Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN) Promote informed journalism and public engagement on agricultural and environmental nalists Network (LAEJN)
By Thomas West/0888972432/0775084260/ [email protected]
In what has become a severe blow to agricultural activities, the deteriorating conditions of the Tokpapolu road—an essential artery connecting Bong, Margibi, and Grand Bassa Counties—have left farmers and marketers stranded, severely limiting their access to markets and supplies.
This once-vibrant economic lifeline has been reduced to a hazard-laden path, hampering the movement of goods and services between these counties.
For years, residents and road users have raised concerns about the worsening state of this road, but the current rainy season has brought the situation to an all-time low.
“The roads are so bad that vehicles refuse to come here, and we have to carry our produce on our heads or use motorcycles, which is expensive and difficult,” said John Flomo, a smallholder farmer from Tokpapolu Community. Flomo and others have called for urgent intervention to rehabilitate the roads, as many fear that continued neglect could push farmers into poverty.
Marketers, who rely on timely transport of farm produce, are particularly hard-hit. Farmers across the three counties (Bong, Margibi, and Grand Bassa), known for their contributions to Liberia’s food supply, are watching their crops rot in the fields as they are unable to transport their goods to market.
Perishable items like vegetables, cassava, and fruits are going to waste, while the price of goods that do make it through the hazardous conditions has skyrocketed due to transportation challenges.
Fatima Johnson, a Marketer in Bong County, told the Liberia Agriculture and Environmental Journalists Network, that the roads are so bad that vehicles hardly access the road. “Only motorcycles reach us, we can’t sell our crops, and now we’re losing money every day. We need help, and we need it faster.” Madam Johnson added.
The road infrastructure in Bong County, which links rural farming communities to urban markets, is crucial for economic activities. Farmers in the region rely heavily on these roads to sell their crops, which include rice, cassava, and vegetables, particularly in Monrovia. However, with road conditions rapidly deteriorating, access to these markets has become increasingly difficult.
Stakeholders in the agriculture and transport sectors have long warned of the need for proper maintenance of rural roads like Tokpapolu, which serve as vital corridors for economic growth in Liberia’s interior. However, little has been done to address the problem, leaving residents to fend for themselves.
The deteriorating roads are not only affecting access to markets but are also driving up the cost of transportation, leaving farmers with minimal profit margins. Local traders, who once frequented the area to buy goods in bulk, are now hesitant to make the trip due to the high costs associated with navigating the poor roads.
Meanwhile, inhabitants of Tokpapolu region and connecting villages in Margibi and Grand Bassa have called on the government and development partners to urgently address the situation by rehabilitating the roads and providing alternative means of transportation. They argue that improving road conditions is not only vital for economic growth but also for food security in the region.
While local government officials have acknowledged the problem, progress on road repairs has been slow. Farmers hope that increased attention to the issue will result in swift action to alleviate their plight and boost agricultural productivity in Bong County.
