Announcement of Chad Receives Five Million Dollars for Irrigation on November 13, 1975

·.world Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Telephone: (202) 393-6360 IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 75/68 NOVEMBER 13, 1975 CHAD RECEIVES $5 MILLION FOR IRRIGATION The International Development Association (IDA), an affiliate of the World Bank, has approved a credit of $5 million to Chad for the Lake Chad Polders project which consists of the rehabilitation and completion of the irrigation and drainage net- works of Guini polder and the construction of same for Berim polder. The project holds the promise of drought protection and · high yields of food crop -- in addition to cotton. As such, it • fits well into the agricultural development of the Sahel. It will generate 3,000 tons of wheat and 3,000 tons of seed cotton pro- duction annually. This will. result in a rise in the annual income of the beneficiaries from $35 to about $145. It is also hoped that the project will eventually benefit 1,200 farm families. The project includes the establishment of a Conunercial Agricultural Development Section which will prepare the way for farmer settlement, and be responsible for the first year of op- eration on all newly developed land and for the basic cultivations during the following year. It .also includes the expansion of adaptive agricultural research at the Matafo Research Station as well as providing consultant assistance to reorganize the Societe de Developpement du Lac (SODELAC), a government-owned corporation which is responsible for the development of the Lake Chad region through a project unit created for that purpose. The $5 million credit to Chad is for a term of 50 years, including 10 years of grace. It is interest-free except for a • service charge of 3/4 of 1% to cover IDA's administrative expenses • Note: Money figures are expressed in US dollar equivalents. Form No. 1121 (9-75) • • T E CHNI CAL DAT A PROJECT: Lake Chad Folders COUNTRY: Chad TOTAL COST: $13 million IDA FINANCING: $5 million, standard IDA terms OTHER FINANCING: African Development Fund (ADF), $5 million; Fonds d'Aide et de Cooperation (FAC), $2 million; and USAID, $1 million! IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: The Societe de Developpement du Lac (SODELAC), NDjamena, Chad. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project consists of: a) rehabilitating and completing the irrigation and drainage networks of Guini polder (370 hectares net area); b) constructing the irrigation and drainage networks for Berim polder (800 • hectares net area);c) establishing a Commercial Agricultural Development Section which will prepare the way for farmer settlement, and be responsible for the first year of operation on all newly developed land; d) providing a package of services (resettlement assistance, training extension, credit and marketing) to the farmers who will take up cultivation of the polders; e) constructing necessary service centers and houses for project staff; f) expanding adaptive agricultural research at the Matafo Research Station; and g) providing consultant services to reorganize the Societe de Developpernent du Lac Tchad (SODELAC). PROCUREMENT: For those project items financed by IDA and FAC, the follow- ing will apply: orders or contracts for equipment, cement, vehicles, or chemicals, with a value of more than $25,000 will be through International Competitive Bidding (ICB) in accordance with IDA guidelines. ADF and USAID procurement procedures will apply to those project items they will finance. CONSULTANTS: The Project Manager and the key staff of the Project Unit will be provided by a consulting firm recruited internation- ally. The research staff, including an agronomist, an agro-economist and a soil scientist, will be recruited by USAID under its own procedures. Consultants will be engaged to help with the reorganization of SODELAC. ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: J.7% ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: December 31, 1979 -0- •