f ·_ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 'f eWorldBank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.• Telephone: (202) 477-1234 Public Disclosure Authorized IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 81/85 May 21 , 1981

IDA TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURE AND HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT IN PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF

The International Development Association, the soft-loan affiliate of the World Bank, has approved two credits tota11 ing SDR 16.9 mill ion ($20.5 mill ion) to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen.

A credit of SDR 6.6 mill ion ($8 mill ion) will assist an agricultural project in Beihan subgovernorate of the , an area character­

Public Disclosure Authorized ized ~y low and erratic rainfall and high temperatures. The project seeks to increase agricultural production and farm incomes on about 4,000 hectares, by rehabilitating the spate (flash flood) and groundwater irrigation networks in Wadi. Beihan and by providing technical assistance, modern farm inputs, and agricultural machinery in Wadi Beihan and Ain. Wadi Beihan wi 11 be the site of eight recording stations for the compilation of data on weather, rainf~ll, river flow, and groundwater resources. The $18.1 mill ion project, which a:sc includes a feeder road component, wi 11 benefit 5,000 farm families directly and 15,000 other inhabitants of the region by providing more food and easier access to • markets and social services. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will provide $6 mill ion towards the cost of the project. Public Disclosure Authorized A second credit of SOR 10.3 mill ion ($12.5 mill ion) will support a highway project in the Shabwah Governorate which aims to improve access to the towns of , As Said, and Nisab, and stimulate agricultLiral production in the towns• vicinities. The credit will help finance the construction of a two-lane, paved road from the - highway at Naqabah to Nisab (92 kilometers) via Ataq, the capital of the Shabwah .Governorate, with a branch serving As Said. The project also calls for technical assistance to the Ministry of Construction to improve its project supervision and monitoring capabilities, and for staff training in all aspects .of road construction and management.

The Kuwait Fund and the OPEC Fund are providing $10.5 mill ion each towards the cost of this project.

Both IDA credits are on standard IDA terms of 50 years, including 10

Public Disclosure Authorized ·years of grace, and are interest-free, except for a service charge of 3/4 of 1% ~er annum to cover IDA 1 s administrative costs. The credits wil 1 be committed when funds are available. NOTE: IDA cred{ts are denominated in SDRs (Special Drawing Rights), which are valued on the basis of a 11 basket 11 of currencies. The U.S. dollar equivalent of the SDR amount of the IDA credit reflects the exchange rates existing • at the time of negotiation of the credit. FORM NO. 1121 \ (5-76) .. T E C H N I C A L DA TA

PROJECT: Third Highway COUNTRY: People's Democratic Republic of Yemen • TOTAL COST: $42.8 mill ion

I DA FINANCING: SOR 10.3 mi 11 ion ($12.5 mi 11 ion)

OTHER FINANCING: Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, $9.3 mil I ion Kuwait Fund, Sl0.5 mil 1 ion OPEC Fund, $10.5 mill ion

IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Ministry of Construction (MOC) . Khorm Aksar Telex: 309 MOCUS AD P.0.Box 6017 Cabla: MINCONS AD Aden, People's Democratic Republic of Yemen

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project consists of: (i) the establishment of an independent construction unit for the Shabwah Governorate; (ii) the construction of a two-lane paved road from the Aden-Mukalla highway at Naqabah to Nisab (92 km) via Ataq, the capital of the Shabwah governorate, with a branch serving As Said; (ii) technical assistance to the Ministry of Construction (MOC) to strengthen project preparation and implementation capabilities, and for construction supervision ~ and monitoring of the project road; and (iv) training in al 1 aspects of MOC operations, and i.n management and operations of a road construction unit, including overseas fellowships.

PROCUREMENT: Civil works have been procured through international competitive bidding. Equipment for the construction unit wi l 1 be procured internationally.

CONSULTANTS: About 130 man-months of consultant services are required for construction supervision, project monitoring, assisting the staff of MOC in reviewing investment, procurement and work programs for the construction units, as well as providing recommendations for improving management and operations of the various units and workload distribution among them.

ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: 16% ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 1~84 • - 0 - FORM NO. 1121 (5-76) T E C H N I C A L D A T A

PROJE<;T: Wadi Beihan Agricultural Development • COUNTRY: People's Democratic Republic of Yemen TOTAL COST: $18.1 million

IDA FINANCING: SOR 6.6 mill ion ($8 mill ion), standard IDA terms

OTHER FINANCING: Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, $3. 9 mi 11 ion International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) $6 mi 11 ion """rTOJecc •• oene11c1ar1t:::,,I"\ --~! _!_._! __ C"',,l"\t"\~Luu,uuu """ IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform P • 0 • Box 1 19 3 Tawahi, Aden Telex 292 ADF AD

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project will increase agricultural production and farm incomes on about 4,000 hectares of mixed spate and wel 1- irrigated land in the Beihan subgovernorate by rehabilitating the spate irrigation net­ work and improving the groundwater irrigation system of Wadi Beihan and by providing technical assistance, farm inputs and agricultural equipment for Wadi Beihan and Wadi Ain. It will establish a program of hydrometeorological observations in Wadi Beihan for improving knowledge of its water resources and ensuring their optimal utilization. ln addition, it wi 11 improve access between agricultural and population centers in Wadi • Beihan by constructing feeder roads, and improve the nutrition of the local population by increasing production of fruits, vegetables and meats.

PROCUREMENT: Civil works wil 1 comprise: (a) building for office and staff houses at Beihan costing about $1 mill ion; (b) extension centers, stores, and feeder roads costing about $1 .8 mill ion; and (c) spate irrigation and erosion control works worth about $2.7 mill ion. The buildings for office and staff houses at Beihan will be of pre-fabricated type and wi 11 be procured through inter­ national comparative shopping (three quotations from qualified suppliers). Extension centers, stores, and feeder roads wi 11 be carried out under local negotiated contracts. Spate irrigation and erosion control works will be carried out by force account.

CONSULTANTS~ Technical experts required under the project include: (a) a technical coordinator (54 man-months); (b) an irrigation engineer (42 man-months); (c) an extension specialist (46 man-months); (d) a hydro­ geologist (48 man-months); and (e) a credit specialist (18 man-months).

ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: 24% • ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: December 1986 - 0 -