International development through commodity programs

Summary

Everyone involved in international development work should have one mandate, to work themselves out of a job, as soon as possible. Seldom in government institutions or private industry does a person say, “I am needed no more”. Already one person has said this within the Potato Program and has been sent home. Two more have said they will no longer be needed at the close of their present contract. The reasons have been properly documentated and it is an indication of the progress which has taken place in the National Potato Program of Peru in a relatively short time.

It was by chance, instead of by formula that the specifics were put together which have given success, to some commodity programs in Peru. Once the specifics were there, it was no longer by chance that progress was made which demonstrated what is possible. In international development work, an approach is urgently needed to enable the factors which sometimes come together by chance, to be put together by objective choice.