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It should be noted that under rainfed conditions
marketing considerations are not likely to be as critical as
for irrigated agriculture since yieldarea potentials are
not the same. However, the Project has several components
directed at addressing potential marketing constraints and
these include (a) maiketing surveys kfof peLishable commodities),
(b) marketing newsletter for farmers and Project
personnel, (c, linkages with the privac.e sector at the
district level through Pro3ect sponsored meetings with
merchants to discuss...nput needs and marketing requirements,
(d) radio pzogrammLng on market issues, te, the Cooperatives
Development Department ot MOAC will provide a professional
to the Pro-ect to help identity constralnts of existing
local cooperatives and help resolve them. In addition,
should certain supplemental services such as transportation
of goods be required to facilitate init;a± marketing efforts
on spec-al cases, the Project can considex assisting these
from contingency funds.
7. Road impto3vment
In oLder to limit interventions to only those
considered essential to the Pro3ect Purpose, no road
improvement work is p-anned under the P:o]ect. This
decision was based on several tactors: -a/ severai active
RTG programs (.rnc.uding the Employment Generation Program,
New Village Development Program, and Provincial Development
Program) are concentrating on infrastructure projects such
as improving tarm to market roads, and tentative plans under
these programs already cai- for road improvement in several
of this Project's tambons, including Nathom and Tae where
road improvement is most needed; (b) The p;pulations of all
of the target tampons kexcepting Na Thom; are on the average
within the generally accepted zone ci: irifluence k 4 km.) of
an all weather road; c) the NERAD socioeconomic survey
the RTG to improve roads
indicated that peopie's desire fo.
in the 8 tambons was relatively iow lens than 5% of people
requesting assistance, except for Na Thom and Tae, where 28%
and 13% of the popuxace wished to have roads improved,
respectively; (d, Every tambon and village has adequate
access to markets during the dry seascn when marketing
requirements would most increase under the Project; (e) Road
for farm access roads. This
maintenance is generally poor
problem would affect any improvements done under the Project
since maintenance funds toy these smail, earthen roads
simply do not exist, and tratfic volume does not justify
upgrading these roads to low-maintenance type roads.