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Sector Study of National Water Resources and Irrigation Potential:1997: Alan Willens was agronomist and agricultural planner on a team responsible for updating FAO (1994) Agricultural Sector Review in rainfed and irrigated cropping and farming systems analysis. This involved developing farm and sector models to analyse household and national food security over 20 year planning horizon to evaluate benefits of irrigation of food crops and horticultural crops for export.

Cotton Sector Review:1995: Brian Jackson undertook a review of current status of industry including, ginneries, breeding, research, oil and textile facilities. An action plan was prepared for the industry and specific recommendations made for the construction of a new ginnery on a green field site.

ETHIOPIA

Extension Training :1997: Andrew Friend provided training in participatory rural appraisal methodology and techniques for staff from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Cotton Sector Study:1994: John Cockcroft was team leader and Neil Hammond provided textile engineering and management expertise as part of a review to identify ways of improving performance. The economic feasibility of Ethiopia's textile industry was assessed together with long term local demand. The study assessed the role of cotton in the farmers options and its impact on employment, incomes and food security.

KENYA

Grain Storage: 1997: Examinations of the marketing assumptions that had been used in the preparation of the business plan for the construction of a bulk storage facility in Mombasa. The loan from IFC was approved. Project supervised by  Jim Turnbull.

Export Promotion:1996-97: A framework contract to develop export opportunities for Kenya and determine how export growth should be approached. Investigations by Brian Goshawk and Fiona Dixon covered the EU and the USA markets for textiles, coffee, tea, pyrethrum, grain, tobacco and sisal.

Kenya Market Development Project (MIS Component):1995: Reg King led an evaluation of the impact of the USAID funded marketing information system and its input into the Market Information Bureau. KMPD is a $55 million cereals sector policy reform program granting project assistance, policy based non project assistance and Title III food assistance. The objectives were to develop a more efficient national maize and bean marketing system that will provide greater price incentives to farmers.

Wild Plant Collection1991-92 Research into the taxonomy of an endangered plant was undertaken at Kew Gardens in the UK. Cuttings were taken and established in a garden in Malindi. Leaf samples from the plant were collected by Jim Turnbull and sent for laboratory analysis in the UK to assess potential commercial applications.

Vernonia Production1991-92 Jim Turnbull supervised the planting of observation trials near Malindi. The results were evaluated and a research programme prepared in consultation with the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI).

Implementation of the Action Plan for Agricultural Development Corporation1989-91 Following an initial review of progress under British Sector Aid to ADC, Jim Turnbull managed the preparation of business plans to turn round loss-making units; the development of mechanisation policies; strengthening of management operations , accounts and information systems, revised planning and budgeting procedures and the development of in-service training programmes.

Bura Cotton Irrigation Project Rehabilitation Feasibility Study:1990: A full rehabilitation feasibility study for the Bura Irrigation Scheme was led by Alan Willens and Roger Stevenson. Six specialists covering soils, agronomy, engineering, management and economics visited the project and prepared a comprehensive rescue package with recommendations for future project management.

Northern Farms Development Survey1990 Wayne Borden, land use specialist visited Moyale and Marsabit Districts, consulted with local officials, collected soils and climatic data, identified lands suitable for large scale farm development, and prepared a report with appropriate maps and recommendations.

Management Company:1990: Roger Stevenson prepared development plans for the management of land clearing, sisal plantation, crop diversification and cotton production.

Hydrology Survey:1990: Wayne Borden carried out desk research of existing hydrological information, followed by field visit to institutions (Nairobi) and development sites. Assessment of potential for irrigation from lakes and boreholes. Availability of water for crop irrigation, crop processing, nursery work, domestic and village supplies, irrigation of domestic food crops.

Animal Feed and Livestock Industries Study:1989: The study was a complete review of the industries to establish if investment opportunities existed in the animal feed including molasses blocks and meat processing industries. The production of fishmeal was examined as a source of protein. The study team, led by Fiona Dixon, concluded that a fully integrated approach was required and led to discussions with potential joint venture partners.

New Oilseed Crop Development:1989: Vernonia seed, identified as having potential industrial applications in the fifties, was collected from the wild. The environmental lobby had found applications in the paint industry. Fiona Dixon visited Ethiopia where small plots of the crop had been grown. Sites were selected for commercially orientated agronomy trials and the field layouts prepared. The planting and management of multiplication trials in Kenya was supervised by Jim Turnbull.

Bulk Grain Handling and Storage Study: 1987: Bernard Giles participated in a pre -privatisation study which included both technical recommendations and proposals for a private sector joint venture.MADAGASCARRefurbishment of Bulk Grain Storage:1997: Bernard Giles provided technical consultancy for the refurbishment of an existing port terminal facility

Food Industry Quality Control:1997: John Taylor was food technology and packaging specialist for an operational audit of tomato and mango juice processing, including bulk storage and handling and retail packaging.

SUDAN

Removal of Cotton Contamination:1996: Jim Watson examined honeydew sticky cotton caused by whitefly contamination which, depending upon the severity, can be difficult to gin and impossible to process in the spinning factory resulting in prices paid being heavily discounted.

TANZANIA

Cotton Seed Multiplication: 1997: Jim Watson, cotton agronomist reviewed the decling status of existing varieties and made recommendations for a three year programme to improve purity through mass selection. Discussions for funding this programme were held with international and local agencies.

Restructuring Plan for Dairy Farming Company (DAFCO):1996: Andrew Friend, dairy industry specialist, advised on restructuring of Tanzania Dairy Farming Co Ltd (DAFCO). This involved evaluation of subsidiary farms and future support to them in veterinary services, breeding stock and extension. A review was made of alternative dairy farming privatisation strategies in relation to establishment of a Central Dairy Board.

Development of an Oilseed Business:1996: Henry Fargus studied local ginning industry and existing oilseed crushing and oil refining facilities. He made an evaluation of market requirements and opportunities for oil and cake and of transport and logistics. Assessment of investment opportunities and recommended business plan.

Development Plan for Bariadi Ginnery:1996: Les Law appraised a proposal to invest in a cotton ginnery at Baraidi in Shinyanga Region. He assessed the suitability of the proposed site, evaluated existing roller ginning equipment, in store in Dar es Salaam and advised on the option of using new/second hand saw ginning equipment. He assisted with capital and operating expenditure and advised on lint marketing in relation to quality standards.

Business Plan for Igunga Ginnery:1995: Les Law assisted in the selection of a site for a new ginnery and to prepare a business plan for the ginnery. The site was visited and a list of equipment, civil works and electrical installations compiled together with indicative costs. Fiona Dixon helped prepare the financial projections in the business plan.

Oilseed Subsector Study:1994: The Village Oil Process Project was established in 1989 to promote the cultivation of Sunflower and other oilseeds and to introduce and expand the use of ram-press technology to permit the production of edible oils at village level. The project involved the design, manufacture and sales of the ram-press together with the distribution of oilseeds planting material to farmers and ram-press users. A project appraisal was undertaken by Henry Fargus and recommendations made for a further phase: to improve farmers accessibility to a consistent supply of quality planting material. Seed distribution, pricing, varieties and performance topics were examined; and to further the expansion of ram-press sales in a commercial and sustainable manner including manufacture, marketing, distribution, pricing and buyer incentives, training and product quality control. Fiona Dixon assisted with the market and financial projections.

Cotton Sector Financing:1994: A cotton sector review of Tanzania was undertaken by Iain Black the UK. He considered the present status of the Tanzanian cotton industry, production data, factors affecting production, risks associated with ginning, the relation of Tanzania to the world market for cotton, background information on the TCMB (Cotton Marketing Board). A general overview was prepared and the effects of deregulation of the industry were considered. Also a general overview of the world cotton situation was presented to define the role of Tanzania as a future cotton producer.

Rehabilitation of Manonga Ginnery:1989: Study to examine the technical, economic and financial feasibility of the rehabilitation of the Manonga Ginning and Oil Milling Complex. Colin Sayers was the oilseed processing specialist.

Oil Milling Study:1989: Colin Sayers compiled an inventory of all edible oil mills in Tanzania producing over 15 tonnes of seed per day and carried out a technical audit of five large plants. He assisted in the compilation of strategic action plans for the edible oils sector.

Review of the Animal Feed and Livestock Industries:1988: Fiona Dixon led a study to prepare a data base from which to identify opportunities for private sector investment.

Review of the Vegetable Oil Industry:1988: The study by Colin Sayers examined the industry and identified possible projects for future funding by both the aid agencies and the private sector.

Commercial Estate Development Study:1987: Alan Willens, Farm Planning Specialist/Agronomist, Machinery/Infrastructure Engineer and a Farm Management Economist to prepare a rehabilitation/development plan for a 5,700 ha estate, to include production of both local and export crops together with an investment package. The final report was presented to investors who approved the proposals and provided the funding needed. The project was then implemented.

Product Evaluation:1986: Jim Watson and Alan Willens investigated the effectiveness of a new type of crop sprayer designed to direct apply small quantities of agro-chemicals. The report included a full assessment of farmer acceptance as well as potentials and constraints for use in small farm fields.

Kitulo Dairy Development Study:1982-83: Wayne Borden and Jim Turnbull provided land resource, farm mechanisation, organisation and management expertise to the study team assessing the feasibility of developing an 18,000 ha dairy enterprise.

UGANDA

Farming Systems Support Programme:1995: Bill Mitchell was coffee specialist on a team working on farming systems in the three main coffee areas.

Socio-economic Study of Cotton Production in Uganda:1995: Hugh Coulter identified potential production areas, present constraints to production, main socio-economic factors, ginnery profiles, investment climate and the additional support necessary to realise the potential of the cotton industry.

Cotton Sector Liberalisation Study:1992-93: Brian Jackson, Iain Black and Henry Fargus participated in the 13 person team that undertook a study to deliver a proposal for the liberalisation and restructuring of the cotton sub-sector. The proposal addressed the technical, incentive related and institutional issues facing the sub-sector and was produced as a document for consideration for financing by IDA and IFAD.

Smallholder Crop Diversification:1992: Jim Watson, cotton agronomist, studied the present situation in research and extension at the research stations of Serere and Namalonge. Proposals to improve seed purity and maintenance were made for the research stations and for improved cotton seed multiplication on-farms. Equipment, buildings and services were listed and costed. Formulation mission for a pilot phase to include cotton seed varietal selection, improved seed production, introduction of oxen and ox-drawn equipment, credit and insurance.

North East Regional Identification Mission: (FAO): 1991: Brian Jackson undertook an assessment of the cotton processing facilities and cotton marketing structures, with particular attention to ginning capacity and needs for rehabilitation in NE Uganda. Ginneries were visited to assess their operational status and recommendations made for rehabilitation where necessary. Training and managerial requirements for future ginning operations were formulated. Marketing facilities were reviewed and recommendations made for further studies.

Integrated Farming Project:1987: Jim Turnbull, agriculturalist, together with an economist, carried out a pre-feasibility study of an export orientated farming complex. At the clients request, the proposed farm plan focused upon production and export of chillies, other non-perishable horticultural products and essential oils, together with a seed production unit. Subsequently Jim Watson and Alan Willens upgraded the study to feasibility level and included detailed irrigation designs, the agronomy for chillies and ginger and full economic and financial analyses.

For further information contact JWTurnbull@bmc-ltd.com

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