From the Farm to the Table
Nigeria loses 40% of its total food production due to lack of access to roads and markets. Post-harvest losses contribute to food insecurity while 70% of the Nigerian working population lives off agriculture. AFD has been supporting Nigeria over the last 15 years through two major projects (Rural Access and Mobility Project 2 - RAMP-2-, and Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project - RAAMP).
RAMP-2 was focused on the upgrading of rural roads to ensure all-year-season access to Farmers in four States: Adamawa, Enugu, Niger, and Osun. In Osun, the journey of agricultural products from farm to feeding the nation has been transformed across 18 communities from ldi-Iroko, Apomu, to Araromi Owu, due to a 15 km road with a 500m asphalt concrete road and a 33 km road spanning.
Mr. Kazali Àkàngbé, an 80-year-old man from the Wasimi community, stated that he faced difficulties transporting his maize to the main road before rehabilitation. "I used to pay a lot of money for people to help me carry the harvested corn to the main road before l could deliver it to wholesalers", he recounts. "Now, people sometimes come directly to the farm to make purchases."
Farmers such as Mr. Azeez and Mrs. Ronke exemplify the resilience and determination of farmers who have overcome challenges and thrive in their agricultural endeavors through the transformative impacts of infrastructure development on local farming communities.
Mr, Gafar Azeez, a former motorcycle rider and now a farmer in Apomu, Osun State, has undergone a significant transformation due to road rehabilitation. Today, he proudly displays his diverse range of agricultural products, such as plantains, cassava, oranges, and cocoa. Reflecting on his journey, Mr. Azeez stated that he returned to his community to farm due to the improved road access.
In the neighboring Apeje community, Adeyemi Ronke also expresses her relief after benefiting from the RAMP-2 road project. It allowed her to expand her farm and employ local workers. "Now, with good access roads, I can easily transport my farm produce to the local market, and people come to load produce as well", she says.
Mr. Busari Oladele, a farmer from Arola, one of the communities that haven't benefited from the RAMP-2 road project rehabilitation in Osun State, expressed his concern about how the bad roads have impacted his produce. "Our farm produce gets spoiled here on the farm", he laments. "High transportation costs due to poor roads are overwhelming. Frequently, buses and trucks cannot access our farm, which significantly impacts our farming business. If we can be assisted, life will be easier for us”.
