$148 Million to Support Water Availability, Increase Food Security for 960,000 People in West Bengal

The World Bank has approved a $148 million loan to support the state of West Bengal harness the availability of surface and ground water.

• Better irrigation practices to benefit 960,000 people.

• 4,000 new and existing minor irrigation schemes will serve around 80,000 hectares.

The West Bengal Accelerated Development of Minor Irrigation

Project – Phase II will support the state’s Department of Water Resources Investigation and Development and water-user associations (WUAs) to plan and operate new irrigation structures such as check dams, smallscale storage structures, creek rehabilitation, tube wells, and pump dug wells. The irrigation practices will allow for crop diversification to help yield high-value crops including the production of 17,000 tons of oilseed and at least 10,000 tons of fish each year.

During Phase I, the Project created 2,277 WUAs and reached 125,000 beneficiaries.

"The World Bank is supporting green investments in farmerled irrigation around the world to help them adapt better to climate change challenges. The proposed engagement builds on the success of Phase I to provide climate-smart agriculture technologies and expand market linkages to over 240,000 small and marginal farmer households."

Auguste Tano Kouame, World Bank’s Country Director for India.

The $148 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a maturity of 11.5 years with a grace period of four years.