RURAL DEVELOPMENT

closed

This project plans to improve the standard of living of the rural population in the CAR's cotton zone as well as rehabilitating cotton production and increasing food crop production. Equally important in this project is the attempt to assist SOCADA, the CAR's major rural development institution, to become a more effective and financially sound development agency. As a means of achieving these objectives, the project aims to: (i) strengthen agricultural extension service; (ii) provide production inputs (fertilizer, insecticides) and agricultural implements; (iii) support applied research and seed multiplication programs; (iv) promote animal traction; (v) rehabilitate 950 km and periodic maintenance of 2300 km of feeder roads; (vi) construct about 150 village water wells; (vii) improve the country's five cotton ginneries; (viii) provide workshops and equipment to improve the maintenance capacity for SOCADA's agricultural transport fleet; and (ix) establish a project monitoring and evaluation system.