646 km market-access project completed

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture through the Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP) has handed over 646.25 kilometre of feeder roads to the Feeder Road Department and the Savelugu/Nanton Municipal Assembly.

The roads are currently serving over 248,000 direct community members while more than 500,000 others also use them indirectly, including input dealers, marketers and other project staff.

Three hundred and forty-five communities in 41 districts across the country are also benefitting from the project to ensure easy transportation of goods and services so as to help improve living conditions of the people and also increase job-creation.

The project forms part of NRGP infrastructure component, and is to develop the potential for irrigation and integrated water management that will free farmers from depending on the rain for cultivation and ensure year-round farming to increase food security.

The NRGP programme was aimed at addressing constraints to poverty reduction by improving production and marketing infrastructure, rural roads, and storage facilities to support agricultural value-chain activities.

Handing over the project to the Assembly at Kukobila in the Savelugu/Nanton municipality, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of crops Dr. Alhassan Ahmed Yakubu noted that agriculture has been the economy’s backbone, but its cultivators are facing challenges which make it difficult for them to transport their goods to market.

He assured the farmers that government is committed to supporting farmers in the country with needed logistics and easy access to road networks so as to attract more investors.

Farmers’ productivity, according to Dr. Yakubu, has been increased from 0.8 metric tonnes per hectare to 3.5 metric tonnes per hectare for some of the beneficiary communities.

He attributed the increase to farmer’s access to improved inputs and access to market -- adding that many farmers have also expanded their fields from 0.4 metres to over 2 hectares in areas where the roads are constructed.

He stressed that the project is not only to assist farmers in agriculture sector but also pave the way for bringing more developmental projects into the rural areas.

The Deputy urged the assembly to ensure periodic maintenance for the 646.25km of feeder roads to promote sustainability.

The Acting National Coordinator of NRGP, Felix Darimani, said the NRGP selected the area due to its potential for agriculture production and to enable farmers convey their farm produce to market and generate some revenue; thus reducing the incidence of poverty in the area.

Mr. Darimani said opening-up the farming communities will enhance farmer productivity and incomes. He therefore urged the farmers to take advantage of the road network to embark on businesses that will earn them an income for the welfare of their family.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Savelugu/Nanton, Alhassan Abdulai Red, said the roads will go a long way in improving agriculture production and also marketing the municipality.

The municipality, he said, has great potential for reducing poverty through its fertile land and water-bodies.

He stressed that Savelugu is the route to neighbouring countries, and the expansion of Tamale Airport -- which is in their jurisdiction -- will help attract more investors. The MCE called on investors to take advantage of the area’s water-bodies such as Nabogu-Nasia rice valley to invest in agriculture.