultural research; (4) training for Bank _Years 1981 through 1987_ by Anthony J. Pritchard. staff to increase skills in supervision and appraisal of research projects; (5) expansion of the timeThe extent of Bank lending to support frame of agricultural research projects; (6) analysis research in agriculture is much greater than it is in of the relationship between component size and the the PHN sector. From 1981 through 1987, the success of research programs; (7) development of Bank lent for 21 free-standing research projects Bank policy regarding support of biotechnology and 209 agricultural and rural development proresearch for developing countries; (8) reassessment jects with research components. The total cost of of the Bank's influence on research programs at the agricultural research elements in Bank-financed the international agricultural research centers to agricultural projects was $2.1 billion-25 to _50_ ensure efficient use of resources; (9) developing a times the amount of project-financed research in methodology to determine costs and benefits of PHN projects. Additional support for agricultural agricultural research projects and components; research was provided through 12 education pro(10) an evaluation of the contributions of consuljects, 16 policy-based loans, and grants to the tant experts in agricultural research projects; and Consultative Group for International Research and (11) a review of the concepts and procedures for other international institutions. extension-research linkages.

Because of differences in the history of To increase the chances of success in agriagricultura **l** ending and PHN lending within the cultural research projects and components, Bank and because free-standing research projects Pritchard suggested increased attention to: (1) are more common in the agriculture sector, agriadministrative and procedural problems during culture staff have a tendency to be much more project start-up; (2) adaptive and applied research directly involved in the establishment of research needs for the complete farming system; (3) develinstitutions and programs and in supervising oping national agricultural research plans; (4) research activities. supporting regional research initiatives; (5) allocating project funds for contract and collaborative Pritchard found that free-standing research research; (6) defining staffing needs, identifying projects were generally successful 'in institution- requirements for support staff, and providing building and in financing productive research adequate training and education opportunities; (7) programs." However, "problems in implementing developing public awareness programs to broaden research components in agricultural and rural public support for agricultural research; (8) prodevelopment projects were sometime **s** evere and viding incentives for research workers to assure the limited success of these components is a cause retention of high calibre staff; and (9) exploring for concern." alternative means of providing operating funds for research.

Pritchard had a number of recommendations, many of which would be inappropriate if applied in the PHN sector given the different emphasis and scale, but some of which would sound familiar to PHN staff. He recommended: (1) continued emphasis on development of strong national

# J. Price Gittinger Carol Bradford