Rural development key to Gambia’s MDG race

Speaking recently at a one-day pre-identification study of feeder roads in The Gambia-European Commission funded regional road project, held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel, Kololi, Mr. Bakary Malick Houma, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Works, Construction and Infrastructure noted that developing the rural areas and creating road networks into urban areas has multiplier effects that would augur well for The Gambia’s campaign to achieve the MDGs.

According to Mr. Houma, The Gambia government prioritises infrastructural development, especially the construction of roads. He said more emphasis was placed on such areas that constitute Pillar 2 of the country’s economic growth at a cabinet retreat held in Kanilai recently. These, he said, are agriculture, fisheries, tourism, trade and infrastructure. “For infrastructure, it was further recommended that we focus on the expansion of feeder roads to link farms and markets,” he said.

Speaking on the advantages of this focus, the permanent secretary noted that transport plays vital roles in facilitating social interactions and subsequently economic development. According to him, lack of motorable roads in rural areas is one of the major constraints of many agrarian communities. He said the building of feeder roads network will enhance agricultural production, small scale trading and will also open up the hinterland to eco-tourism opportunities.

The permanent secretary further highlighted that improved feeder road systems will reduce the disparities between rural and urban communities’ poverty levels, thus improving the economic status of the people.

“His Excellency, President Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh is passionate about road infrastructure in general and feeder roads in particular,” he said, noting that feeder roads contribute immensely to national development. “Their importance to national development must not be underestimated,” he said.