Page 1 PROJECT INFORMATION DOCUMENT (PID) APPRAISAL STAGE Report No.: AB4088 Project Name Emergency Agricultural Productivity Support Project Region AFRICA Sector Crops (100%) Project ID P113268 Borrower(s) MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND FINANCE (MEF) Ministry of Agriculture Guinea Implementing Agency National Directorate of Ministry of Agriculture, Guinea Tel: (224) 46 40 23 Fax: (224) 46 40 31 pacv@afribone.net.gn Environment Category [ ] A [X] B [ ] C [ ] FI [ ] TBD (to be determined) Date PID Prepared August 15, 2008 Date of Appraisal Authorization Date of Board Approval August 20, 2008 1. Country and Sector Background Guinea, in the middle of the traditional West African “rice belt”, has a long history of low input traditional paddy production and a diversified set of production environments, each of which has a different mix of issues in terms of potential benefits to the intensification of production (see Table x below). Only about 5 percent of producers use improved seed varieties and the use of fertilizer is even less. A concerted effort is needed to increase the productivity of these systems. Hillside rice makes up over 60 % of estimated paddy area. The other, “non-hillside” production systems (numbers 2-4 in Table x) should all be thought of as “partially irrigated” or “partial water control” systems, even when improved water control is not used in that system. In some of these systems it may be possible over time to develop full or nearly full water control, which can allow for paddy yields of up to 5 or 6 tons/HA or more when using improved seed and substantial doses of concentrated nitrogen-rich fertilizers such as urea (as regularly demonstrated at the Office du Niger in Mali). Thus, if all the “improvable areas” (from the 2001 Small Scale Irrigation study) were actually improved and producing, for example, an average of 3 or 4 tons/HA, total national rice production could be substantially increased and the most environmentally negative and low-yielding hillside sites could be left permanently fallow or changed to other, less erosion-prone crop uses Page 2 2. Objectives The objective of this component is to increase rice yields by 30% on 1,000 hectares of irrigated rice during the 2008-09 dry season ( contre-saison) , i.e. November 2008-March 2009) and 35,000 hectares or rain fed rice during the 2009-10 cropping season (June – October 2009). This will result in an additional 80,000 tons of paddy rice production – about a 10% increase in overall production - increasing smallholder incomes and increasing the availability of locally- grown rice. 3. Rationale for Bank Involvement Food insecurity is a chronic phenomenon in Guinea. In spite of a strong agricultural potential, the country imports approximately a third of its rice needs. The World Food Program (WFP) estimates that 6 percent of households are severely food insecure. Acute malnutrition affects 9 percent of Guinean children. Food insecurity is linked to poverty, which affects 54 percent of the population. There is concern that higher prices could lead to a decline in the quantity and quality of food consumption, and lead to higher rates of acute malnutrition, especially during the current lean season. This risks exacerbating an already fragile political situation with potential for increased unrest and violence. It is in this context that the Bank is proposing a three-pronged food emergency response program for Guinea. The first component of this program consists of a new e Food Crisis Response Development Policy Grant aimed at providing the authorities with needed fiscal space to compensate for the loss of revenues resulting from the temporary reduction of customs duties on low-quality rice, while targeting the reductions to the poorest consumers. The second component of this program proposes a labor-intensive urban public works program aimed at providing employment and income to the poorest households in the most affected areas. The third component of this program is a new agricultural productivity project that would finance the distribution of improved seeds, fertilizer and technical assistance to boost rice production. The proposed emergency food crisis response program is consistent with the Bank’s new Global Food Response Program (GFRP), which aims at allowing a comprehensive and rapid response to the crisis across a range of different instruments. The GFRP provides an overall framework for the Bank to coordinate its own contribution to addressing the crisis in partnership with other multi-lateral organizations and donor agencies 4. Description There will be three activities: (i) Support for the production of 2000 tons of improved and certified seed during the 2008-09 rainy and contre-saison through a scaling up of the existing farmer seed multiplication network and the purchase, treatment, and stocking of the seed for distribution during the 2009-10 cropping season; (ii) Purchase of 2000 tons of fertilizer and 20,000 liters of herbicides and pesticides; Page 3 (iii) Distribution of input packets (seed, fertilizer, herbicide/pesticide) though the existing farmer organization networks and support for advisory services necessary. 5. Financing Source: ($m.) Borrower 0 Special Financing 5 Total 5 6. Implementation The project will be implemented over a 18-month period from August 2008 to February 2009. A detailed action plan is attached below 7. Safeguard Policies (including public consultation) This emergency operation triggers two safeguard policies: The Environmental Assessment Policy (OP 4.01) and the Pest Management Policy (OP 4.09), predicated on program objectives to increase agricultural production and productivity with the provision of certified seeds and fertilizers to rice producers. An exception to the normal practice of having the EA requirements completed prior to appraisal is specifically granted. This exception is permissible under OP 4.01, paragraph 12 and OP 8.00. The project will prepare a combined Environment and Pest Management Plan to be submitted to the Bank within 90 days of signing the grant agreement. 7. Contact point Contact: Jane C. Hopkins Title: Senior Agriculture Economist Tel: (202) 473-5887 Fax: (202) 614-5887 Email: jhopkins1@worldbank.org 8. For more information contact: The InfoShop The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20433 Telephone: (202) 458-4500 Fax: (202) 522-1500 Email: pic@worldbank.org Web: http://www.worldbank.org/infoshop Page 4