MONROVIA, Montserrado – The United States Agency for International Development and the government of Liberia have launched a four-year program to improve farm-to-market roads in the country.

The Feeder Roads Alternative and Maintenance Program or FRAMP was launched on Thursday at Bella Casa Hotel in Monrovia. The Ministry of Public Works represented the government of Liberia at the ceremony which was attended by local and international partners.

Public Works Minister Gyude Moore said the program would target 450 kilometers farm to market roads in four counties – Lofa, Nimba, Bong and Grand Bassa.

“450 kilometers roads in four counties will be built, rehabilitated and introduced maintenance on them,” he said. The fund will make road maintenance predictable and regular and make road maintenance possible even if the national budget has still not passed,” he noted.

He did not, however, disclose the cost of the project. Moore said to maintain the country’s feeder roads, the government, and its partners introduced legislation to establish a road maintenance fund to sustain a number of resources. He encouraged lawmakers to pass the legislation.

“The fund will make road maintenance predictable and regular and make road maintenance possible even if the national budget has still not passed,” he noted.

He stressed maintenance as a major way to appreciate roads being constructed in the country. He meanwhile encouraged lawmakers to pass the legislation.

FRAMP is intended to support the government of Liberia to implement a sustainable way to routinely maintain feeder roads while piloting construction of alternative roads through research and development.

Four ministries signed an agreement establishing a FRAMP Coordination Secretariat to foster better collaboration between government agencies. Moore signed for Public Works while Internal Affairs Minister Henrique Tokpa, Transport Minister Angela Bush, and Finance Minister Boima Kamara also signed the agreement on behalf of their Ministries.

USAID-Liberia Mission Director Anthony Chan described the launch of FRAMP as a critical step to linking farmers and rural dwellers to markets.

Chan said the program will enhance market-driven growth which according to him is essential to Liberia’s long-term development.

“This is a critical step in linking farmers and rural dwellers to markets, and thereby helping to spark the market-driven growth that is so essential to Liberia’s long-term development,” he said.

Chan added that to succeed in its fight against poverty, Liberia needs roads to allow rural communities access essential services including education and healthcare.