Lylian Rodriguez [lylianr@email.com]
>I would think that many people are qualified to do it but I do not
>understand the reason to have an EXPATRIATE farm manager.

Having an expatriate farm manager can have many advantages. Lylian, you are
an expatriate yourself and working in Cambodia, you probably have realised
that it can help, especially at executing jobs/tasks. As you may have heard
this before, "you cant be a prophet in your own country". There are of
course also advantages for the locals to have an expatriate manager. Many
of the reasons may also apply for jobs in industry too.

My brother-in-law became an expatriate manager for an Australian-owned food
factory in Papua New Guinea and was there for 3 years. His task was to save
the factory from closing down. His greatest problems were the Australians
themselves who worked in the factory. What he did in 3 years could have
taken twice as long to achieve for an Australian or a local manager. I
think this is something worth paying for and this is want people are paying
for it.

Lylian:
I do agree with you that the process of building up the farm should involve
local senior officers too, however I am someone inclined to the belief that
there are more advantages to have an expatriate manager. I would have liked
to gave the opportunity to run a large farm but unfortunately I have
committed myself to a project for the next 2 years and other peripheral
opportunities have developed recently.

>Is very sad when somebody make a lot of effort to set up a farm
>or whatever but then when that person leave everything collapse or
>people start to do the opposite!!

here is a strong reason to discuss why the Obafemi Awolowo University Farm
failed earlier ? The worst scenario is that if the problem is rooted in the
Nigerian society or the Obafemi Awolowo University itself. This is not a
unique case because you can find deeply rooted problems that are linked to
the local society in any country for different problems.

regards
jacky