Announcement of One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars Credit for Agricultural Development and Technical Assistance in Liberia on April 20, 1972

• INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION 1818 H STREET. N.W., WASHINGTON D. C. 20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 IDA Press Release No. 72/28 Subject: $1.2 million c:r:_edit for April 20, 1972 agricultural development and technical assistance in Liberia The International Development Association (IDA), an affiliate of the World Bank, has approved i credit to the Republic of Liberia for a project to assist the Govennnent in implementing its agricultural development program. The project, which is the Bank Group's serventh operation in Liberia, brings total lending to over $27 million. The present project, together with th19 education project approved in March 1972, reflects a new emphasis upon agriculture and education and supports Liberia's current development plans. This project provides for studies that are required to formulate projects for agricultural development. Since Liberia does not have qualified staff for these studies, they will be carried out by foreign technical assistance to Government. The project, however, does provide overseas and local counterpart training for Liberians, who will be able to play • an important part in planning and running future agricultural development projects . The present project will help implement Government's agricultural development strategy in three ways: by preparing investment proposals for integrated rural development projects; by surveying and studying the Liberian- owned rubber industry and by a pilot rubber scheme to provide farm credits for the rehabilitation and re-planting of rubber areas; and by strengthening the Ministry of Agriculture by providing experts to assist its research services, review its basic organization, and plan staff and financial requirements for the next five years. Responsibility for overall implementation of the project will be with the Ministry of Agriculture. A special management unit in the Ministry will supervise the pilot rubber scheme, selecting farms for rehabilitation under the project. The project also provides for consultants to prepare rural development projects and to study the rubber industry and £or rice research. The cost of the project is estimated at $1.6 million and the IDA credit of $1.2 million will provide 75%. The Government will meet the remaining costs. The borrower is the Republic of Liberia and the IDA credit, which is for 50 years, includes a 10-year grace period. It is interest free except for a J/4 of 1% service charge to meet IDA 1 s administrative expenses . • - 0 -  • April 20, 19 72 TECHNICAL DATA PROJEcr: Agriucltural development and technical assistance COUNTRY: Republic of Liberia TOTAL COST~ $1.6 million IDA FINANCING: $1.2 million OTHER FINANCING: 25% of project costs ($400,000) to be met by the Governm:?nt. • IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Ministry of Agriculture, 1bnrovia, Liberia. (An administration specialist will assist organization and coordinati<>n of project facilities). PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Assistance for implementation of the Government's agricultural development program through (1) investment proposals for two integrated rural development projects, (2) a survey and study of the rubber industry and a pilot rubber scheme, and (3) improvement of the Ministry of Agriculture's research services and a study of staff, financial, organizational and planning requirements for the implementation of future rural develop~nt projects. PROCUREl1KlT: Goods, civil works and consultants' services. Goods and civil works to be procured by local competitive bidding. Consultants' services will be procured according to standard procedures of the Association. CONSULTANTS: To be selected. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 1976. • - 0 -