Announcement of Niger Receives 10.7 Million Dollars for Rural Development on December 15, 1975

eWorldBank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Telephone: (202) 393-6360 IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 75/73 DECEMBER 15, 1975 NIGER RECEIVES $10.7 MILLION FOR RURAL DEVELOPHENT The International Development Association (IDA), an affiliate of the World Eank, has approved a credit of $10.7 million to lriger's Haradi Rural Development project. The project will include the provision of production packages -- extension, applied research, credit and input supply -- aimed at the improve- ment of groundnut, millet and cowpeas production in 15 selected Associations Locales de Cooperatives (ALCs); strengthening of cooperatives; expansion of educational and training programs, including a functional literacy program, as well as of a training school for extension workers and the provision of training scholarships for project personnel; study for developing the irriga- tion potential of the Goulbi de Maradi and pilot development of irrigation in the Goulbi de Maradi through exploitation of underground water resources; construction • of 80 kilometers of feeder roads; planting of 500 hectares Qf trees in fuel wood plantations; improvement of livestock services in the project area and prepara- tion of a livestock development project, as well as provision of credit for the purchase of livestock by pastoralists who lost their herds during the Sahelian drought; and establishment of a project evaluation unit to determine the eco- nofiliC and social bnpact of the project. The project's direct benefits will be the increased production it will generate which will result in higher incomes for some 37,500 farm families and 14,000 pastoral families. The overall impact of the project, at full development in 1982, is seen as bringing up future average yields in the 15 project area i\LCs close to those obtained in the years of most favorable rainfall over the period 1967- E175. riel<l increases are estimated to result in increments in annual produc- tion anounting to 18,100 tons of raillet, 19,800 tons of unshelled groundnuts and 600 tons of cowpeas by 1982. New production from project-established irri- gat·.:~on schemes is estimated at 500 tons of seed cotton, 900 tons of sorghum and 7,000 tons of tomatoes and other vegetables. Project-induced livestock produc- tion would amount to 18,700 tons liveweight compared with 15,700 tons without the project. The IDA credit is for 50 years including a 10-year grace period. It is interest free, except for a service charge of 3/4 of 1% to cover IDA's administrative expenses . • iJote: Honey figures are expressed in US dollar -----------·---- equivalents. Form No. 1121 (9-75) PROJECT: TE CHNI CAL DAT A Rural Development Project • COUNTRY: Niger TOTAL COST: $13. 2 million IDA FINANCING: $10.7 million, Standard IDA Terms OTfiER FINANCING: Government of Uiger $2.5 million IHt:>LEHENTING ORGANIZATION: Project Mana~ement Unit (PNU) c/o Ministry of Development, Niamey, Niger PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project comprises: (a) provision of production packages--extension, applied research, credit and input supply-- aimed at the improvement cf groundnut, millet and cowpeas production in 15 selected Associations Locales de Cc~peratives (ALCs); (b) strengthening of cooperatives; expansion of educational and training programs, including a functional literacy program, as well as of a training school for extension workers and the provision of training scholarships for project personnel; (d) study for developing the irrigation potential of the Goulbi de Haradi and pilot development of irrigation in the Goulbi de Harad~ through exploitation of underground water resources; (e) construction of 80 km of feeder roads; (f) planting of 500 ha of trees in fuel wood plantations; (g) improvement of livestock services in the project area and preparation of a livestock development project, as well. s t provision of credit for the purchase of livestock by pastoalists who lost their he=ds during th2 Sahelian drought; and (h) establishment of a project evaluation unit to deter- mine the economic and social impact of the project. i>ROCURENENT: Orders or contracts for equipment, vehicles or chemicals with a value of more than $50,000 will be obtained through international competitive bidding (ICB) in accordance with IDA guidelines. Such procure- ment is estimated to have a value of $1.0 million. Contracts of less than $50,000 will be procured on the basis of locally advertised competitive bidding procedures. Fuel, spare parts and items too small to warrant competitive bidding will be procured locally under procedures acceptable to the Association. Construction of the irrigation schemes will be by their prospective users. As there are no local contractors to build the roads, which are too small and dispersed to attract foreign contractors, the roads will be constructed by the Hinistere des Travaux .flublics by force account. Contracts exempted from inter- national competitive bidding will aggregate no more than $1.9 millione CONSULTANTS: Consultants providing technical assistance and carrying out the various required studies ($1.1 million) will be recruited internationally according to IDA guidelines. 113 nan-months. ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: The econo~ic rate of return from investment in the project. is estimated at 39:. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 19G2 -0-