JORDAN FY 2003 PL 480 TITLE I DEVELOPMENT PLANS

UNCLAS AMMAN 003152 SIPDIS FAS FOR EC/PDD EC/PL480 OPERATIONS DIVISION AND G&F DIVISION STATE FOR EB/TDC/ATP CAIRO FOR AGRCOUNSELOR ACHAUDHRY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID JO SUBJECT: JORDAN FY 2003 PL 480 TITLE I DEVELOPMENT PLANS REF: (A) SECSTATE 88152, (B) AMMAN 2814, (C) AMMAN 2885 ¶A. FOLLOWING ARE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT PLANS PREPARED BY THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE FOR FUNDS TO BE GENERATED BY THE SALE OF WHEAT UNDER THE PROPOSED FY 2003 TITLE I PROGRAM. ¶1. NATIONAL AID FUND - $5,922,000: SUPPORT LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. (THOSE WITHOUT BREADWINNERS OR ANY INCOME TO OVERCOME THE DIFFICULTIES OF POVERTY.) ¶2. ADMINISTRATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES OF AL-TAFILEH AND AL-KARAK GOVERN ORATES - $493,500: AIMS AT STOPPING LANDSLIDES, THE DEVELOPMENT OF 39,000 HECTARES, WATER RESOURCES FOR VILLAGES SUFFERING FROM POOR SUPPLIES AND SUPPORT OF THE ALREADY EXISTING ESTABLISHMENTS. ¶3. NATIONAL PROJECT FOR PASTURES DEVELOPMENT - $493,500: AIMS AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF PASTURES IN THE JORDAN BADIA. ¶4. ENHANCE PRODUCTIVITY PROGRAM - $4,230,000: AIMS AT POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT ERADICATIONS, ENHANCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INCREASE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF TARGETED GROUPS OF CITIZENS AND IMPROVE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES BY ENCOURAGING AND ESTABLISHING SMALL PROJECTS CREATING SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUITABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS OF THESE PROJECTS. ¶5. HIGH LANDS DEVELOPMENT - $654,240: AIMS AT ENCOURAGING FARMERS TO MAINTAIN THE SOIL IN HIGH REGIONS BY CONSTRUCTING SUPPORT WALL TO STOP SOIL-SLIDES FOR THE PURPOSE OF FRUITFUL TREES PLANTATION. THE PROGRAM WILL CREATE MORE JOB-OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPROVE FARMERS INCOME BY REFORMING 4,000 HECTARES OF LAND AND BY CONSTRUCTING 200 CISTERNS FOR THE USE IN AGRICULTURE. ¶6. CONSTRUCTION OF AL-MUJEB DAM - $ 3,525,000: AL-MUJEB SCHEME COMPRISED OF A 62 METER HIGH DAM, DESIGNED TO REPLENISH A RESERVOIR OF 35 MILLION CUBIC METERS (MCM) CAPACITY, AND AN INTAKE ON THE LOWER MUJEB WITH AN AQUEDUCT TO THE SOUTHERN GHORS IRRIGATION PROJECT. THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES OF THIS SCHEME WOULD BE IRRIGATION. ¶7. CONSTRUCTION OF AL-WEHDEH DAM - $3525,000: AL WEHDEH DAM TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE YARMOUK RIVER. IT IS BUILT OF PILES OF BROKEN ROCKS PLASTERED WITH A FACADE OF CONCRETE. IT'S HEIGHT WILL BE 100 METERS WITH A POSSIBILITY FOR RAISING IT BY 40 METERS MORE. THE LENGTH OF THE DAM WILL BE 600 METERS. ITS BASE-WIDTH ABOUT 400 METERS. IT CONTAINS A SMALL GENERATOR OF ELECTRICITY, ABEYANT OF ENFORCED CONCRETE, WATER DISCHARGERS FOR IRRIGATION AND FOR OPERATING THE ELECTRICAL GENERATOR AND OTHER NECESSITIES CONNECTED WITH THE PROJECT. ¶8. AGRICULTURAL ROADS - $1,410,000: THE PROJECT COMPRISES OF CONSTRUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL ROADS IN ALL THE KINGDOM'S DISTRICTS IN ORDER TO SERVE AGRICULTURAL AREAS AND FARMERS. ¶B. COMPETITIVE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION WITHIN THE IMPORTING COUNTRY IN THE STORAGE, MARKETING, TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AVAILABLE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE ENCOURAGED: THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO TRANSPORT THE COMMODITIES RECEIVED ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS AND WILL MAKE COMMODITIES AVAILABLE TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR PROCESSING. ¶C. EMBASSY AMMAN REQUESTS USDA/FAS REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF FY 2003 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLANS IN ORDER TO PROCEED WITH PL 480 AGREEMENT SIGNING. GNEHM