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News and Reviews PRECODEPA, A SUCCESSFUL MODEL FOR A NEW CONCEPT IN REGIONAL COOPERATION FOR INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT John S. Niederhauser 1 and Manuel Villarreal 2 New strategies are needed for the delivery and implementation of proven or new technologies in national food production programs in many T h i r d World countries. T h e limiting factors in these national programs are often not due to the lack of proven technology, but are due to scarce national resources needed to establish a complete, production-oriented program, with the continuity needed for impact. P R E C O D E P A 3 is the first regional, food production program developed in accordance with a new concept for the Cooperative Regional Transfer of Technology, and which was described in 1978.4 I. What is P R E C O D E P A ? P R E C O D E P A is a regional cooperative program for potato research and production, involving 9 countries (Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, E1 Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama). T h e International Potato Center (CIP) is the tenth member. II. Why was P R O C E D E P A Needed? In most of the P R E C O D E P A countries the potato ranks as an important vegetable, and is not a basic food crop. Given the scarce national resources available for agricultural research, and the higher priorities that must be given the basic grain crops, it was difficult to establish the multidisciplinary, national potato research programs needed to develop the potential of this crop in each country. IConsultant, PRECODEPA, and Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. 2Coordinator, PRECODEPA, and Coordinator, Mexican National Potato Program, Instituto Nacional de InvestigacionesAgricolas, SARH, Mexico. 3pRECODEPA is the Spanish acronym for Programa REgional COoperativo DE PApa (Regional Cooperative Potato Program) 4Niederhauser,J.S. Regional Cooperation in the Transfer of Technology (CORETT): a new Concept for National Potato Development Programmes. In."Potato in Developing Countries, p. 124. Indian Potato AssociationAnnual Meeting (Jullundur). CPRI, Simla, India. 1978.
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III. How was P R E C O D E P A Created? Recognizing the need for a mechanism for organizing the national commitments in a regional cooperative potato program, agricultural officials and potato scientists in several countries of the region met informally in 1977 to discuss and propose the new approach that became PRECODEPA. This new concept was then presented to the Cooperation Suiza para el Desarrollo (CSD) as a potential donor. In February 1978 an organizational meeting was held in Guatemala, with delegates from the participating 6 countries of the region. CIP was invited to attend as a 7th and equal member. The CSD also sent a representative. IV. How was the N e w Concept Implemented? At the organizational meeting in Guatemala in 1978, each country described its national potato program, or whatever its commitment to this crop might be. Not only was the current national commitment defined, but also the restraints and limiting factors in reaching the established goals in national potato development and production. As these production restraints were listed by each country, it was soon apparent that certain problems were common to two or more countries. A regional project was designed for each regional problem, arranged by priorities, and the leadership for each project then assigned to the national program (or programs) best prepared to assume this regional responsibility. Nine such projects were defined. The P R E C O D E P A countries agreed that technical assistance in research and training (from any source, including CIP) for these regional projects would be channelled through the national program providing the leadership for the project, and extended to the cooperating P R E C O D E P A countries from the regional leadership base. V. How does P R E C O D E P A Operate? Decisions in the operation and priorities of P R E C O D E P A are made by the Permanent Regional Committee (COPERE), composed of two representatives from each country and from CIP. Each country, as well as CIP, has one vote. At its annual meeting, which is rotated among the participating countries, C O P E R E makesthe basic decisions on: 1. Budget allocations for research, training, and other regional activities. 2. Project identification, evaluation, and leadership assignment. 3. Election of the Coordinator and the Executive Committee (3 members) to supervise and coordinate project execution and periodic external reviews.
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The Coordinator is the key executive in this cooperative program. He is a national program leader in a participating country, and is named for a 2-year period. VI. How is PRECODEPA financed? The Swiss government (CSD) has provided the funds for the first 8 years of P R E C O D E P A , and the current support commitment continues to 1986. The P R E C O D E P A funds are only for regional dimensions of the program (e.g. regional training, facilities & equipment essential for a regional leadership role, regional meetings, technical exchanges of materials and visits). P R E C O D E P A funds are not available to pay salaries, or to support activities that are only national in scope or impact. P R E C O D E P A funds should not substitute for the national commitment. At the annual meeting of COPERE, the available budget for the ensuing year is studied, and project allocations made according to the approved priorities. The total P R E C O D E P A budget for the current year (1985-86) is $275,000, covering the regional activities of the 9 country national programs, administrative costs of coordination, and periodic external reviews of regional projects. Locally, each national program maintains a separate account for P R E C O D E P A funds used for its regional participation. The annual report is audited by an international accounting firm, submitted to COPERE, and finally transmitted to the CSD through CIP. To date, CIP has acted as the disbursing agent for the PRECODEPA funds granted by the CSD. These funds are released upon request of the Coordinator and the project leaders, in accordance with the budget approved by COPERE. VII. What Distinguishes PRECODEPA from other "Regional Cooperative
Programs"? 1. P R E C O D E P A is a mechanism for regional cooperation, rather than a new institution. 2. Each member country contributes in accord with its capacity to provide regional assistance in the transfer of technology. 3. Each member country can participate in P R E C O D E P A regardless of the level of national commitment; stronger programs can provide leadership in one or more regional projects, while the role of another may be limited to occasional participation in regional training programs. 4. P R E C O D E P A emphasizes cooperation among equals, of which the international agricultural research center (CIP) is an invited member.
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5. The international agency (in this case CIP) is recognized as an important source of technology and training, and participates in response to the requests and needs of the cooperating national programs, made through the COPERE, the Executive Committee, or the Coordinator. 6. PRECODEPA emphasizes the building of a national research capacity to serve as a regional base of specialization and transfer of technology. Each PRECODEPA country takes pride in its regional role. It is their program. This is in sharp contrast to the tendency in some country or regional assistance programs to foster a permanent dependence on the international agency or donor, and the subsequent resentment against paternalism that may be engendered. 7. Each national program, as it collaborates in regional projects, as a leader or participant, gains prestige and credibility. National program continuity and support tend to be strengthened. 8. Regional cooperation through PRECODEPA provides a high level of technology and training that would be unavailable through the resources of each program operating individually and separately. Production impact and increase in productivity can be realized far more quickly and efficiently. VIII. Could the P R E C O D E P A Philosophy be Extended to Other Regions and Disciplines? Wherever there are common regional problems and production restraints, the PRECODEPA model for regional cooperation could be useful. Geographic unity, common language and cultural background, and similar developmental restraints would favor the PRECODEPA approach to regional development and assistance. To date, political differences, variations in national program priorities, level of national resources and commitment, and level of national institutional development have not adversely affected the applicability of the PRECODEPA concept. The success of the PRECODEPA regional program can be measured in terms of increases in national production. In addition, it has increased the efficiency in the use of national funds in institutional development; in the continuity of national commitment and personnel; and in the regional impact of donor funds (according to the CSD). PRECODEPA has provoked the interest of decision makers (Ministers of Agriculture, directors of research, etc.) in several countries to establish similar regional cooperation in basic food crops of greater importance to the feeding of their people. This is eloquent testimony to the success of the PRECODEPA concept.
