Irrigating Rumania

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32210, 31 January 1970, Page 5

Irrigating Rumania

The biggest single deal ever made between Britain and a Communist country is a contract worth £22,000,000, awarded by the Rumanian Government to a British consortium for work on a highly automated irrigation scheme. Reporting in a 8.8. C. broadcast, George Short said the contract covers the design of the Sadova-Corabia irrigation system, the supply of construction and technical equipment, and the technical management of the system. This will be located in and around the Danube Valley, on sandy soils and in climatic conditions which are ideal for sprinkler-type irrigation. The British consortium which has won this important contract is known as the Taylor Woodrow Irrigation Group. In addition to Taylor Woodrow, a large building and civil engineering company, it includes the G.E.C.Elliott Automation Group, Sigmund Pulsometer Pumps, Ltd, and Vickers Ltd. Work started immediately, and the entire project will be completed within five years. It will entail the irrigation of 200,000 acres with water drawn from the Danube. The water will be carried’ in canals, strengthened with local pre-cast slabs and lined with polythene sheeting. All the irrigation will be by overhead sprinklers. Control will be automatic, and rapid adjustments will be possible according to local needs. Hie Rumanian authorities intend to farm the area intensively, growing maize, wheat and grapes, with some orchard fruit and other crops. In parts of the area they plan to grow two crops of maize and wheat a year.