Niger - Irrigation Project

FILEh COPI Document of The World Bank FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Report No. P-2379-NIR REPORT AND RECOMMENT)ATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ON A PROPOSED CREDIT TO THE REPUBLIC OF NIGER FOR AN IRRIGATION PROJECT September 20, 1978 This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only In the performance of their oflicial duties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization.  CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS Currency Unit = CFAF Franc US$1 = CFAF 245 CFAF 1 = US$0.00408 DM = US$0.48 FISCAL YEAR Republic of Niger: October 1 - September 30 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES 1 kilometer (km) = 0.6215 mile 1 centimeter (cm) = 0.033 feet I hectare (ha) = 2.47 acres 1 metric ton (t) = 2,207 lbs I kilogram (kg) = 2.207 lbs ABBREVIATIONS CNCA Caisse Nationale de Credit Agricole DAC Development Assistance Committee FAC Fonds d'Aide et de Cooperation FED Fonds Europeen de Developpement GR Service du Genie Rural IRAT Institut de Recherches d'Agriculture Tropicale KfW Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau MRD Ministry of Rural Development ONAHA Office National des Amenagements Hydroagricoles OPVN Office des Produits Vivriers du Niger SOGREAH Societe Grenobloise d'Hydraulique Agricole UNCC Union Nigerienne de Credit et de Cooperation  FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY REPUBLIC OF NIGER IRRIGATION PROJECT CREDIT AND PROJECT SUMMARY Borrower: Republic of Niger Amount: US$15 Million Terms: Standard Project The proposed project aims primarily at assisting the Description: Government in expanding cereal and vegetable production along the Niger River, and at creating an appropriate structure for the development of its irrigation program. The project would finance: (a) construction of the irrigation scheme of the Namarigoungou polder (1,550 ha); (b) provision of administration and financial services through the Office National des Amenagements Hydro- Agricole (ONAHA); (c) provision of agricultural develop- ment services to participating farmers on this polder and to farmers established on neighbouring irrigation schemes; (d) provision of health services; (e) training programs for farmers in modern agricultural techniques and (f) preparation of a feasibility study for a nearby polder. The project would also finance the services of a finan- cial coordinator, attached to the Ministry of Rural Development, to assist in accounting and financial manage- ment of the various IDA-financed agricultural projects in Niger. It is estimated that 3,000 farming units would take up cultivation in the Namarigoungou polder. The project's services would also benefit 2,200 farming units already established on existing irrigation schemes in the project area, and the 300 farming units which would take up cultivation on another scheme under construction. There- fore, some 5,500 farming units (about 30,000 people or 60% of the population in the project area) would benefit in varying degrees from this project. The project faces no major technical risks. The financial risks have been reduced as much as possible by basing the cost estimates on a detailed engineering study. The institutional risk is minimized by the creation of ONAHA which would be adequately staffed and equipped to carry out the project. The possible social risk involved in land allocation will be reduced by the use of well-established land allocation procedures. This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the performance of their official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization,  - ii - Estimated Cost: Local Foreign Total