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By: Joseph Titus Yekeryan
JORWAH, Bong County- Farmers in Jorwah and its surrounding villages are facing severe challenges as the Jorwah-Gbarnga road remains impassable. For over a week now, vehicles have been unable to traverse the route, leaving local farmers unable to transport their produce to market. The consequences are dire, with crops beginning to rot in the fields and livelihoods hanging in the balance.
The Jorwah-Guinea road has long served as a crucial artery for transporting goods between rural farming communities and urban markets. The town is just about two mile away from Guinea; even some Guineans cross to the town to sell their produce to marketers traveling to the town from Bong County’s capital, Gbarnga.
As the primary route for farmers to sell their crops, the closure of the Jorwah rote has put immense pressure on local agricultural economies.
“Without this road, we are cut off from our buyers,” said Syvester Flomo, a farmer who has relied on the road for over a decade. “I’ve had to watch my cassava rot in the fields because there’s no way to transport it. It is really heart-breaking” he said.
According to our Bong County Correspondent who recently visited the area, the road’s condition has deteriorated over time due to a combination of heavy rains, lack of maintenance, and increased traffic from nearby logging operations. Local farmers say that recent rains have exacerbated the situation, turning the road into a muddy, impassable trench. “We’ve been asking for repairs for months but nothing has been done. Now that it has cut, we all feel the weight because even those in Gbarnga can come here to buy our produce to go and sell” Nancy Kollie, a framer from another village near Jorwah adds.
Farmers are particularly concerned about their perishable goods. With no access to markets, fruits and vegetables are quickly losing their value. “My pepper is ready for harvest and I have been harvesting it now. I am just forced to dry them and you and I know that I will not get the money I am supposed to get if I dry them. “I am now forced to do more work for small money than usual,” Thomson Kamara explained in a very frustrated voice.
In an attempt to salvage what they can, some farmers have resorted to repairing the road using their bare hands. However, these efforts have proven largely ineffective. “We try to use holes, diggers, and cutlasses to see whether we can do some repair but all have proven fruitless as not even a motorbike is easily able to ply the road” Jeremiah Flomo, a youth Leader told our Correspondent.
The stakes are high for farmers, who rely on the sale of their produce to support their families including their education. Many have already begun to feel the financial impact. “This is my only source of income,” Jeremiah said. “If I can’t sell my crops, I can’t feed my children. It’s a desperate situation.”
Community leaders are calling for immediate repairs to restore access and ensure the livelihoods of farmers are protected. “We need immediate action from the government,” Tamba emphasized. “Without the road, farmers cannot earn a living, and food security will be at risk. This is not just about transportation; it’s about the survival of our community” another youth can be heard from the back saying.
There has not been any response from the Bong County authority about the concerns of the people of Jorwah and its environs
Many are left wondering how long they can sustain themselves without access to their primary source of income. “We have always been a hardworking community,” said Kamara. “But we need support. We cannot do this alone.”
Our Bong County Correspondent said the broader implications of the road closure extend beyond just the immediate agricultural sector. If left unaddressed, the economic ripple effects could lead to increased food insecurity and hardship for many families in the region. “The longer this road remains closed, the worse the situation will become,” Tamba warned. “We’re not just talking about crops; we’re talking about people’s lives.”
As farmers and community leaders await government action, the hope for a swift resolution remains critical. The Jorwah-Gbarnga road is more than just a pathway; it represents the connection between rural farmers and urban markets, a lifeline that sustains the local economy.
