New Delhi, Dec 23: The Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (Cirdap) has estimated a budget of $2.55 million for its activities in the 10th biennium, 1998-99. Nippon Foundation and other world corporate bodies, Japanese government, IDRC, FAO, UN Escap, ILO, UNDP and the Commonwealth secretariat have also been roped in for financial support.

India, being the chairman of Cirdap is likely to be a major beneficiary.

Afganistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam are the member countries.

Out of this amount, $7,80,100 has been earmarked for development projects and $1.77 million for administrative expenses and general fund.

Cirdap has prepared a project for poverty eradication in Asia and has submitted to the Nippon Foundation of Japan for funding. The project will be implemented in five selected member countries.

A proposal for farming systems development has been sent to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for technical assistance grant and has been shortlisted for funding.

The scope of the project covers issues relating to integrated development of farming systems under rainfed conditions. The issues involve agronomic as well as other aspects for overall development like crop production, livestock, fisheries, horticulture, marketing, soil and water conservation practices through merging of traditional farm practices with modern scientific principles. Cirdap has also submitted a pilot project scheme on integrated approach to population and family planning in rural development to UNFPA for funding.

The total estimate of the project is $9,37,000 and would be implemented in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Cirdap in collaboration and financial assistance from the Rajiv Gandhi Nation Drinking Water Mission (RGNDWM) under the Union ministry of rural areas and employment completed phase I survey on sustainability in rural water supply and sanitation in the region. RGNDWM has suggested that in the second phase, demand management, institutional management options, servicing the unserviced, rate of expansion of physical coverage, sustainability ensurance factors, technology options, water potability and linkage between education-sanitation-health be taken up.

Cirdap has plans to conduct a regional workshops on application of remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) in rural development, gender and development. It would also conduct training courses on CDS/ISIS, Pop Map, electronics.

Besides initiating new projects during 1998-99, five projects of the previous year would be carried over for completion. These five projects includes a pilot project on economic impacts of peripheral infrastructure for the rural poor and four research projects like loan repayment behaviour, impact of increase in household income on status and activities, report on rural development and setting up mechanism for poverty monitoring and evaluation of macroeconomic policies in Bangladesh.

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