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Abstract
This paper reports on an impact assessment of the biological control programme against invasive Prosopis species or mesquite in South Africa, in order to evaluate its impact and to provide feedback to researchers, research managers and policymakers. The study developed a framework for structuring an effectiveness and efficiency analysis on public expenditure as related to agricultural technology research and development. A Logical Framework Analysis was applied to facilitate the assessment of the programme's effectiveness and a cost-benefit approach to facilitate the assessment of the programme's efficiency. Primary data were collected from the Britstown-De Aar study area (Northern Cape Province) by means of a questionnaire as well as a pod survey to collect data on the success of the biological control agents. It was found that since 1986, the biological control programme has had a positive impact by reducing the rate of Prosopis invasion. The analysis revealed that the biological control programme only has to be 2.5% effective, in terms of area not invaded, but with the potential to be invaded, in order to be a financially profitable investment and only 1.3% effective for it to be an economically beneficial investment to society.