Zarqa Dam and Irrigation of Tbarqa and Mekna Plains

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Loan No:	338	Interest Rate:	4.5%
Beneficiary:	Ministry of Agriculture	Grace Period:	6 Years
Project Cost:	KD 166MiIIion	Maturity:	22Years
Amount of Loan:	KD 13.O Million	Repayment:	33 semi-annual Installments
Date of Loan Agreement:	11/05/1997	First Installment:	6 years following the first disbursement
Date of Effectiveness:	11/10/1197

 

 Objectives:

The project aims at the regulation and utilization of the water of Wadi Zarqa to irrigate Tbarqa and Mekna plains in order to increase the present cropping intensity and agricultural production, to boost farmers’ income and improve the degree of self sufficiency in various agricultural commodities, and to improve the trade balance of the country.

 

Description:

The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year 2001 and consists of the following main components:

1 - The Dam and Pertinent Structures:

An earth fill dam 50m high and 360m long at the crest. The width will be l0m at the crest and about 360m at the base. The darn will create a reservoir which will have a capacity of 24 million m³ and an annual regulated yield of 16 million m³. The dam will include a reinforced concrete spillway with a sill 30m wide and a chute 195m long. The works will also include a tunnel 3m in diameter and 530 m, long, and a reinforced concrete water takeoff tower 36m high containing the gates and water release controls.

2 - Irrigation and Drainage Works:

The project will put about 2,700 hectares under drip and sprinkler irrigation. The works will include construction of two pumping stations with capacities of 320 l/sec. and 86 l/sec. Three regulation reservoirs with capacities of 22,000m³, 540 m³ and 200 m³. The project will also include construction of an irrigation network of about 110 km of pipelines with diameters of 1,400 mm to 80 mm, and a flood protection and drainage network consisting of channel improvement of about 13km of natural wadis, construction of 100 km of open drains and 90 km of buried drains, 68km of farm roads and procurement of drip irrigation equipment for about 600 hectares, and sprinkler irrigation equipment for about 2,100 hectares.

 

Financing:

The Arab Fund Loan constitutes about 78% of the project cost without customs and taxes. The project beneficiary farmers will finance the procurement and installation of irrigation equipment inside the farms from their own resources or through agricultural credit The Tunisian government will finance the remaining costs.

 

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