Agriculture
Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development Project
Our Goal
The development objective of the Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development Project (IRDP) is to increase agriculture productivity and production in the project areas.
How We Deliver
With only 12 percent of the total land being arable and the country’s arid climate, irrigation is essential for reliable agricultural production in most parts of the country. Notwithstanding the achievements of the preceding IDA-financed Emergency Irrigation Rehabilitation (EIRP), there is a huge unmet demand for irrigation rehabilitation. The total irrigated area in the country prior to 1979 (the year of USSR invasion) was about 3.2 million ha, but in 2007 it was only 1.8 million ha. As of April 2011, irrigation systems serving an irrigated area of about 0.9 million ha had been rehabilitated; while irrigation systems covering about one million ha remained to be rehabilitated.
Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development Project (IRDP) provides support for: (a) rehabilitation of irrigation systems covering about 300,000 ha of irrigated areas; (b) the design and construction of a limited number of multi-purpose small dams and appurtenances, and associated irrigation conveyance and distribution systems in closed river basins; (c) establishment of hydro-meteorological facilities and services; and (d) project management and capacity building of Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) and beneficiary communities.
The IRDP is co-financed with $97.8 millin IDA grant.
EXPECTED RESULTS
- A 15 % increase in the irrigated area;
- At least 20 % increase in crop yields in rehabilitated schemes;
- Availability of improved hydro-meteorological data to support planning and preparation of irrigation and water resources development investments; and
- Improved capacity of MEW staff in various fields.