Analysis of selected agricultural projects in the middle east: with particular reference to Tauorga, Libya

Abstract

It is clear that the increasing of agriculture productiveness is essential to economic development, but this involves special problems arising from the distinct characteristics of agriculture itself and of its relations with the other sectors of economy and society. Ultimately, all agricultural development policies (as all other policies), have to be implemented at project level, and the evaluation of the factors affecting the degree of success achieved in such projects is of obvious importance. In this thesis attention is restricted to a consideration of agricultural development projects in the Middle Eastern arid zone. The Tauorga project in Libya is analysed and evaluated in depth and particular attention is paid to identifying the technical or non-technical problems and difficulties which hindered this project's progress. From this, a geographically based approach comprising three types of evaluation is derived. These three types of evaluation are: critical path analysis; application of the law of the minimum; suitability and interdependence of input factors. Two further analogous agricultural projects in the U.A.E. and Oman, which are described in some detail, are also examined by means of applying these evaluation methods. A further three analogous agricultural projects, all in Saudi Arabia, are more briefly described, and judged against original proposals in the light of the results obtained from the previous more detailed studies. It is concluded that the approaches used here for analysing project performance could be valuable tools for improving project design and implementation through feedback and forward control systems.