Announcement of Togo’s Maritime Region to Benefit from 9.5 Million Dollars Credit for Development on June 10, 1976

•World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Telephone: (202} 393-6360 IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 76/29 JUNE 10, 1976 TOG0 1 S MARITIME REGION TO BENEFIT FROM $9.5 MILLION CREDIT FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT The In ternat i ona 1 Deve 1opment Association (IDA) , an aff i 1 i ate of the Worid Bank, has approved a credit of $9.5 miilion for a rural development project in the maritime region of Togo. The Fonds d 1 Aide et de Cooperation (FAC) of France is expected to provide co-financing with a grant of $2.2 mill ion. The project wi 11 cover the entire maritime region, but areas of concentration wi 11 be selected to benefit about 20,000 farm families over the five-year period from 1976 to 1981. It will be carried out '~;: ~ primarily by the Societe Regionale d'Amenagement et de Developpement de la Region Maritime (SORAD Maritime). The project will be the first ~"/.~-- :: • , r .. ~ ~ phase of an integrated rural development program in the region . Several important components are included in the project. It wi 11 assist in improving and diversifying the production of upland crops on some 18,500 hectares (ha.) and developing about 3,000 ha. of low land for rainfed rice cultivation. It will also provide credit for the pur- chase of 110 power tillers, 75 small rice mil ls, ~aterials for the con- struction of about 150 village stores, and for the renovation of about 600 ha. of smallholder coconut plantings. About 300 kilometers (km.) of secondary and feeder roads, 20 tube wells) and two earth dams, 15 dispensaries, and 20 village markets will be bu i 1t. Consultant services will be provided to carry out an irrigation study for the development of 1,000 ha. in the lower Zio valley for rain- fed rice cultivatton, also to prepare investment proposals for the development of onchocerciasis-free areas in northern Togo, and to con- duct field trials designed to tackle two important problems which impede the agricultural development of certain areas of the region: soil deple- tion in the coastal plateau and the Kaincope disease of coconut on the coast. The $9.5 mil lion IDA credit is for a period of 50 years, including 10 years of grace, with no interest. There is a service charge of 3/4 • of 1% to cover IDA's administrative expenses . Note: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents. Form No. 1121 (9-75) PROJECT: COUNTRY: TE CHNI CAL Republic of Togo DAT A Maritime Region Rural Development • TOTAL COST: $1 5. 7 mi 11 ion (including $1 . 8 mi 11 ion in taxes) I DA FINANCING: $9.5 million on standard IDA terms OTHER FINANCING: The Fonds d'Aide et de Cooperation (FAC) of France is expected to provide co-financing in the form of a grant of $2.2 million. Government of Togo, $1 .6 mil- lion. Participating farmers, $500,000. IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: The Societe Regionale d'Amenagement et de Developpe- ment de la Region Maritime (SORAD Maritime) Lome, Togo PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project will be carried out over the period 1976-81 and includes the follo1,1ing components: improving and • diversifying the production of the principal upland ct ops on some 18,500 hectares (ha.), and developing about 3~000 ha. of low land for rainfe<l rice cultivation, and providing credit for the purchase of 110 power tillers and 75 small rice mil~s; construction of about 300 kilometers(km.) of secondary and feeder roads,20 tube wells,and 2 small earth dams, 15 dispensaries, 150 village stores, and 20 village markets; studies to prepare a gravity irrigation scheme for l ,000 ha. for rice cultivation, to make investment pro- posals for areas to be freed of onchocerciasis; and field trials to test techniques to restore the productivity of depleted soils.and the resistance of coconut hybrids to the Kaincope disease. PROCUREMENT: Cohtracts for the supply of goods other than rock phos- phate, which are estimated to cost $50,000 or more each, wll 1 be awarded on the basis of international competitive bidding in accordance with IDA Guidelines (total cost about $3.4 million). Domestically manufactured goods wi 11 be a 11 owed a preference of 15% or the level of app l i cable duty, whichever is less, when comparing domestic bids with those of foreign manufacturers. Supply contracts valued at less than $50,000 (the number of which vJil 1 be minimized by bulking procurement and which will total about $200,000) will be let after competitive bidding in accordance with local procedures as contracts for the construction of 90 km. of secondary roads (total cost 2bout $1.7 mil lion) and of various project buildings, dispensaries, and rural markets.(total cost of about $900,000). CONSULTANTS: Consultant services will be provided to carry out an irrigation study for the development of 1,000 ha. in the lower Zia valley for rainfed rice cultivation (18 mah-months); to prepare invest- ment proposals for the development of onchocerciasis-free areas (42 man-months) and conduct coconut field tr.ials (10 man-months); and to help design a monitoring and • evaluating unit (30 man-months). The project will provide for a Technical Director, Financial and Administrative Director, and several other specialists. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: June 1981 -o-