How Deplorable Rural Roads Hamper Agricultural Marketing

On a serious note, Nigeria’s agricultural cannot take its pride as the backbone of rural economies if roads leading to local areas remain in deplorable conditions.
This is so important owning to the fact that the sector employ over 70 per cent of the rural population, contributing significantly to the nation’s GDP and help reduce rural-urban drift.
Over the years, the full potential of this sector remains unrealised due to a systemic challenge that has long plagued farmers: the deplorable state of rural roads. These roads, often riddled with potholes and rendered impassable during rainy seasons, create a significant bottleneck in agricultural marketing, ultimately affecting farmers’ incomes, food security, and national development.
Rural roads serve as lifelines for farmers, connecting them to markets where their produce can be sold, processed, or exported.
In Nigeria, over 80 per cent of agricultural production comes from rural areas. Crops such as maize, cassava, yam, and vegetables, as well as livestock and fish, are cultivated in abundance. However, moving these goods from farms to urban markets has become a herculean task.
According to the Federal Ministry of Works, Nigeria has a road network of approximately 200,000 kilometers, of which about 87 per cent are rural roads. Unfortunately, only a small fraction of these roads are paved, and an even smaller percentage is well-maintained. Many rural roads are dirt tracks that become muddy quagmires during the rainy season, rendering them completely unusable.
Data estimates that over 80 per cent of Nigerian rural roads are in poor condition. Thi figure called for the urgency of addressing infrastructure deficits, as bad roads not only hinder transportation but also increase the cost of logistics. Farmers must pay higher fees for vehicles that risk damage while navigating these treacherous routes, eroding their already slim profit margins.
For smallholder farmers, who make up the majority of Nigeria’s agricultural workforce, poor road conditions are a direct threat to their livelihoods. Perishable goods such as tomatoes, peppers, fruits and vegetables often rot before reaching markets due to delays caused by bad roads. This situation account for post-harvest loss, estimated at 30-40 per cent annually.
Take, for instance, the plight of farmers in Kano State, a region famous for its tomato production. During peak harvest seasons, an oversupply of tomatoes floods local markets because farmers cannot transport their goods to urban centers. As a result, prices crash, leaving farmers with little to show for their hard work.
The same scenario plays out in Benue State, known as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” where yams, oranges, and mangoes often perish due to poor access roads.
Moreover, bad roads discourage investment in rural areas. Agro-processors and exporters are often reluctant to establish facilities in hard-to-reach communities, depriving farmers of opportunities to add value to their produce. This lack of infrastructure perpetuates a cycle of poverty and underdevelopment in rural Nigeria.
Nigeria’s food security is linked to the efficiency of its agricultural supply chain. When farmers cannot transport their produce to markets, food availability in urban areas diminishes, leading to price hikes and scarcity. This scenario in manifolds affects low-income households, who spend a significant portion of their income on food.
The transportation challenges also impact the distribution of fertilisers, seeds, and other farm inputs to rural areas. Without timely access to these resources, agricultural productivity suffers, further exacerbating food insecurity.
The problem of deplorable rural roads goes beyond agriculture; it is a development issue that touches on education, healthcare, and economic inclusion. Children in rural areas often miss school during rainy seasons because of impassable roads, while pregnant women and sick individuals struggle to reach medical facilities. These challenges highlight the interconnectedness of infrastructure and social development.
For Nigeria to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to zero hunger and poverty alleviation, rural road infrastructure must be prioritised. Improved roads can unlock the potential of rural economies, fostering growth and reducing inequality.
Initiatives such as the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) supported by the World Bank and other international partners, aim to rehabilitate and maintain rural roads. Since its inception, RAAMP has improved over kilometers of rural roads across states.
Despite these efforts, the scale of the challenge far outweighs the interventions even as many rural communities remain excluded from government programmes.