Chad - Mamdi Polder Irrigated Agricultural Development Project

The Mamdi Polder irrigated agricultural development project constitutes an important contribution in the production of maize and wheat in Chad. The project involves the development of 1,800 ha gross of land for 1,660 ha net through irrigation after drainage. It also involves the construction of a navigation channel, setting up of 1,106 smallholder farms that will practice double cropping a year (maize and wheat). The project is also to provide technical supervision for these producers through SODELAC whose means will be strengthened with the sending of a technical assistance team as well as material means (offices, dwellings, agricultural materials, vehicles). Irrigation will involve the isolated daming of the polder, (3,600 m), a pumping out network and the equipment of a gravitational irrigation system. While in full operation, the project will produce 7,470 tons of maize and 5,810 tons of wheat. This will enable the country respect its priority policy of feed self-sufficiency. The project will bring about economic and social development in the area by the creation of jobs and the distribution of salaries. It will settle the population and curb rural emigration as well as open up the northern part of the lake to easy access.