Central Shaba agricultural development

The project will be implemented by the Government of Zaire"s (GOZ) Ministries of Plan, Public Works (Roads Bureau), and Agriculture. The project will target five areas in central Shaba - Kabongo-Kamungu (Kabongo zone), Budi (Kabongo), Malemba-Nkulu, Bukama, and Kabalo); in northern Shaba, it will work in the Kongolo and Nyunzu zones, where similar assistance was begun under project 6600059 (North Shaba Rural Development). The project will undertake three activities aimed at increasing food production. (1) A local firm will be helped to develop a for-profit seed production and distribution business. (2) Working through local PVO"s, the project will develop a farmer-based extension service; PCV"s will help train participating farmer-leaders. (3) Village groups, with TA from local extensionists and PCV"s, will construct and operate inexpensive grain storage facilities. Construction of the units will begin in northern Shaba, where infrastructure and corn production are already well developed due to project 6600059. To relieve transportation constraints on marketing, the project will rehabilite and upgrade a 1,000-km regional road, a vital link between farms and area railheads; the road will also serve as the major distribution route for seeds. In addition, at least 1,000 km (and perhaps 2,000 km, if the Roads Bureau can guarantee maintenance) of secondary and tertiary roads will be rebuilt. To improve the Bureau"s maintenance capabilities, the project will finance TA and road construction equipment and materials. The project will also encourage the development of privately owned railhead storage facilities and grain mills; firms wishing to invest in such facilities will be assisted through existing Commodity Import Programs. Finally, to satisfy project monitoring and evaluation needs, a modest Information Office will be established; participating GOZ staff will receive on-the-job training in data collection and analysis. The project is the first phase of a planned 15-year development effort in Shaba.