LIBERIA - UPPER BONG COUNTY INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT

A SEMI-AUTONOMOUS BONG PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT (PMU) WILL BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN GOL TO IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT. PMU WILL HAVE EXPATRIATE MANAGERS WITH A TOTAL MAXIMUM STAFF OF 343. THE PMU WILL ALSO CARRY OUT THE CO-OP FUNCTIONS UNTIL THE CO-OPS ARE ESTABLISHED. SIX DISTRICT CO-OPS WILL BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE NORMAL TRIBAL LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE ALONG WITH LOCAL CO-OPS. CO-OPS WILL PROVIDE: (A) IMPROVED INPUTS SUCH AS SEED, FERTILIZER, AND CHEMICALS; (B) SHORT-TERM SEASONAL CREDIT; (C) LONG-TERM INVESTMENT CREDIT FOR PLANTING COFFEE AND COCOA TREES AND FOR DEVELOPING SWAMPLANDS FOR RICE CULTIVATION; AND (D) MARKETING SERVICES (CO-OPS WILL ACT AS BUYING AGENTS FOR THE LIBERIAN PRODUCE MARKETING CORP IN BUYING TREE CROPS AND RICE FROM FARMERS). THE DISTRICT CO-OPS WILL ASSIST FARMERS IN THE LEGALITIES OF GAINING TITLE FOR LAND PLACED UNDER PERMANENT CULTIVATION UNDER THIS PROJECT. SEVENTY-THREE EXTENSION AIDES OF THE EXTENSION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT SERVICE WILL RECEIVE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND ATTEND IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSES. EXTENSION AGENTS WILL TRAIN FARMERS IN THE USE OF THE INPUT PACKAGE AND ASSIST IN PILOT IRRIGATION AND SWAMP DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. PROJECT WILL ALSO CONSTRUCT OR IMPROVE 180 MILES OF FARM-TO-MARKET ROADS WITHIN PROJECT AREA. A SCHISTOSOMIASIS SURVEILLANCE UNIT WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO MONITOR AND CONTROL INCREASES IN THAT DISEASE EXPECTED FROM PRODUCTION OF RICE IN IRRIGATED FIELDS. ABOUT 300 VILLAGE WATER WELLS WILL BE DUG, ALONG WITH SANITATION FACILITIES. PROJECT WILL FINANCE SOME OF LIBERIA"S RESEARCH NEEDS: (A) CONTINUATION OF RESEARCH STARTED UNDER EARLIER IBRD LOAN; (B) COCOA AND COFFEE RESEARCH; (C) IMPROVEMENT OF FACILITIES AT THE CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION; AND (D) AN ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH PRIORITIES. THE LIBERIAN BANK FOR DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT AND THE GOL WILL ESTABLISH A REVOLVING CREDIT FUND TO PROVIDE CONTINUED CREDIT FOR FARM INPUTS AFTER PROJECT IS COMPLETE. IBRD WILL FINANCE 100% OF EXPATRIATE STAFF SALARIES, 85% OF BUILDING AND VEHICLE COSTS, 75% OF OPERATING COSTS, AND 17% OF LOCAL SALARY COSTS. THIS PROJECT IS A REPLICA OF THE LOFA COUNTY INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT BEING SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED IN THE ADJACENT COUNTY.