Project area. In the wake of the Wenchuan earthquakes, 39 counties were designated as severe disaster counties in Sichuan Province. The project will be implemented in four of these counties: Fucheng, Youxian, Zitong and Santai in Mianyang Prefecture. The selection results from the exclusion of those severe disaster counties that have been receiving support from other provinces or donor agencies. Approximately 1,501 villages under 132 townships will be covered by the project. Target group. In all, about 53,000 households are expected to benefit from the construction of a biogas system. The project is also expected to reach some 64,000 project participants (of whom an estimated 50 per cent will be women) through the livestock and crop support subcomponent, particularly through the related training and demonstration activities. Project objectives. The project’s goal is to establish basic living conditions for the rural households struck by the Wenchuan earthquakes, by helping them return to or, if necessary, surpass pre-disaster levels. Specifically, the project will provide vulnerable rural residents with access to renewable and environmentally friendly energy, through widespread construction of biogas systems; increased access to services and rebuilding of the basis for environmental friendly agricultural production and related income-generating activities. Project description. The project has two components: Component 1 - sustainable rural livelihoods covers two interlinked subcomponents. The rural biogas reconstruction subcomponent will support the rebuilding of household-based biogas systems in the project area, in line with the governmental post-earthquake reconstruction plan. Rural households will receive support in rebuilding houses and/or biogas systems that have been destroyed or severely damaged. Under the Government’s ongoing rural housing reconstruction plan, biogas system construction entails the building of a toilet, pigpen and kitchen stove. To achieve long-term sustainability of the investments, the project will also support the establishment of a village-based biogas service network, technical training for staff and village technicians on biogas construction and maintenance, and training for beneficiaries on the safe operation of the biogas system. Rural biogas holds great potential for revitalizing agricultural production and economic activities. As such, the livestock and crop support subcomponent will ensure the availability of the necessary livestock and crop services, mainly by directing existing government resources and services towards beneficiary households. The project will mobilize and work closely with agencies and services concerned with technical extension, demonstration and training, mainly in the area of livestock and crop production. The capacity of farmers’ cooperatives to run and maintain the biogas systems will also be strengthened under the project. Component 2 - project management. Support will be provided for the establishment of project management offices (PMOs) at the provincial, prefecture and county levels. Operations will be substantially decentralized to the prefecture and county PMOs, with the prefecture PMO performing the overarching functions of planning, coordination and monitoring.
Important features. The earthquake that struck China on 12 May 2008 led to widespread devastation in parts of Sichuan and neighbouring provinces. An impressive effort led by the Central Government aims to reconstruct houses, infrastructure and production capacity in the affected area. IFAD will be assisting the Government of China in rehabilitating the shattered agricultural sector in order to build sustainable livelihoods for the affected rural population in the shortest time possible. The proposed project is in line with the thrusts of IFAD’s strategy in China and well aligned with the national reconstruction plan. The project offers an innovative approach for a post-disaster area: rehabilitation of biogas systems to restore rural livelihoods and provide access to environmental friendly, renewable energy. The biogas systems will trigger growth in the smallholder agricultural sector in a way that safeguards the environment. This will have global benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It will also improve sanitation and hygiene in the villages, while providing organic fertilizer for crop development. Moreover, the activities linked to promotion of the biogas system will have two important outputs: establishment of community-based service support systems and strengthening of agricultural cooperatives, driven and governed by the beneficiaries themselves. Potential cofinanciers. In addition to IFAD, the Government of China has accepted offers of assistance from the World Bank, Asian Development bank, European Investment Bank and Agence Française de Développement for the post-crisis reconstruction works in Sichuan Province. |
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