Madagascar - Basse Betsiboka Rice Scheme Rehabilitation Project

The Basse Betsiboka Rice Scheme Rehabilitation Project is designed to contribute to the Malagasy Government's objective of achieving self-sufficiency in rice by 1990. The project should restore the region's productive potential by rehabilitating and recovering poorly irrigated or non-irrigated areas and by mobilizing and using water resources wisely on the one hand and restoring the environmental balance through short, medium and long-term actions on the other. At the local level, it also contributes to increasing the surpluses traded in Mahajanga province and thereby reducing rice import expenditures. The project consists of: a) rehabilitation of the irrigation and drainage networks of 2 priority perimeters on the left bank of Betsiboka; (b) extension of the Bekarara and Karambo Basse perimeters on the right bank of Betsiboka; c) increasing the capacity (12.8 million m3) of two dams; d) the interconnections of the Bekarara and Karambo Basse networks; e) connection of the Milahazomaty network to the Andranomandevy spring and the installation of a sand trap on the Milahazomaty river; f) conservation and restoration of water and soil on the 4 priority watersheds; (g) creation within the project unit of a monitoring and evaluation unit; (h) establishment of a research and development and training program coupled with pilot sensitization activities for beneficiaries and (i) carrying out of specific studies related to the proposed project, to help achieve of its objectives. The main components of the project are: A) Hydro-agricultural infrastructure; B) Soil water conservation; C) Miscellaneous equipment; D) Engineering; E) Research-Development-Training; F) Monitoring and evaluation; G) Operations and H) Local staff.