ADB to fund expansion of water resource project
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide fresh assistance to expand a water resource project in Bangladesh, which has sharply increased agriculture production in southwest part of the country.
In the second phase of the project "Integrated Water Resources Planning and Management", the ADB will provide US$45 million as loan to increase the scope of the project area, said a press release yesterday.
Earlier in 2005, the ADB provided US$20 million and the Netherlands government US$12.5 million for the first phase of the project, from which over 191,000 people has benefitted.
"We have seen considerable benefits in the project pilot areas of Narail and Chenchuri Beel already, with rice production nearly doubling and fish production rising by 30 percent," said Natsuko Totsuka, senior resources specialist in ADB's South Asia Department.
"This new financing will allow us to replicate the success of the project across nine nearby areas, covering 84,000 hectares, and with a population of nearly 470,000," he added. The expanded project is expected to be completed in June 2022.
Comments