Assessment of Project: Agricultural Development, Lhasa River Valley, Tibet


Project #3357 Project area: Taktse (Ch: Dazi), Toelung Dechen (Ch: Duilongdeqing), Meldrogonkar counties and Chengguan (Chushul) District, Lhasa city.

Total project cost : US $ 6,753,960
WFP Total cost : US $ 7,200,000
Government of China cost : US $ 10,940,000
Approved : 12 December 1988
Plan of Operation : 5 July 1989
Started : 1 September 1989
Original duration : 6 years
Actual duration taken : 8 years
Expected completion : 30 June 1997

According to the Annual Review Report dated June 1996 of the World Food Programme (WFP) the 50 hectare tree plantation phase of the project as recommended by the 1995 technical review mission was a total failure. Unrooted tree saplings were planted contrary to WFP recommendation, and no irrigation was applied as the main canal was out of service and the result is that most trees died.

The WFP consultant Mr. Zylstra, an international irrigation expert was of the opinion that a big management mistake was made. He says, "By allowing the tree planting to be realized knowing well that no irrigation water could be made available. The recommendation with regard to spacing, species, and kind of planting materials were not followed, and the whole made a poor impression." The Chinese project authorities are now required to carry-out the 50 hectare tree plantation all over again in spring of 1997.

Within less than three years the responsible manager for the project has been changed four times! This has brought serious negative influence on the project. WFP was assured by Mr. Yong Song, the Vice-Chairman of so called Tibet Autonomous Region that the project manager will not change any more until the completion of the project. The Project is expected to complete by 30 June 1997.

The project authorities didn't distribute in time the butter oil ration provided to the families by the project in the area as a result about 23 tons of butter oil could not be used and had to be discarded. This waste of 23 tons of butter oil is a shear waste of WFP financial resources.

During the annual review report of April 1995 WFP approved the relocation of 41 households from Meluo village to new lands that would become available in s-p 2+4. 3 and 5. The Chinese project authorities resettled 9 households in s-p 2+4 on the condition as agreed with WFP. This resettlement resulted in unforeseen problems of sociological nature, with regard to grazing rights and unacceptance by the local population in the area. For this reason the project authorities have decided not to pursue further relocation. Instead they have relocated 5 households from Meluo village to a site 5 km away in the foot of a valley.

The review says 36,000 people were trained during the project implementation phase, but it fails to mention who were trained and in what fields (see page 33 for further details).

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Last updated: 15-Sept-1997