LAKE CHAD IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE

STRENGTHENING OF SODELAC, THE CHADIAN GOVERNMENT AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF LAKE CHAD AREA, WILL BEGIN WITH A MANAGEMENT STUDY TO REVIEW AND REVISE THE ORGANIZATION"S STRUCTURE. SHORT-TERM TRAINING IN SPECIALIZED AREAS OF ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING IS CONTEMPLATED TO STRENGTHEN SODELAC"S MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL CAPACITY. GRANT WILL ALSO SUPPORT COSTS OF MACHINERY, PERSONNEL, AND OPERATIONS FOR THE EQUIPPING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A MOBILE MAINTENANCE BRIGADE UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF SODELAC. BRIGADE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF ROADS AND IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AROUND BOL. TRAINING FOR CEREALS RESEARCHERS FROM MATAFO RESEARCH STATION WILL BE ARRANGED AT IITA IN IBADAN, AND AT LCBC AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL IN NIGERIA. GRANT WILL ALSO SUPPORT RESEARCH AT MATAFO AND WILL STRESS ADAPTIVE RESEARCH IN SOIL AND WATER MANAGEMENT, FARM MANAGEMENT POLICY, AND DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY PACKAGES FOR FARMERS IN EMPOLDERED AREAS (LAND RECLAIMED FROM THE LAKEBED). COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH ACTIVITIES IN LAKE CHAD AREA WILL INCLUDE AN INITIAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY TO DETERMINE RATE OF MALARIA AND SCHISTOSOMIASIS, FOLLOW-UPS OF THE EMPOLDERED AREAS, THE INSTITUTION OF A LOW COST PARAMEDICAL SYSTEM, AND THE UPGRADING OF THE BOL HOSPITAL, INCLUDING ADDITION OF A MEDICAL TRAINING CENTER. TWO SPECIAL STUDIES CONSTITUTE FINAL ASPECTS OF PHASE I ACTIVITIES. TECHNICAL REVIEW OF IBRD SPONSORED IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE PROJECT WILL EXAMINE DESIGN, COST, AND APPROPRIATENESS OFMODEL FOR AID SUPPORT. SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY WILL EXAMINE FACTORS AFFECTING DEVELOPMENT OF POLDER AREAS. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PHASE II, THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE PROJECT IN THE POLDER AREAS IS CONTINGENT UPON THE RESULTS OFTHE SPECIAL STUDIES. TENATIVE PLAN IS FOR SODELAC TO BUILD A DIKE, DRAIN THE POLDER AREA, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT AN IRRIGATION/DRAINAGE SYSTEM, CHOOSE AND SETTLE VOLUNTEER FARMERS, AND PROVIDE TRAINING. CREATION OF ONE HECTARE FARMS TO BE WORKED BY SINGLE FAMILIES WOULD BENEFIT 4000 CHADIANS DIRECTLY.