ABSTRACT
Identification of projects that will contribute to the development of a given local area is one of the most critical tasks in project planning exercises. Almost everything depends upon the selection of the right kinds of projects. Thus, a proper search for them has to be made at the very beginning of any planning effort. But the task of searching for the right kinds of projects or generation of new projects, as it is often called in the vocabulary of planners, is not at all easy. Experience has shown that planners at the local level find it exceedingly difficult to come up with new project ideas. What they frequently propose is somewhat “repetitive” with the result that the problems plaguing local areas never get solved. Generally, it is “more of the same” types of projects that are selected. There is also a tendency among planners to view project identification as a linear function of the resources available in the area. We often find local level officers arguing that because their area is endowed with good livestock, a tannery should be started there. It is no surprise that a number of projects based on this kind of justification never take off the ground. Many projects stagnate; others die prematurely. Why does this happen? Why is the process of project identification so difficult?
