Second Irrigation and Drainage Improvement Project
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Project ID | WB: P086592 |
Project Title | Second Irrigation and Drainage Improvement Project
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Type | |
Focus Areas | Sector: Irrigation and drainage (60%); Agricultural extension and research
(30%); Sub-national government administration (10%) |
Geographic Scope | |
Lead Organization(s) | |
Project Partners | Implementing Agency: Committee for Water Resources, Mozhaisky street 28a, Astana Kazakhstan, E-mail: [email protected]
|
Financing | Total: $438,000,000;
Sources of Financing: World Bank loan |
Timeframe | World Bank approval date October 30, 2008
|
Status | Preparatory Phase
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Project website(s) | |
Contacts | |
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Contents |
Description
The project development objective is to improve irrigation and drainage service delivery and land and water management for the benefit of sustainable productivity increases in irrigated agriculture. This will be achieved through rehabilitation and modernization of irrigation and drainage systems, better management, operation, and maintenance of these systems, and more efficient use of associated irrigated lands, all with broad participation of users.
The three main components of the project would be: (i) Rehabilitation and Modernization of I&D Systems; (ii) Sustainable Management, Operation and Maintenance; and (iii) Agricultural Development. In addition, there would be a Project Management Component. The proposed project takes into account many of the lessons learned from IDIP-1 and WRMLIP.
The proposed project would provide support to areas in Almaty, Kyzylorda, South Kazakhstan, and Zhambyl Oblasts that have favorable agro-climatic conditions for increasing irrigated crop productivity. These locations have warmer weather and comprise large plains with a comparative advantage in cropping activities. They offer good possibilities for growing higher value crops like cotton, fruits, and vegetables, with export potential, and generating higher employment locally through the processing of such products and manufacturing of related products. Farm sizes in these areas are quite small and population density is higher so that any I&D related intervention would extend benefits to a large number of the rural people.
The WB will support government in the implementation of the program through two specific investment projects. IDIP-2 is scheduled from 2009 to 2014, covering about 113,000 ha in ten SPAs. Long delay with the implementation of IDIP-3 would considerably worsen the condition of the systems and would increase the financial needs of the program. Therefore it is proposed that IDIP-3 is implemented from 2011 to 2017, covering 107,000 ha in seven SPAs.
The two projects will have similar components, with the main one being the rehabilitation and modernization of I&D infrastructure. As institutional development of the sub-sector institutions is a long-term activity both projects will provide support to this. IDIP-2 will develop and implement the institutional development activities, which will then continue to be supported under IDIP-3 with a gradual absorption of the activities in government agencies towards the end of that project. Similar arrangements will apply for the agricultural development activities.
Expected Outcomes
Achievements: Results and Impact
Lessons for Replication
Lessons Learned from Past Operations in the Country/Sector
- Agriculture
- A major lesson learned from IDIP-1 and WRMLIP is that system rehabilitation should not be seen in isolation from the rest of the agricultural production process and wider support for agricultural development should also be considered as integral element of the project.
Another recommendation was the need to prioritize the focus on smaller farm sizes with higher population densities so that project activities would extend benefits to a large number of farmers. A coherent integrated approach should be adopted, which should include, inter alia, facilitation of improved cropping practices, farmers’ extension/information services, training, business development, and marketing. The project design intends to address such issues with special emphasis on smallholders.
- Mechanization
- The issue of access to farm machinery by the farmers of the rehabilitated schemes was also identified as a priority. However, in the absence of reliable information of actual farmers needs which would certainly be different after I&D improvement, increased farmer organizational capacity, and modified cropping patterns, the only meaningful investment is to first create the required capacity for the farmers to choose on types and quality of machinery to be purchased that are responsive to the new production systems. At the same time, farmers’ capacity needs to be upgraded for them to be able to access the several existing financial instruments and through these, to already start improving their scheme and farm machinery stocks. IDIP-2 would thus concentrate on studying the actual need for machinery and equipment and on creating the best conditions for farmers to make informed choices for dedicated funds for machinery and equipment investments to be made available under IDIP-3.
- I&D Rehabilitation
- Activities under the rehabilitation and modernization component have been developed considering the experiences gained from the implementation of IDIP-1 and WRMLIP. Some important principles that have formed the design of the component include: It is essential that in addition to the inter-farm and on-farm systems, the main off-farm conveyance and drainage systems on which they are dependent are also improved; The participatory approach, in which farmers, through RCCs, identify their needs and are involved in resource allocation, decision-making, implementation, and monitoring, will need to be a key element in the rehabilitation agenda. The decisions concerning the priorities, works required, and scale of investments must be discussed with farmers at all stages. Close collaboration will thus need to be maintained with RCCs for all stages of the rehabilitation process from surveys and design, procurement, construction, through to
final transfer of completed works;
In addition to the actual rehabilitation of infrastructure, sustainable interventions should be included to address the root causes of infrastructure deterioration, and to maintain the gains that the infrastructure restoration has produced. Arrangements should be established to avoid future neglect, which is the main cause of the infrastructure’s degradation in the first place. O&M needs to be adequately provided for in RCC budgets. Restoring sustainable I&D systems not only requires working infrastructure but also interventions to strengthen institutions involved in water management, capacity building, and financial activities; and Cost recovery procedures should be adopted to ensure that beneficiaries are fully aware of repayment details before agreeing to preferred rehabilitation measures. A repayment agreement will need to be developed related to farmer capacity to pay with a realistic grace and repayment period. The RCC cost share in on-farm investments should prove effective in guaranteeing farmer adoption of rehabilitation works and ensuring effective participation. Farmers should be encouraged to take this repayment obligation seriously to ensure high cost recovery rates.
References
See also
- An Action Plan for Improving Weather and Climate Service Delivery in High-Risk, Low Income Countries
- Bishkek and Osh Urban Infrastructure Project
- Bukhara & Samarquand Water Supply Project
- Community Agriculture & Watershed Management GEF Project
- Community Agriculture & Watershed Management Project
- Cross Border Impacts of Vahksh River Basin Development
- Drainage, Irrigation & Wetlands Improvement Project - Phase 1
- Dushanbe Water Supply Project
- Ferghana Valley Water Resource Management
- Ferghana Valley Water Resources Management Phase-I
- Ferghana Valley Water Resources Management Project
- Kazakhstan Water Sector Study TA (P090048)
- Municipal Infrastructure Development Project
- Nura River Clean-Up Project
- Rural Enterprise Support Project II
- Rural Water Supply & Sanitation 2
- Second On-farm Irrigation Project
- Small Towns Infrastructure & Capacity Building Project
- Syr Darya Control and Northern Aral Sea Project - Phase I
- Syr Darya Control and Northern Aral Sea Project - Phase II
- Syr Darya Water Supply Project
- Tajikistan WSS Strategy
- Ust Kamenogorsk-Environmental Remediation Project
- Utilities Reform Study
- Uzbekistan Bukhara and Samarkand Sewerage Project
- Uzbekistan WSS Strategy
- Water Sector Investment Planning Study
- Water-Energy Nexus in Central Asia
- Water/Energy Dialogue
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