INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR THE CONTROL OF SANDSTORMS AND DESERTIFICATION IN AREAS SURROUNDING BEIJING CHINA USING IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE
Valmont Water Management Group, United States Trade Development Agency and State Forestry Authority of the Peoples Republic of China

In the past three decades the intensity and frequency of sandstorms have increasingly affected the quality of life in North Eastern China. These spring dust storms have adverse environmental effects not only in China but in Korea, Japan and recently in Canada and the United States. The consensus of scientists is that these dust storms are generated in the vast desert areas of northern (Gobi) and western (Tarim Pendi) China. The magnitude of the storms had been controlled by vast Mongolian and Inner Mongolian grasslands which had been used in a nomadic pastoral management system for thousands of years. The storms have increased in intensity largely because of inappropriate agricultural practices (overgrazing and increased tillage) coupled with climate change.

The Valmont Water Management Group was funded in a demonstration project by the United States Trade Development Agency in cooperation with the Chinese National Committee for the Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCICCD), Beijing China. This project was designed to demonstrate that vast areas of the sandy lands could be allowed to recover naturally if a small percentage of the area was managed under modern irrigated agriculture. This practice would then limit overgrazing of the native grasslands and provide a sustainable source of forage for livestock production without increased desertification and the resulting dust storms. Valmont Water Management Group was responsible for the design of the irrigation system, the construction of the irrigation facility, (including all ancillary power, wells, pumps and piping) establishing the village level management structure, training operators and operation of the irrigation equipment for the first year.

Valmont Water Management Group provided recommendations for crop selection, timing and management. Irrigation scheduling was provided for the selected crop. The Team also provided recommendations for alternate forage production schemes, reviewed forage preservation options, evaluated the agricultural economics of the demonstration and evaluated the social as well as the socioeconomic impact of the changes implied in the demonstration. The Valmont Water Management Group worked closely government officials at the national, provincial (league), county (banner) and village level as well as international experts from both China and the United States.

IRRIGATION FEASIBILITY STUDY,
Republic of Georgia, February, 1999

CES was retained to assess the feasibility of developing irrigation resources based on groundwater and surface water in a 5,000-hectare area in eastern Republic of Georgia. The primary project area was along the Rioni River near the towns of Vani and Samdredia. These areas were previously developed for agriculture during the Soviet era. The project included an evaluation of the potential for rehabilitation of the remaining Soviet infrastructure. Data was collected in Tbilisi from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Water Resources and the University of Georgia.

Soviet era soil mapping and local Georgian agronomy and soil professionals from the Kutaisi area were utilized to approximate irrigation demand. Water quality and quantity in both the local production wells and the Rioni River were evaluated for irrigation suitability. Both were found to be adequate for the proposed development. Existing infrastructure was evaluated and found to be grossly undersized for the projected irrigation demand. A final written report was prepared and presented to the Georgian Ministry of Agriculture as part of the project proposal.

IRRIGATION SYSTEM FEASIBILITY STUDY
Danube Delta Region - Tulcea, Romania

TransChem Finance & Trade Corporation (TransChem) is an international agriculture development firm with operations in numerous countries including Romania. TransAg, the Romanian management company of TransChem, had identified approximately 10,000 hectares of underutilized agricultural property in the Danube Delta region of Romania. This area had been diked and drained in the 1960s/early 1970s and developed as a government-run farming operation for the production of stufa (a native reed previously used for construction purposes by former Soviet Block nations). As such, a series of water delivery channels, levy systems, pump stations, and drainage canals/ditches were constructed for flooding the land during the growing season and providing drainage during harvest. Although this region of the country appeared to have excellent soil conditions and a readily available water source, controlled irrigation would be required to maximize food-crop production. TransChem therefore needed an irrigation assessment to determine the feasibility and economic requirements for upgrading the area with reliable irrigation before initiating various investments in infrastructure, equipment, and agricultural supplies. CES was contracted to complete an irrigation system feasibility study, which included an assessment of the overall condition and agricultural potential of targeted land in relation to the usability of the existing infrastructure, water availability (i.e., irrigation canals), system installation, and operations.

CES visited the region in the summer of 1999 to inspect the various components of the agricultural land identified by TransAg for development and make a cursory review and evaluation of ditch and canal conditions, soil characteristics, cropping plans, water requirements, terrain, and other physical characteristics. Based on the field data, CES was able to provide professional opinions regarding the irrigation potential in targeted sections of this area and to develop preliminary cost estimates associated with the upgrades necessary to install mechanical irrigation systems (e.g., canal-fed center pivots, dragline linear systems, pressurized piping, etc.). Flood irrigation and/or the use of hand-lines or solid sets were shown to be uneconomical. The final report, which included maps, conceptual irrigation layouts, and detailed economic assessments using actual in-country costs, were used by TranChem to determine the economic justification for site development.