Morocco - Rainfed Agriculture Development Project

Report No. 24094 Report No: iO69124 <--Please check for duplicates! Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet (Updated) Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: 04/26/2002 Section I - Basic Information A. Basic Project Data Country: MOROCCO Project ID: P069124 Project: Rainfed Agriculture Development Project Task Team Leader: Laurent Msellati Authorized to Appraise Date: January 17, 2002 IBRD Amount ($m): 25.25 Bank Approval: June 11, 2002 IDA Amount ($m): Managing Unit: MNSRE Sector: AY - Other Agriculture Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan (SIL) Status: Lending I.A.2. Project Objectives: The Rainfed Agriculture Development Project (RADP) is the first phase of a wider program which aims to assist the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Water and Forests (MADREF) in implementing the "2020 Rural Development Strategy" in rainfed areas. The overriding goal of the RADP is to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in rainfed areas by promoting local participatory development and fostering sustainable agricultural development. To this end, the proposed Project would have the following specific objectives: To build institutional capacity for project identification and implementation in rainfed areas in partnership with local organizations. In six priority areas: (a) to improve the livelihoods and incomes of the local population; and (b) to promote sustainable development of rainfed agriculture farming systems and reduce their vulnerability to drought. This project has been developed around three guiding principles: (a) to align programs for rainfed agriculture development with the objectives of MADREF as contained in the Rural Development Strategy; (b) to develop new approaches for rainfed agriculture development which take into account the impact of recurrent drought and regional differences; and (c) to focus on "priority action zones" (PAZs) selected on the basis of such criteria as level of poverty, shortage of basic infrastructure, access to social services and natural resource degradation. I.A.3. Project Description: The proposed Project consists of two complementary components: (a) institutional strengthening, aimed at harmonizing MADREF's multiple approaches to integrated rural development, developing a structured response to drought, and putting in place the capacity and tools (both at the central and local levels) for identifying, preparing, implementing and monitoring rural development programs in rainfed areas; and (b) development activities in six "Priority Action Zones" (PAZs) which are among the poorest areas of the country and suffering from major handicaps in terms of rural infrastructure and access to basic social services. In line with MADREF's regionally adapted approaches, the development activities will fall into two categories corresponding to two different types of rainfed areas:  poverty reduction activities in low-rainfall and remote areas, including the Atlas Mountains (Taroundant Province), Pre-Saharan Oases (Tata Province), High Eastern Plateaus (Boulemane Province), and the Central Arid Zone (Khouribga Province), the last two being considered as part of the Bour defavorable (see definition in Section B.2.); and agricultural growth promoting activities in higher rainfall areas (Bour favorable), including the Cereal Plains (Khemisset Province), and the Rif Foothills (Sidi-Kacem). Component A - Strengthening of Implementation Capacity for Rainfed Agricultural Development This component has been designed to help implement the principles and objectives of the "2020 Rural Development Strategy" in rainfed areas and to develop a structured response to drought. The proposed Project aims at developing a program approach for rainfed areas development in order to integrate activities within a coherent framework, to create synergies and to promote good practices. It will achieve this by: strengthening MADREF's implementation capacity at the central level for developing and managing the rainfed agriculture development program, and for ensuring adequate monitoring and evaluation of this program (composed of numerous operations with similar approaches). In addition, the proposed Project will provide technical assistance to help MADREF in preparing and implementing a restructuring plan for its field offices; strengthening the local implementation capacity of MADREF's provincial (DPA) and local (CT/CMV) structures as well as of local government and community institutions. The proposed Project will provide technical assistance and support training activities to help prepare local participatory "Communal Investment Plans" (CIPs), including economic and social investments; and developing new instruments and institutional capacity to improve support services for rainfed agriculture, notably a drought management strategy, including drought related policy-making at the national level, the development of an early warning system for drought in the six PAZs, and the piloting of a weather-based index insurance scheme, managed by MAMDA, the agricultural mutual insurance company, and supported by IFC. The proposed project will also support the development of demand-driven research funding mechanisms. In addition, the proposed Project will support: (a) the strengthening of the decentralized national research network; (b) the preparation of technico-economic reference manuals for each PAZ; and (c) the preparation of studies to improve collective rangeland management. Component B - Rural Development Activities in Priority Areas Under Law No. 33-94, which allows the State to intervene in legally designated rainfed development sites (PerimOtres de mise en valeur des zones bours, PMVB), the proposed Project will finance activities aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural development, improving access to basic infrastructures and services, and developing income generating activities, both off-farm and on-farm. In the six PAZs identified, seven PMVBs would be covered over a period not exceeding five years per site. Activities are structured in three sub-components: agricultural and pastoral development, aimed at increasing the productivity of agricultural systems, improving natural resources management and mitigating the effects of drought, notably through soil and water conservation works; -2-  rural infrastructure development (including rural roads, small and medium-scale irrigation, and pastoral water points) and the provision of technical assistance to Rural Communes (RC) for the formulation and implementation of the Communal Investment Plans (CIPs); and support to local initiatives, which would help strengthen the capacity of local organizations to identify their own development needs and plan for them accordingly, and would support education and skills training activities, including financing equipment for on-the-job training, and promtoting micro credit organizations and farmer associations for specific productive activities. Implementation of component B will be based on three principles: (a) activities will be identified through a participatory approach in order to meet the needs of the beneficiaries and therefore ensure sustainability; (b) activities will be adapted to local socio-economic and agro-climatic conditions, using specific development models (Archetypes) which will be formulated for each PAZ; and (c) decision making and implementation will be delegated as close to the field as possible, by strengthening the programming and coordination role on rural issues of the Provincial Technical Committee and by building the capacity of the rural communes. I.A.4. Project Location: (Geographic location, information about the key environmental and social characteristics of the area and population likely to be affected, and proximity to any protected areas, or sites or critical natural habitats, or any other culturally or socially sensitive areas.) Specific Environmental, Beneficiary, and Partnership-stakeholder assessments have been carried out during preparation. Project Area. The priority areas for intervention cover different agro-ecological areas where development models, "archetypes" have been identified. These models are described in detail in Annex 2. This concept is built around the premise that these areas are prototypes of different resources of rainfed areas, and that the people using these resources have adapted to them, and have ways of allocating and using resources that are intricately bound with the way in which these populations are themselves organized. In each of these areas there are particular features of social organization that can either be constraints or opportunities for the active participation of the population. The identification of the social organization in each region is therefore crucial to establish the effective participation of the population and to generate sustainable models for self-development that can improve and enhance the human and institutional resources of these areas that have been consistently marginalized due to their isolation, and where poverty has reached a critical level. The Program will operate in six provinces with rainfed agriculture: Tata, Taroudant, Boulemane, Khouribga, Khemisset, and Sidi Kacem. The Program will cover the ten communes, presented in the table below, in each of these priority action zones (PAZs). These communes do not include any protected areas nor critical natural habitat sites. Priority Action Zone Rural Commune Localities Archetype Boulemane Tissaf (1) 1 High Oriental Plateau Khemisset Ain Sbit (1) 1 Cereal Plains Khourigba Beni Ikhlef (1) 1 Central Arid Zone Sidi Kacem Ounana, Mjaara, Teroual, Zghira (4) 1 Hilly Pre-Rifian Zone Taroudant Tizi N'Test, Ouneine (2) 2 Atlas Mountains Tata Tagmout (1) 1 Pre-Saharan Oases Six Action Zones 10 Rural Communes 7 6 Archetypes -3 -  Beneficiairies. The field studies defined the number of potential beneficiaries in the project areas. The population distribution is summarized in the table below. The individual data sheets for each of the selected localities together with the basic information of each archetype by locality can be found in the Social Assessment document. Additional extensive information in the project files deals with the specific details of social organization, access and use of natural resources and the degree of organizational capacity in each commune. PROVINCE COMMUNE DOUARS HOUSEHOLD POPULATION Boulemane Tissaf 10 (+ nomads) 883 6,013 Khemisset Ain Sbit 16 1,975 11,836 Khourigba Beni Ikhlef 8 1,483 10,166 Sidi Kacem Ounana Mjara Teroual Zghira 22 14 23 29 2,074 1,111 2,100 2,591 12,248 6,184 9,940 15,328 Taroudant Tizi N'Test Ouneine 32 55 773 1,373 5,171 9,063 Tata Tagmout 21 1,028 5,279 TOTAL 10 230 15,391 91,228 B. Check Environmental Classification: B (Partial Assessment) Comments: The project has been assigned Category B. It is recognized that the "bour" zones (rainfed ecosystems) are fragile and that the increasing use of these marginal areas for agriculture and livestock production can render them more vulnerable. One of the challenges faced by this project will be to ensure that the optimum ecological balance is kept in these zones and that the carrying capacity is not exceeded. For these reasons, an Environmental Assessment (EA) was carried out during preparation and an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) has been prepared. The EA identified a number of positive impacts on the environment and identified issues related to land and irrigation development and to social infrastructure. The issues related to land and irrigation development, concern largely mechanical and chemical land clearing and water management. The issues related to social infrastructure are those typically associated with investment in access roads and potable water. Given the participatory approach which will be adopted the activities which will be financed under the project cannot be known with precision in advance. As a result, there will be a need to develop a mechanism for applying the EA and EMP procedures to the Program as it unfolds. Provision has therefore been made to incorporate environmental screening, - 4 -  asssessment and mitigation in the technical study process for each investment. Moreover, a training program for all concerned project agencies, communes and beneficiaries and their institutions has been designed to ensure awareness on environmental issues and the capacity to manage the EA and EMP procedures for the program as it is implemented. A budget equivalent to US$25,000 annually has been added for this purpose. In addition, the Environmental Assessment raised two issues relating to the use of chemicals to remove shrubs (Jujuba spp.) and Doum palms regrowth (Hyphaene thebaica) . A detailed technical data sheet (Fiche technique sur le defrichement manuel et chimique) was prepared by MADREF and shared with the Bank. This data sheet was taken into consideration in the final version of the EA, dated February 20, 2002, which includes a Pesticide Management Plan as required under OP 4.09 on Pest Management. C. Safeguard Policies Triggered Policy Applicability Environmental Assessment (OP/BP/GP 4.01) Yes Forestry (OP/GP 4.36) No Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) No Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) Yes Pest Management (OP 4.09) No Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) No Indigenous Peoples (OD 4.20) No Cultural Property (OP 4.11) No Projects in Disputed Territories (OP/BP/GP 7.60)* No Projects in International Waterways (OP/BP/GP 7.50) No *By supporting the proposed project, the Bank does not intend to prejudice the final determination of the parties' claims on the disputed areas Section II - Key Safeguard Issues and Their Management D. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues. Please fill in all relevant questions. If information is not available, describe steps to be taken to obtain necessary data. II.D.la. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts. For OP/BP 4.01, as indicated in Section E.5 above, the EA has been completed and the EMP Executive Summary is attached in Annex 12 of the PAD. In addition, the EMP includes a Pesticide Management Plan to meet the requirements under OP. 4.09. The appraisal mission confirmed that neither OP 4.04 on Natural Habitat nor OP 4.36 on Forestry are triggered. Also, OP 4.12 on Involuntary Resettlement would not apply since the proposed project will not finance any extension of irrigated areas, rural roads construction or rehabilitation that would require involuntary land acquisition or involuntary physical relocation. This stipulation will be reflected in the PAD, Minutes of Negotiation and Operations Manual, and will be ensured through project monitoring and supervision. II.D.1b. Describe any potential cumulative impacts due to application of more than one safeguard policy or due to multiple project component. N/A -5-  II.D.lc Describe any potential long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area. N/A II.D.2. In light of 1, describe the proposed treatment of alternatives (if required) The EMP Executive Summary is attached as Annex 12 of the PAD. II.D.3. Describe arrangement for the borrower to address safeguard issues Site specific mitigation measures for any potential adverse environmental impact, and monitoring systems to review their efficacy, will be developed under the Project, following procedures in the EMP and the environmental manual. Also, the EMP includes a Pesticide Management Plan to meet the requirements under OP. 4.09 for chemical land clearing activities. No other pesticide product will be financed by the project. Actions for production system improvement (Component B.1), other than chemical land clearing, could concern pesticide use in agriculture. To limit potential negative impacts, these actions will be adapted to the environment. Moreover, biological treatment would be promoted in place of chemical use and IPM will be integrated into the extension advice to be provided as part of this component. II.D.4. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. Relevant Government agencies as well as beneficiaries were consulted during project preparation on the environmental safeguards. The training program to take place under implementation as well as the design of the project to hinge on community participation will ensure that consultation, participation, information and disclosure are intrinsic part of the participatory approach. E. Safeguards Classification. Category is determined by the highest impact in any policy. Or on basis of cumulative impacts from multiple safeguards. Whenever an individual safeguard policy is triggered the provisions of that policy apply. I S1. - Significant, cumulative and/or irreversible impacts; or significant technical and institutional risks in management of one or more safeguard areas [XI S2. - One or more safeguard policies are triggered, but effects are limited in their impact and are technically and institutionally manageable 1 S3. - No safeguard issues I SF. - Financial intermediary projects, social development funds, community driven development or similar projects which require a safeguard framework or programmatic approach to address safeguard issues. Insert page break here F. Disclosure Requirements Environmental Assessment/Analysis/Management Plan: Expected Actual Date of receipt by the Bank 1/21/2002 2/20/2002 Date of "in-country" disclosure 1/21/2002 2/14/2002 Date of submission to InfoShop 1/22/2002 3/8/2002 Date of distributing the Exec. Summary of the EA to the ED (For category A projects) Not Applicable Not Applicable - 6 -  Resettlement Action Plan/Framework: Expected Actual Date of receipt by the Bank Not Applicable Not Applicable Date of "in-country" disclosure Not Applicable Not Applicable Date of submission to InfoShop Not Applicable Not Applicable Indigenous Peoples Development Plan/Framework: Expected Actual Date of receipt by the Bank Not Applicable Not Applicable Date of "in-country" disclosure Not Applicable Not Applicable Date of submission to InfoShop Not Applicable Not Applicable Pest Management Plan: Expected Actual Date of receipt by the Bank 2/20/2002 Date of "in-country" disclosure 2/14/2002 Date of submission to InfoShop 3/8/2002 Dam Safety Management Plan: Expected Actual Date of receipt by the Bank Not Applicable Not Applicable Date of "in-country" disclosure Not Applicable Not Applicable Date of submission to InfoShop Not Applicable Not Applicable If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why. Signed and submitted by Name Date Task Team Leader: Laurent Msellati 04/24/2002 Project Safeguards Specialists 1: John Keith Rennie-MNS/Person/World Bank 04/26/2002 Project Safeguards Specialists 2: John Bryant Collier/Person/World Bank 04/26/2002 Project Safeguards Specialists 3: Approved by: Name Date Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Kanthan Shankar 04/26/2002 Sector Manager/Director: Petros Aklilu 04/26/2002 For a list of World Bank news releases on projects and reports, click here - 7 -