Announcement of China to Improve Agricultural Education on June 18, 1984

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 84/99 Contact: P.B. Sison IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 84/98 (202) 477-3573 June 18, 1984 CHINA TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION China will improve the quality of agricultural education with the help of funding from The World Bank totalling $68.8 million. Upgrading the quality of training for middle and upper level agricultural technicians is considered critical if China is to feed its population and meet the demands of its expanding industry for raw materials. The World Bank (the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and its concessionary lending affiliate, the International Development Association (IDA), will provide financing of $45.3 million and SDR 22 million ($23.5 million), respectively. The project will expand and improve preservice education and inservice training at 23 agricultural colleges. A model library will be set up at Beijing Agricultural University and a model food science department at Central China Agricultural College. The project will also expand the community service role of agricultural colleges by setting up eight training and extension support centers and will assist 12 technical schools increase enrollment and improve the quality of instruction and management. This latter effort will serve as a pilot for formulating a coherent overall technical school program. The project will provide technical assistance for the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries to upgrade its radio, film, and print capabilities. This is intended to improve the Ministry's efforts to reach farmers directly. The World Bank loan is for 20 years with five years' grace, with a variable interest rate, currently 10.08 percent, linked to the cost of the Bank's borrowings. It also carries an annual commitment charge of 0.75 percent on undisbursed balances and a front-end fee of 0.25 percent on the amount of the loan. The IDA credit is for 50 years, including 10 years of grace; it carries no interest but has annual charges (0.5 percent on the undisbursed balances and 0.75 percent on the disbursed balances). NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents.