Zambia project 611-0214 · 1988–1996 · agriculture · Ronco Consulting Corp.

Summarizes attached evaluation (XD-ABM-717-A) of a project component (2/91-9/94) to distribute hammermills for the Government of Zambia, and train millers in their maintenance. The component was implemented by SIDO, a parastatal for small-scale industry, and by Village Industry Services (VIS), an NGO. The project involved distribution of about 1,580 hammermills for maize processing, along with training of 785 millers (30% of whom were women). Procurement of the mills and financing of their purchase by the mill operators was funded by the host government, and was not part of the USAID effort. The hammermills, which are now plentiful and well distributed throughout rural Zambia, improve the quality of life of small farmers by reducing the time spent hand grinding maize, improving nutrition (because milled maize is readily available and cheaper now), and providing an alternate source of income. Some 87% of hammermill owners report that their mills are profitable. The NGO component broke down as the project became politicized and VIS proved unable to manage USAID's funds properly. USAID withdrew its support from VIS and thus this important element for sustainability was lost. None

Source: DEC abstract, PD-ABM-717 (1996). The source's own text.