Fatshimétrie – September 30, 2024
In a remote region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, more precisely in the Ankutshu chiefdom, peasant farmers face a major problem: the evacuation of their field products to the main consumption centers. This difficulty is exacerbated by the deterioration of agricultural access roads, a major obstacle for these land workers.
Each growing season, these valiant farmers harvest an abundance of agricultural products such as paddy, corn, cassava and bananas, among others. However, when it comes to selling them on the market, they face a real logistical challenge. The roads strewn with quagmires, erosion heads and numerous obstacles make the evacuation of these goods difficult, sometimes even impossible.
The chief of the Ngombe village, Elongo Mayembe, testifies to the precarious situation in which these farmers find themselves. Perishable products remain stored in granaries because they cannot be transported and sold. Motorcycles, the preferred means of transport in these regions, are forced to pay arbitrary taxes at the multiple barriers set up by public service agents. This situation considerably hinders the economic activity of local farmers.
Faced with this impasse, a call for help is launched to public authorities, both at the provincial and national levels. The rehabilitation of agricultural service roads appears to be the vital solution to improve the living conditions of the inhabitants of the Ankutshu chiefdom. By facilitating the evacuation of agricultural products to consumption centers, not only will the local economy be boosted, but also better food security will be guaranteed for the population.
This situation highlights the crucial importance of transport infrastructure in the development of rural areas. Investing in road rehabilitation is a major challenge for the authorities, in order to allow farmers to profit from their work and actively contribute to the economic growth of the region. It is imperative to act quickly to put an end to the difficulties encountered by these essential actors in the agri-food chain.
Ultimately, the deterioration of agricultural access roads is a hindrance to the socio-economic development of the Ankutshu chiefdom. It is time for concrete measures to be taken to resolve this problem and allow farmers to prosper in an environment conducive to their activity.