(ERGO) – Farmers in villages around Borama have come together to repair the only road that links their villages to the town where they sell their vegetables.
The 40 km stretch of road has been affected by flash floods following the heavy spring rains.
Khadar Abdikarim Dahir from Nadhi told Radio Ergo that farmers on 180 farms in Nadhi, Abase, Badanbad and Weerar villages started repairing the road last month as their business activities were being hampered.
Thirty men were selected to carry out the road works from among the farming community. They are clearing debris, filling potholes, and making a road surface level enough to allow easy passage for vehicles.
Due to the poor state of the road, (known as Jidka-Warreyto), truck drivers have been charging around $184 to transport farm produce from these villages to Borama market. This is double the normal cost. As the previously two hour journey has been taking six hours or more, fresh produce has been getting spoilt in transit causing further losses to the farmers.
As a result of the hike in transport costs, the price of vegetables has risen in the market.
The repair work is being funded by the farmers’ contributions. They have collected $2,500 since April, when initial plans were made to start work on a 12 km section of the road.
As the money raised was not enough, the regional Awdal Drought Response Committee intervened to support the project so it could be completed.
“This project means a lot to the farmers, it will increase the return from their production,” said Hassan Rabii Sheikh Abdirahman, secretary of the drought committee. He added that the first phase of work was nearing completion.
The committee supports the farmers working on the road with food assistance, giving each person 25 kg of sugar, rice, and flour and three litres of oil a month.
