Rural Development (PRONADER)

closed

The project was conceived as the first phase of a longer-term effort to reduce poverty and promote socio-economic development in selected rural areas. Its main components are to: (a) complete and rehabilitate six irrigation schemes, two flood control schemes and 43 existing water courses, which will irrigate an incremental area of about 26,000 ha; (b) improve adaptive research and extension services for validation and transfer of technology, aimed at increasing investment by small farmers; (c) promote forestation and better conservation of natural resources; (d) improve marketing facilities and foster small rural enterprises at the local and community level; (e) establish a community development fund to help finance small local projects; (f) improve approximately 700 km of existing feeder roads and construct about 100 km new rural roads; (g) construct small water reservoirs to supply water for domestic use to about 22,000 people; (h) regularize land tenure in approximately 110,000 ha and issue about 10,000 new land titles; (i) establish a unit to monitor the environmental impact of the project; and (j) implement a comprehensive institutional development program for the Ministry of Social Welfare.