In June 1972 USAID/Nigeria received a request from the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the East Central State for assistance in the preparation of guidelines for a pre-feasibility study of a proposed irrigation project, primarily for the growing of rice. This request was transmitted to TAB/AGR who selected a three-man team of consultants from member universities of CUSUSWASH. The team visited the Do-Anambra Rivers Area, the site of the proposed development, in August 1972. The Do-Anambra Rivers Area, a forest-savannah mosaic, consists of approximately 250,000 acres located in the northwestern section of the East Central State. Approximately 30 percent of this area appears to be suited to irrigated agriculture, if provided with adequate water during dry periods, if protected from floods, and if provided with adequate surface and subsurface drainage. Detailed surveys may indicate additional suitable acreage which would depend in large part on costs of land clearing, pumping and adapted farm irrigation systems. The team noted that while some basic information on soils, vegetation, topography, hydrology, geology, etc. was available, the hydrologic and the available topographic information was not in sufficient detail for a pre-feasibility or reconnaissance type of study of the area's natural resources.