YARPAH TOWN, River Cess – A much-needed rehabilitation of a 43.5-kilometer rural feeder road in Central River Cess District has begun.

The US$1.7 million rehabilitation is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture as part of its larger Smallholders Agriculture Productivity Enhancement and Commercialization project. The project aims to reduce rural poverty and food insecurity by increasing income for farmers and rural entrepreneurs through activities that support increased production and productivity.

In November 13 of this year, the groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation of the road was held in Yarpah Town. While the road is not being paved, when completed, it will have a gravel surface and the width will be wider.

Lawrence Binda, the project’s River Cess County Coordinator, told The Bush Chicken that the project is being funded by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program of the African Development Bank. The contract was awarded to Chen Liberia Enterprise and the work will last for one year, from November 13, 2017 to November 12, 2018.

The county inspector for River Cess, Trokon Browne, said the project is a “dream come true.”

“This is what we been dreaming about for long,” Browne said. “Our old people will now be able to take their crops to the market.”

The poor conditions of roadways in River Cess has always been a major concern to residents, as the county’s poor connectivity has severely impacted the earning potential of local farmers and businesses.

Residents of Central River Cess District have long been calling on the Liberian government to rehabilitate the road, which connects Upper River Cess to the central and other parts of the county. Residents complained that the road’s condition was an obstacle to them getting their farm products to the market.

In January 2017, a town chief in Central River Cess District, Sampson Toby, told The Bush Chicken that his people were suffering due to the poor conditions of the road in his district.

“This road helped us a lot when it was still [in] good condition,” he said. “We took our farm products straight to the market, but for now, this is not happening because of the condition of the road.”

Featured photo by Eric Opa Doue