"We are considering several agricultural projects related to irrigation, rural water supply and poverty alleviation for the next year (July 2000-June 2001).

The total assistance for agricultural projects would be about $600 million," WB's principal agriculturist Handy M Eisa said.The bank was considering a one billion dollar programme of the Uttar Pradesh (UP) state government to reform irrigation facilities, to be implemented over 12 years.

Representatives of the bank, UP government and finance ministry were meeting here today to finalise the modalities and the amount of assistance for the programme,Eisa said.

The bank's assistance for the programme would be in three stages with the first two parts having a duration of five years, he said, adding the programme would be reviewed after every two-and-a-half years.

Terming up, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan as progressing states, Eisa said the banks were already assisting the UP government for reclamation of wastelands and undertaking watershed management programmes.

The bank is also considering three proposals submitted by the governments of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh for alleviation of poverty in these states.

The $180 million programme called `district poverty initiative project (Dpip)' would begin in July 2000.

The bank would also assist Kerala and Karnataka in strengthening its rural water supply system. These two projects would also start next year.There were also several proposals of the states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to undertake wathershed management programmes, Eisa said.

He said the bank considered India as leader of developing nations in the field of agriculture and therefore assisting the country for advancement in the farm related techniques and infrastructure.

He said there was no target or limit for the bank's assistance to the country as the sole criteria was the viability of the projects.The bank's financial assistance to the country for agricultural purposes could also cross the $600 million mark during the next year, depending on the projects,Eisa said.