U.S. Department of Agriculture

Improvements Needed in Foreign Agricultural Service Management Gao ID: T-GGD-94-56 November 10, 1993

The Agriculture Department's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) manages about $10 billion a year in agricultural export programs, which seek to boost U.S. agricultural exports by developing markets abroad for these products. The programs include the Export Credit Guarantee programs, the Market Promotion and Foreign Market Development programs, the Export Enhancement Program, and title I of Public Law 480. This testimony examines FAS' management of export promotion and assistance programs, its use of resources in reporting on agricultural developments overseas, and its strategic planning. Tight budgets and the large sums spent on agricultural export programs make sound management imperative. Improvements have been made, but GAO continues to be concerned about management weaknesses that undercut the efficiency and effectiveness of FAS programs.



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