This was the first phase of the South Western Region Small Farmers Project (PROPESUR). The project area was located north and north-east of Lake Enriquillo in the south-west part of the country, and the project focused on irrigation and drainage in the area. The overall aim of the initiative was to increase agricultural production for the benefit of poor rural people.

The objective was to improve the living conditions of poor farmers and their households by increasing production, improving nutrition levels and increasing incomes. The project also worked to improve marketing and services for farmers, substitute agricultural imports, increase exports and encourage women’s participation in socio-economic development in the area.

The project had mixed results. It helped form organizations of water users and womens’ groups to a satisfactory extent, but its support for credit for agricultural production by small farmers showed fewer tangible results. Because of the strong emphasis placed on infrastructure investment, particularly for irrigation and drainage, the project proved to be less effective in implementing a demand-driven, participatory approach.

Source: IFAD