Rehabilitated Farm Road to Transform Lives in Zambia, St. James

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, recently visited the agricultural heartland of Maroon Town in St. James, to assess the ongoing rehabilitation of the Zambia farm road, being done under the Government’s Farm Road Programme.

This vital $8-million infrastructure project is poised to significantly impact local farmers in the area through improved access to markets as well as to enhance the overall agricultural landscape.

The 500-metre stretch of road has been a source of complaints for years, affecting farms in the Southern St. James area that boasts rich soil and adept farmers cultivating an array of crops, such as banana, plantain, dasheen and more.

This rehabilitated farm road in Zambia will not only benefit farmers and the wider community but also add to the quantity and quality of roads being repaired under the Farm Road Programme, which received an allocation of $810 million for the 2023/2024 financial year.

“Part of what we are trying to do in the Farm Road Programme is to ensure that we do better quality work. So, while over the years we look at the quantity of the farm roads that we did, we are now focusing even more attention on the quality of the farm roads,” Mr. Green added.

“So, it may mean spending more money on one farm road, but at the end of the day we want to ensure that when that road is done, farmers have longevity from the road,” he added.

The Zambia farm road is to be given similar treatment under the transformative agricultural initiative, according to the Minister, who highlighted the Government’s dedication to improving infrastructure to facilitate smoother transportation for farmers and their produce and livestock.

The ongoing rehabilitation work on the Zambia farm road includes prioritising proper drainage solutions and utilising more asphalt for longevity, departing from the traditional ‘chip and spray’ method.

“Today, we are in South St. James looking at work being done on the Zambia farm road in one of our highly productive [agricultural] zones,” Mr. Green noted.

“This road is part of our priority for last year and going into this year we will definitely try to address the critical needs of our farmers in relation to the road infrastructure and transportation to get to their farms and to get to their markets,” he said.

Mr. Green assured that there would be additional allocations for road development in St. James South, acknowledging the productive nature of the area, in addition to the constant appeal from the Member of Parliament and the Councillor for more roads in the region to be rehabilitated.

The allocations will be made in the upcoming Budget for the 2024/2025 fiscal year to support the region’s agricultural endeavours.

“We are looking forward to, hopefully, reach the $1-billion mark in the upcoming fiscal year for our Farm Road Programme, so we can touch more roads and continue on our drive to do better quality roads,” Mr. Green outlined.

In the fiscal year 2023/2024 the Ministry secured $810 million for the Farm Road Programme, enabling work to begin on 69 roads across the country.

Currently, 32 farm roads have been finished, while the remainder are at different stages of completion.

“In this new fiscal year, we are targeting the $1-billion mark for our Farm Road Programme, enabling us to touch more roads and continue our commitment to better quality infrastructure,” Minister Green added.

With the Ministry aiming to extend the reach to more roads and maintain its commitment to enhancing the quality of farm roads, Minister Green is confident that the initiative will continue to significantly benefit farmers, with hundreds poised to experience positive outcomes in short order.

Optimistic farmers in the Maroon Town area expressed their gratitude for the ongoing road rehabilitation.

They cited the immediate positive impact on their daily lives and businesses.

One farmer, Terrence Woolery, highlighted that even though the road has not been fully completed, it is “100 per cent better than before”.

“I give thanks to the Councillor and Government for fixing the farm road,” Mr. Woolery said.

Mr. Woolery, who raises livestock such as pigs and goats, as well as plants bananas, is expecting a major boost in business once the roadway is fully completed.

For another farmer, Iran Satchwell, the progress on the road has made his life easier.

“Now, more farmers are finding the road better. People drive their cars come over to pick up their banana and so forth. I plant ginger, pineapple, and plantain, and I have been farming for 15 years and it is really better and easy for us right now,” he said.

“I want to tell the Government bless up and we feel good that this happened. Even though it is not finished yet, at least we see an effort,” he added.