Chad - Surface Runoff Water Enhancement Project in Biltine, Batha, Guera and Ouaddaï

The Surface Run-off Water Enhancement Project in the four prefectures of Biltine, Batha, Guéra and Ouaddaï (PVERS) is in line with the Chadian Government’s strategy for the agricultural sector which seeks to: (i) create an environment conducive to the production and marketing of agricultural surpluses; (ii) improve road communications and (iii) support producers’ organizations in the management of community activities. The project aims to mobilize surface runoff water for farming and livestock watering, open up the production areas through the development of rural feeder roads and the supply of drinking water to the population of the project area by constructing boreholes equipped with pumps. The project’s formulation is based on the principle of storing surface runoff water to be used for flood-recession and off-season farming, thus increasing villagers’ incomes and purchasing power. The nine sites chosen for the PVERS were selected from 323 sites identified through photo-interpretation during the first phase of the study. A multiple criteria choice analysis led the selection of 9 sites located in four prefectures (Batha, Biltine, Guéra and Ouaddaï). The project comprises four (04) components, namely: (i) the civil works; (ii) agro–pastoral development, (iii) support actions and (iv) project management.