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Guts ide markets against imported yroee. The basic oper. posed for the bealth center of the Ministry of Health ties in with the operations of the health centers pro- viously built and organized by the SCISF in Asmcton's Barrio Obrero, a workers’ district, and in the toms of Villerriens Encarnacion and Concepcion. . eo & FQO0 SUPFLY PARARA . TRANSFER OF PROJECTS. In keeping with QIAA policy of transferring to Governgents of the other Americas all cooperative projects which no longer require United States technicel aid, tee of the principal projects initiated by the SIAA's food supply mission to Panaas vere formally transferred om February 16 to the Banco Agro Pecuario ¢ Industrial, an agency of the Panamanian Goverment. The projects are food procuranent, and the dist-ibutian of seed and sgricuitural implenmta. The Rance now assumes responsibility for \ purchasing all gurplus production of approni- wately 25 different kinds of fruits and vege- tables in the interfor, particularly in the northern province of Chiriqui. It will secure markets Yor the produce by taking over the mission's work of supplying United States sraad forces stationed in she Canal Zone or on the Isthmus of Panama, es well as by waking esles to civilian populations in southern Parama. The Banco also takes charge of distributing aeed and agricultural tools and #qui pment te farmers at moderate prices and on long-term paywent arrangements. _ Thos farwers will continue to be sssured of a mariet for their entire production, ari of technical assistence in the developaent of do- westic agriculture. Aa pert of the transfer, the Bance has “Bought mission equipment, aterials and sup- Plies necessary for the operation af these proj- “" @cta, in particular the food warehouses which the mission built in Chiriqui province, ent which have deen the focal points of mission operations. Since £942, Chiriqui farmers have Drought their produce to these warehouses, which also serve as centers for the sale of Seed, tools end fertilizers. At the ware- douses, wission tecbuicians have taught food- grorers the principles of quality grading and _ Packing, ant today the proce holds its orm in weet ~ “YTVES OFTHE, OFsar PROCUK URITES STATES ACeRCIES. Considerable savings in the cost ef supplies {. and equipsent to United States agen-ies in i' neighboring countries have been effected }f through procurement services rendered by the 4 food supply mission in Panama. These services, to the OIA e different food supply or health and sanitation field parties, or to field offices of other Soverrment agencies in the various countries, are of tvo types: a First, procurenent of needed materials which are available in Panama, aref which can be shipped from there more qnickly than from the- United States. These meterials are usually purchased froaz the Canal Zone storehase, and in Ube past have consisted off pedicsl supplies, pipe of all types, reinforcing steel, gatva- nized iron roofing, Ievdware Tilting, steel end copper wire, tires, wallboard, cement, hand Vools, and other staniard item. Second, procurement at low cost of Army, Reavy and Canal Zone surpluses of items required by other Field parties. The mission keeps thease parties informed of the surpluses which become available, and purchases thes as re-~ quested, Sich mterials include all types of machinery ang contracting equipment, such a» pusps; trucks, cers, mill work, tanks, wood and steel, and chanical mupplies, as well as Light Plante and Diesel motors. In emergency eituations, when the time elawent is of vital importance, the ability to secure these cupplies in Pans bes been wost helpful to numereus United States agencies. at the same time, these procurement activities have eaved the cost of shipping meh mterials froe the United States, a# well es urgently needed shipping. a ; * PERSONNEL Bile of Korver bas been appointed s Kews~ writer in the San Francisco Offfee of the Departeent of Press and. Pubagcetions. pire . George Raxard tat, deeandstsa tive Officer in. the Bealth ard Sanitation Dixidion$'ae being transferred fras Port-au-fr pees sore Paz. Forney sptiicin, Director of eaecinet of Informtion, will leave pent wedk fF. Mesice Catz. rel. Mey Oe . Ko ~ ee be e8 @ ee ee mane mete minnie a Yo