AFESD Activities أنشطة الصندوق العربي للتنمية المستدامة

Objectives:

The project aims at conserving and developing existing oases, and creating new ones, through the rationalization of the use of water from existing surface wells, the excavation of deep wells to irrigate new areas using modern irrigation systems for palm tree cultivation, in addition to the preservation of water and soil in the oases areas. The project also aims at developing the marketing of dates, and will contribute to the efforts to combat poverty and unemployment in oases, improve the farmers’ incomes, provide job opportunities and achieve stability for the residents.

Description:

The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, includes the development of production of palm trees in some oases areas, through the construction of about 1000 small irrigation units on existing surface wells, which will be equipped with submersible pumps powered by solar energy, and the laying of a small irrigation network by each well. The project also includes the construction of 74 new irrigation units with areas ranging between 6 and 100 hectares each, which will provide drip irrigation through irrigation networks supplied from deep wells to be excavated. The project also includes the increase in the capacity of the date preserving and packaging unit by about 500 tons annually.

The project includes the following main components:

1. Water and Irrigation Works:This includes the equipping of about 1000 existing surface wells with submersible pumps powered by solar energy, with capacities ranging between about 2 and 5 m³/hour, and the laying of small irrigation networks by the wells. This component also includes preparation works for about 1250 hectares of land, excavation of about 100 wells with depths ranging between about 60 and 300 m and equipping them with submersible pumps ranging in capacity between about 8 and 40 m³/hour, construction of about 100 elevated water reservoirs with heights ranging between about 10 and 20 m, and capacities ranging between about 40 and 100 m³, laying of main and subsidiary pipelines with a total length of about 100 km and diameters ranging between about 63 and 200 mm, in addition to the irrigation networks, which include the provision and installation of the necessary equipment and supplies. This component also includes the construction of thresholds with lengths ranging between 100 and 200 m, and the execution of all necessary works for soil protection and water preservation.
2. Expansion of the Date Preserving and Packaging Unit:This includes the execution of all necessary works to increase the capacity of the existing date preserving and packaging unit in the Atar region by about 500 tons annually. This specifically includes the addition of 4 refrigerated rooms with their accessories, as well as the acquisition of all necessary equipment and supplies to treat and package dates.
3. Technical Services:This includes technical and consultancy services necessary to prepare studies, designs, execution plans, tender documents, and the supervision services for project implementation. This also includes the provision of agricultural advisory services to farmers, the preparation of any studies which will contribute to the achievement of the project objectives, in addition to the use of expert consultants to provide the necessary assistance to the entity in charge of the project execution management.
4. Institutional Support:This includes the acquisition of equipment and supplies for a palm disease and biotechnology laboratory in the Atar region, with the objective to conduct the necessary research for the preservation and development of the local palm species. This component also includes the provision of some equipment, supplies and means of transport for the project execution management, and the training of employees.

Financing:

The Arab Fund’s loan covers about 87% of the total project cost. The Mauritanian Government will cover the remaining cost of the project and any additional cost that may arise.