Announcement of One Million Ten Thousand US Dollars Credit for an Irrigation Engineering Project in Mauritania on May 23, 1974

e™TERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION 1818 H STREET. N.W .. WASHINGTON D. C. 20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 IDA Press Release No. 74/23 Sul,ject: $1.1 million credit for an May 23, 1974 irrigation engineering project in Mauritania. The International Development Association(IDA), an affiliate of the World Bank, is extending a credit of $1.1 million to help finance an irrigation engineering project in Mauritania. The project includes the execution of engineering studies needed for the implem,~ntation of the first phase of the Gorgo! Basin Development Scheme; the carrying out of related health and education studies; and technical assistance to the Ministry of Planning for the analysis of rural development projects. The Government of Mauritania has given high priority to the development of irrigated agriculture in the Gorgol Valley extending over 35,000 hectares. Development of the valley will be phased. The first phase will involve the development of 3,500 hectares for double • crop rice cultivation over a 10-year period. With an annual yield of about 8 tons of paddy per hectare, the first phase will yield about 18,000 tons of rice per annum. About 7,000 farmers and their families are expected to benefit from the first phase of the project. The irrigation engineering project including its technical assistance component ,..,ill be completed in 2-1/2 years time at a total estimated cost of $1.::; million. The IDA credit to the Government of Mauritania is for a term of 10 years, including two years of grace. It will be interest-free except for a service charge uf 3/4 of 1% to meet IDA's administrative costs. The credit will be refinanced under any later operation from the Bank Group for the irrigation project. Note: Money figures are expressed in US dollars equivalents • •