Vietnam Province to Carry out JICA-funded $274M Irrigation Upgrade Project

Vietnam’s central province of Nghe An will carry out a project costing $273.93 million to upgrade the local irrigation system with major funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Quan Doi Nhan Dan newspaper reported. The JICA will provide aid of $230 million or nearly 84.3% of the total cost of the project, which will be implemented in the 2013-2019 period. The project aims to upgrade and restore the entire irrigation system in northern Nghe An, ensuring sufficient water for more than 27,600ha of cultivated land—which accounts for 29% of the province’s total agricultural acreage. The Northern Nghe An irrigation system is the biggest one in the province. Built in 1930, the system was put into operation in 1936 with an initial designed capacity to water 34,500 ha. After over 75 years in use, many parts of the system have degraded considerably, being able to water only 19,636 ha of cultivated land. The project, the largest official development assistance (ODA) one in the locality, will not only benefit the agriculture sector but will also improve the livelihoods of the local people. The project is part of an ODA package to assist Vietnam in several prioritized areas as inked by the two governments in March. (Quan Doi Nhan Dan –People’s Army Apr 8 p8)