BergerWorld: 4th Quarter 2005

The tiny village of Mozdivnjak, nestled in a mountainous region close to the Bulgarian border, is a picture-postcard of rural Macedonia. Villagers in this remote area still rely on traditional methods of farming and irrigation to grow a variety of vegetables, grains, nuts and fruit. Although the people of Mozdivnjak have a long history of cultivating the land, agricultural potential has been constrained by water shortages and limited irrigation.

Under the $21 million United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Community Self-Help Initiative (CSHI), the Berger Group has assisted local communities in planning and implementing projects to foster self-determination at the community level and promote economic development. To date, CSHI has worked with local communities in 90 percent of

Macedonia's municipalities, completing more than 318 projects, including 68 water-related projects.

In Mozdivnjak, Berger engineers evaluated irrigation needs, surveyed the mountainous area around the town and prepared detailed designs for the construction of a new irrigation system, including intakes, trenches and more than 8,600 meters of pipes. Once the designs were completed, Berger provided construction supervision and technical assistance to community volunteers who excavated trenches, prepared fields and assisted contractors in installing pipes. Transporting the construction material to the remote site presented a major challenge to the Team. To facilitate the delivery of crucial supplies, Berger worked with community members to use mules and donkeys to transport materials and equipment during construction. In the first season after completion, farmers in the area were able to cultivate 50 percent more produce, increasing rural incomes and opening the door to future community-based agricultural projects.

Farmers have cultivated rice and other crops in the Red River Delta for over 2,600 years. This prosperous 170,000-square-kilometer delta spans northern Vietnam and portions of southern China, draining into the Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea. Early farmers relied on irrigation through a large network of canals and dikes to flood rice paddies and improve soils with nutrient rich silts from the Red River. Today, the Red River basin includes 25 of Vietnam's 64 provinces, making this river system one of the nation's most valuable resources. However, modern farmers are threatened by salt water intrusion and flooding from the Red River and Gulf of Tonkin. Deforestation has also taken its toll, contributing to increased soil erosion, flash floods and declining water quality. Sustaining economic growth and reducing poverty for the mostly rural agriculture-based population within such a complex natural environment is truly a challenge.

As part of a massive program to increase agricultural productivity, the government of Vietnam, assisted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the governments of France and the

Netherlands, is sponsoring the $156 million Second Red River Basin Sector Project. This project is designed to improve water resource use in the Red River basin and delta, strengthen water resource management and expand stakeholder participation.

The Berger Group was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to supervise the rehabilitation of irrigation, drainage and watershed protection systems serving 100,000 hectares and improve flood protection works safeguarding about 1.5 million hectares in the valley.

In addition to rehabilitating irrigation and flood protection systems, Berger experts trained Vietnamese engineers in the latest irrigation project operation and management techniques and

encouraged the creation of community-based rural development programs to optimize the benefits from the improved water services. To assist MARD in planning and implementing new irrigation and drainage programs, the Berger Group assessed MARD's staffing and financial needs and identified funding sources for future irrigation programs. Berger specialists also worked with several communities to evaluate the operations and management of regional systems and increase participatory irrigation management. Berger experts then compiled detailed documentation on water use and irrigation and drainage operating conditions and worked with the Vietnamese Institutes for Water Resources Management and Research to identify opportunities for improved watershed management.

To ensure the continued upgrade of irrigation systems, the Team also drafted rural development support guidelines and assisted regional cooperatives in identifying and constructing small-scale infrastructure, including on-farm irrigation canals, pumps, footbridges and potable water access while initiating supporting agricultural extension and watershed management programs.

In September 2002, the Berger Group was selected to lead the USAID-funded Rehabilitation of Economic Facilities and Service Program (REFS), a massive $665 million effort to assist Afghans in rebuilding damaged infrastructure around the nation. Afghanistan's economy is primarily agricultural, and to make the most of scarce water supplies, farmers rely on irrigation to grow crops such as wheat, barley, fruits and nuts. As a result, one of the major goals of the REFS program has been the rehabilitation of irrigation structures and dams which form the economic backbone of the nation.

Berger, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, immediately began work on stone masonry of the

Sar-e-Haus Dam. This dam, which supplies water to more than 40,000 people in Faryab province, was in imminent danger of failure. During the initial surveys, the Team identified several design flaws in the dam and spillway. The Team reinforced and stabilized the foundations and the dam on both sides of the center spillway and improved drainage. Following the initial stabilization, Berger designed a larger capacity spillway and diversion channel and supervised the construction of the improvements.

At the same time, Berger engineers worked to improve over 175 kilometers of main canals, two dams and designed and built two permanent run-of-the-river irrigation diversion weirs. The Team also rehabilitated a major river intake

structure on the Panj Darya River, upstream from its confluence with the Amu Darya River in Kunduz Province near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border.

Berger irrigation engineers are also upgrading over 1,000 kilometers of irrigation channels and 400 dams around the nation, including the Mohammad Agha, Moghul Khil and Shah Rawan intakes, the Zana Khan, Chak and Daruta dams, the Sardeh and Parwan irrigation systems and the Kamal Khan and Nari Lashkari canals. As part of the development of the Mohammed Agha and Moghul Khil intakes, Berger engineers worked with local stakeholders to determine irrigation needs then developed detailed designs, including several specially constructed steel gates to control water flow.

The Shah Rawan Intake on the banks of the fabled Amu Darya River provides irrigation to 28,000 people in the Kunduz province. Because of its importance to local farmers, Berger fast-tracked the assignment so that desilting could begin before the spring planting season. During the initial surveys, Berger engineers identified a number of unauthorized branch canals along the 60-kilometer main canal. Since farmers in the area depend on these canals, Berger worked with USAID to secure funding for additional upgrades. Berger specialists are also working with the contractors to review the designs for the entry and escape channels, main canal and an operations and maintenance building as part of this innovative design/build effort.

During Berger's work, an exceptionally heavy wet season caused extensive flooding on the Amu Darya River. Throughout the floods, Berger engineers worked to minimize the damage to existing structures and improve drainage facilities and retaining walls to prevent collapse. Following the flooding, Berger engineers worked alongside the people of Imam Saheb to rebuild more than 2,000 cubic meters of embankment works.

The Sardeh Irrigation System and the Zana Khan Dam are the principal water supplies for the historic Ghazni province. Because of the importance of these systems, Berger conducted a number of studies, including an initial environmental examination and preliminary surveys for the reconstruction. The surveys, however, were complicated by the need to demine areas around the left canal. During demining, Berger began the desilting of the right canal and repaired the intake tower and access bridges. At the same time, Berger also improved the spillway stonework and the downstream canal of the Zana Khan Dam.

In addition to repairing irrigation systems and dams, Berger also assisted the Ministry of Irrigation, Water Resources and Environment (MIWRE) with the planning and management of key irrigation and water projects. To build a close working relationship, Berger assigned senior engineers to offices within the MIWRE and is assisting in reviewing proposals and contracts from international lenders and planning and launching new projects. Berger team members also instituted an extensive on-the-job training program, addressing contract preparation, pre-qualifying contractors, evaluating bids, contract management, quality assurance and construction supervision. To ensure that the new systems are properly implemented, Berger defined the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders, including farmers, ministry officials, donors, consultants and contractors.

Recent privatization efforts in Armenia have created over 320,000 new farms, each averaging around a hectare in size. These small farmers work to maximize productivity by planting a variety of crops with different water needs, creating an irrigation challenge. Most farmers also rely on poorly maintained earthen channels with high rates of seepage, causing farmers to lose much of the water before it reaches the field. Through a World Bank-funded program, Armenia's Irrigation Rehabilitation Unit selected the Berger Group and Haygyoughshinnakhagits Ltd. to prepare preliminary and final designs for a new gravity irrigation system in the Vayots Dzor area, a productive farming area comprising 4,593 farms and including three towns and 46 villages.

The Team conducted a water availability and balance analysis along the Elegis River to ensure that the irrigation system could draw sufficient water without reducing the amount available for sewage, potable water and environmental needs. The Team then undertook detailed field surveys and prepared final designs for the construction of 30 kilometers of gravity pipes and canal irrigation for 4,700 hectares.

Since the Soviet period, cotton has been the mainstay of Uzbekistan's economy. Currently, the nation is the world's second largest exporter of seed cotton, producing almost 700,000 tons each year. However, cotton production requires large amounts of water, a challenging demand for the arid region of Uzbekistan. To assist the nation in efficiently using water supplies, the ADB is funding the $73 million Amu-Zang Irrigation Rehabilitation Project.

This comprehensive project will improve irrigation in the southern region of Surkhandarya Oblast and assist the government of Uzbekistan in upgrading the water sector. The first phase of the project will improve agricultural productivity and farm incomes by rehabilitating the Amu Zang irrigation system, which provides water to 98,000 hectares.

To ensure the sustainability of these upgrades, the project will also train water management agencies in operation and maintenance procedures, install water resource management systems and establish water users associations. As part of this effort, the Berger Group will assist the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources (MAWR) to institute national reforms. Berger water specialists will evaluate current legislation governing the formation and operations of water users associations and prepare recommendations to improve operations.

The Team will also work with MAWR to develop a cost recovery policy and a comprehensive implementation plan for future water sector projects and prepare methodologies, legal documents and an implementation plan for introducing water fees nationwide. To support reforms within the ministry, Berger specialists will establish a water sector reform unit and advise officials on long-term options, including the establishment of a national water resources council and the separation of water resource management and irrigation service delivery.

In order to meet changing community needs, Berger will also assist in the establishment of the Amu-Surkhan Basin Irrigation Organization which will regulate water use in the Surkhandarya Oblast region. Experienced Team members will draft operational procedures for the agency and strengthen its ability to manage and evaluate water allocation. Berger will also work with national and local agencies to introduce water delivery fees to the region. To ensure continued oversight at a regional level, Berger water specialists will conduct extensive training sessions and international study tours to improve the ability of the Surhkandarya Province Agriculture and Water Department to operate and manage irrigation projects and foster community participation.

Although only seven percent of Tajikistan's 143,000 square miles are cultivated, agriculture is still the foundation of the economy. The main crop is cotton, along with wheat, potatoes, vegetables and fruit. Because this arid region receives an average of only 700 millimeters of rainfall each year, the development of successful and reliable irrigation and farming techniques is critical. Through a six-year, $43 million ADB-sponsored initiative, the Berger Group is improving irrigation and potable water systems in Tajikistan.

The Berger Group is upgrading irrigation systems in Vose, Kyzylsu-Yakhsu and Khodjan which will cover more than 79,000 hectares. One of the most challenging elements of the project was replacing an existing floating pump station, built in 1978, with a new 60 meter by 11 meter pontoon in the Qairakum reservoir in Khodjan. The new system included eight pumps and state-of-the-art transformers to discharge 14 cubic meters of water per second into the Fergana Valley Canals. Along with the development of the three main irrigation systems, the Berger team surveyed 29 irrigation and drainage networks and prepared detailed project reports for their rehabilitation and upgrade. Currently, Berger irrigation and water supply engineers are supervising the procurement and installation of irrigation and drainage pumps, pipes and equipment. In addition, the Team is supervising the rehabilitation of on-farm irrigation systems and central pump stations, the upgrade of canal gates and embankments and the reconstruction of the main reservoir. To ensure that the systems continues to serve the area's changing agricultural needs, the Berger Group is procuring operations, maintenance and farm equipment to support the long-term irrigation and water supply development of the region.

In addition to the improvement of the irrigation systems, the Team is also providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Water Resources and Land Reclamation in the preparation and evaluation of prequalification, bid documents and procurement for 45 works contracts and two equipment contracts. As a part of capacity building measures, Berger specialists conducted seminars and on-the-job training in procurement and contract management.

Because of its proximity to the Sahara Desert, Mali relies heavily on irrigation from the Niger River to sustain crops. Improved irrigation in this desert nation is a critical step to increasing farm yields and promoting sustainable development. To assist in these goals, the Berger Group recently worked on two programs to upgrade irrigation systems, raise rural incomes and preserve ecological diversity.

Irrigation is an essential part of life in the Ansongo district of Mali, where agriculture and herding is the primary occupation of the district's 400,000 people. Under the AfDB-funded Ansongo District Rural Development Project, the Berger Group worked with CIRA-Sarl to build irrigated perimeters and pumping stations throughout the region, educate nomadic herders and farmers in modern animal husbandry and crop development, improve living standards and preserve the region's biodiversity.

To meet these ambitious goals, the Team began by constructing more efficient irrigation networks capable of increasing crop yields. Given the importance of herding to the Malian economy, Berger also worked with herders to develop irrigation for pasture lands. To ensure sustainability and minimize water disputes, the Team strengthened rural farmer associations and assisted in educating stakeholders in the benefits of cooperation between farmers and herders. Berger also provided villages with training in improved crop cultivation and introduced modern technologies to increase yields.

The project also focused on improving economic conditions within Mali. Berger team members constructed educational facilities and community centers and improved sanitary facilities in the district. The introduction of improved sanitary facilities will greatly increase the availability of potable water, reduce water-borne diseases and improve the quality of water used to irrigate fields and water animals.

In Mali, environmental and agricultural issues are almost inseparable. Because the improper expansion of farm fields within the fragile Sahel area can lead to desertification and poor crop yields, it is essential to address these concerns quickly. Berger experts worked with Ansongo farmers to conserve biodiversity and encourage the planting of trees and bushes to protect crops against winds and drifting soil and reduce the effects of soil depletion on the environment.

Berger also worked with CIRA-Sarl in a second AfDB-funded project to reduce poverty in Mali's Maninkoura region and strengthen food security by improving local irrigation systems. The Team surveyed existing irrigation systems and identified current and future water needs of the region. Using the data collected in these field studies, Berger designed upgrades to 1094 hectares of irrigated perimeters, including 121 kilometers of irrigation canals, 43 kilometers of drainage ditches, 186 kilometers of inner tracks and 21 kilometers of protective dikes. Berger also designed improvements for nine pumping stations and upgraded power lines and energy supplies to power the stations. These improvements will assist rural farmers in increasing agricultural production by providing a steady and reliable water source while reducing water loss.

The nation of Niger faces many of the same challenges as Mali, including an arid climate, limited water supplies and poor soil quality. To improve irrigation in the Tahoua area, the Berger Group was selected to design dams and improve irrigation. Drawing on feasibility studies prepared by Berger in the 1990s, a team of experts drafted designs for five earth dams in the Tahoua region. These dams will provide irrigation systems with a reliable water source, increase crop yields and provide additional water for livestock. To develop additional food supplies, the Berger Group also worked with local farmers to implement small-scale fish farming in the reservoirs created by the dam.

Mozambique remains primarily agricultural, with more than 80 percent of the nation's 19 million people working on the land. Farming is the backbone of the economy and offers an enormous potential for growth since only a quarter of the nation's arable land is cultivated. Most of this land is not irrigated, although there is the potential to irrigate more than three million hectares. To increase the amount of irrigated farmland, the government of Mozambique began an ambitious African Development Bank (AfDB)-funded program to rehabilitate the Massingir Dam and the connected Xai-Xai irrigation channels in Southern Mozambique.

The Massingir Dam, along the Elephantes River, was constructed in the 1970s to improve navigation on the Limpopo River and its tributaries and to facilitate irrigation. However, one year after its completion, the dam displayed major stress defects, reducing the irrigation potential of the Xai-Xai channels. As part of a program to rehabilitate these critical structures, the Berger Group was selected to design and supervise the rehabilitation of the dam and the Xai-Xai irrigation structures.

A team of Berger experts reviewed the original plans and designs for the irrigation structures, then conducted a thorough survey to evaluate the condition of the current system and identify necessary repairs. The Team also prepared a soil quality assessment to identify different soil types and develop the most effective irrigation designs. Based on this information, Berger developed detailed designs and bid documents for rehabilitation and expansion of the Xai-Xai Irrigation and Drainage Scheme. The Team then assisted the Project Implementation Management Unit in the tendering process and contract negotiations.

Currently, Berger is supervising the rehabilitation of the Massingir Dam and the supporting irrigation system, a key step for the expansion of irrigation throughout the fertile Limpopo River Valley.

For many years, the Dominican Republic has struggled with challenges of land ownership and agricultural development. According to the 1981 census, 55 percent of the arable land in the Dominican Republic belonged to large property owners representing two percent of the total farms, while over 82 percent of all farms were less than 20 hectares. To more equitably distribute farmland and encourage increased agricultural production, the Dominican Republic instituted an ambitious World Bank-funded agrarian reform program. Under this program, the Berger Group was selected to survey agricultural holdings, establish titles and develop irrigation systems where needed for new farm owners.

The Berger team conducted topographical surveys of more than 10,000 parcels of land in the fertile area near the Yaque del Sur, Yaque del Norte and Nizao rivers and submitted the land surveys to the General Directorate for Cadastral Measurement. Once the titles were secured, Berger began upgrading the Nizao Valdesia and Ysura irrigation systems. The Team prepared detailed designs, construction plans, cost estimates and specifications for the improvements. To ensure that each new farm had access to adequate irrigation, Berger supervised the drilling and equipping of additional wells and the rehabilitation of existing irrigation systems and secondary canals. Berger also rehabilitated and upgraded irrigation works along the M.A. Cabral Canal, one of the primary water sources in the area.

Creating reserve water supplies is a key element in protecting farmers from water shortages and damaged crops. To store adequate water supplies, the Berger team developed plans and monitored the construction of the El Llano and Rapida reservoirs which have a capacity of 105,000 and 160,000 cubic meters, respectively.

After establishing the primary irrigation structures for the community, Berger worked with local farmers to identify those areas which could best benefit from gravity or drip irrigation and assisted farmers in leveling the lands for row cultivation, enabling them to more effectively use modern irrigation systems.

Pitt Meadows is an agricultural suburb 23 miles east of Vancouver, British Columbia. Located at the foot of the towering Coast Mountains and dissected by three rivers, most of Pitt Meadows lies within a flood plain. Historically, the land was used for silage and forage production associated with dairy farming. However, over the past 20 years, there has been a shift to blueberry and cranberry farming and greenhouses. Whereas previously a field could be flooded for five days in the fallow season and two in the growing season, this is no longer the case, and recent flooding from rainstorms falling on frozen ground caused significant losses.

The Official Community Plan for Pitt Meadows confirms the district's continued commitment to agriculture. To reduce flooding and increase productivity, the district commissioned Berger-Klohn Crippen to study its drainage system and identify the best method for improving the facilities. Currently, the municipality is divided into four drainage areas protected by 60 kilometers of dikes with 163 kilometers of drainage ditches, six pump stations, 13 pumps and 11 floodgates. The Team examined the existing system, the impacts of changing agricultural production and urban development.

Based on these surveys, experienced irrigation and drainage engineers identified ways to improve drainage and reduce flooding. In addition, the Team also investigated the quality of water flowing out of local greenhouses and identified fertilizers that could produce algae in local ditches.

The Team also worked with local cranberry and blueberry farmers to improve their drainage and irrigation plans. Most cranberry farms have their own storage ponds and some farmers take water from the Fraser and Pitt Rivers, but the water quality is not high enough for blueberry farmers. Consequently, Pitt Meadows is one of the few municipalities to extend domestic water service to farms. Currently, farmers in the area use an average four gallons of water per acre per minute during the growing season to irrigate their land. However, there have recently been several consecutive summer droughts in the area, which may cause the municipality to prohibit using water for irrigation. The Team evaluated the drainage system to ensure that it was capable of accommodating current demand and identified the availability of additional water for cranberry production, as well as frost protection. The Team also assessed the impact of an extended drought on the availability of water for blueberry irrigation. To ensure that the final plan is responsive to the needs of the community, the Team proposed a Steering Committee comprised of local farmers, community members, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Fisheries and Oceans officials to review public concerns and implement the plan.