GUINEA-BISSAU RICE PRODUCTION

THE GOGB"S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND PRODUCTION EXPERIMENTATION (DEPA) WILL SUPERVISE THE PROJECT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AID-FINANCED TECHNICIANS. THE PROJECT WILL EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN AN EARLIER AID-FUNDED ACTIVITY AIMED AT ENHANCING RICE PRODUCTION ON RIVER BOTTOM LANDS, BY INCLUDING NEW ELEMENTS OF LONG-RANGE IMPORTANCE. AID AND THE GOGB WILL FINANCE IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF 400 HECTARES OF LAND. FUNDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO PREPARE 300 HECTARES OF BOLAGNA (RIVER PLAIN) LAND FOR INTENSIVE, DOUBLE-CROP, DIESEL PUMP IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE. ONE HUNDRED HECTARES OF LOW-LYING LATERAL BAS FONDS (STREAM VALLEY) LAND WILL BE DEVELOPED USING SMALL VILLAGE-BUILD WATER RETENTION DAMS, CHECK DAMS, LAND LEVELING, AND SIMILAR METHODS. THE EXTENSION AGENT TRAINING PROGRAM WILL BE UPGRADED AND A CAREFUL SELECTION OF CANDIDATES, INCLUDING WOMEN, WILL BE MADE. EXTENSION AGENTS WILL BE TRAINED TO TEACH VILLAGERS NUMERACY, ANIMAL TRACTION, HEALTH, AND NUTRITION. A SMALL BUT VIABLE TRAINING CENTER WILL BE ESTABLISHED. MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING FUNDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO UPGRADE DEPA"S PLANNING AND MANAGING ABILITY, IMPROVE ITS FINANCIAL PLANNING AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND UPGRADE THE STAFF"S TECHNICAL CAPACITY. SEVERAL PILOT ACTIVITIES ARE PLANNED. TESTING OF VARIOUS INTERMEDIATE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES WILL BE PERFORMED, THE MOST PROMISING OF WHICH WILL BE TESTED ON A WIDER SCALE. DATA COLLECTION AND MONITORING WILL BE DONE THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT"S COURSE TO GAIN USEFUL INFORMATION FOR FINE-TUNING THE PROJECT AND FUTURE PLANNING. FOR EXAMPLE, DATA CONCERNING THE GEBA RIVER WILL BE USED TO BUILD A HYDROLOGICAL MODEL FOR STUDY BY THE GOGB, AID, AND OTHER DONORS WITH PROJECTS IN THE RIVER BASIN AREA. THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS (FAO) WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE ADAPTIVE CROP RESEARCH AND SEED MULTIPLICATION PROGRAMS WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE PROJECT WITH SEED ACCESS, EQUIPMENT, AND CROP RESEARCH INFORMATION.