Although not part of the FAO project, women participating in a sewing class use the town communication centre for their work. The communication centre, financed by the project, doubles as a community centre. - - Communication & Training for the Development of the Tropics: UTF/MEX/027/MEX. The project is operational in several regions of Mexico and its general objectives are as follows: to increase production and productivity in tropical regions; to improve living standards and working conditions of farmers and their families; to preserve natural resources. The communication functions and activities which are developed in the project contribute to the dissemination and exchange of information required by the social groups involved; promote the creation of a consensus regarding the project strategies and plans of action; support training and "informal" education; facilitate the flow of technical information obtained through research on the development of tropical areas. In addition, communication activities strengthen the producers' organisations, widen the technical assistance area of the plans of action, promote coordination and the institutional and inter-sectorial administration regarding the Programme, and increase the individual and social groups' capacities for the implementation of development plans of action in the tropics.