1 min
The distribution of food from production areas to major markets in most developing countries faces several significant and interconnected issues, resulting in high costs, increased food loss and ultimately, food insecurity. The main contributing factors are infrastructure deficiencies, supply chain fragmentation and operational constraints.
Infrastructure deficiencies, such as poor road network, have been linked to increased costs and post harvest losses. This has disrupted our food system, making it weak and unreliable. Sadly, several farms are located in the rural areas, where they lack well-maintained roads. This poor connectivity increases transit time and transport costs, making it difficult for farmers to move perishable goods to market quickly and safely.
In addition, the agricultural sector is often characterized by many smallholder farmers who produce small quantities and at varied volumes. This makes aggregation highly inefficient and costly, as it requires many small transport movements leading to fragmentation. Sadly, many of these movements mainly rely on informal distribution channels. While these channels are essential for livelihoods, they are slow, inefficient, lack transparency and struggle to scale up to meet the growing demand of consumers. Asides from poor roads, high costs of transportation are driven by inefficient load consolidation, older or poorly maintained vehicles and volatile fuel prices, which drives up operational costs. Furthermore, inconsistent policies, multiple checkpoints and levies and administrative delays can further impede the flow of food, adding time and cost to the process.
Therefore, we need to invest in "Last Mile" roads. Focusing infrastructure budgets on upgrading and maintaining the secondary and tertiary rural roads (farm-to-market roads) that connect production areas to primary road networks. These upgrades should prioritize all-weather surfaces to ensure transport is possible year-round, even during rainy seasons. Also, we need to simplify regulatory procedures for distribution of produce. Multiple levies and ticketing should be abolished on our roads by introducing a single ticket to distribute produce to reduce bureaucratic delays, minimize rent-seeking behavior, and improve the flow of information.
In conclusion, achieving free flow of produce to the markets should be a priority for the stakeholders. We cannot afford to constantly lose our food in motion due to logistics challenges. Therefore, we need to fix up and ensure that there is a free pass way of produce to everyone, irrespective of where they are. Location should no longer be a barrier to determine who would be hungry and who would be fed. Today, let us commit to leaving no one behind whether they live in the valley or at the mountain top. That's the journey we should embark on.
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
In addition, the agricultural sector is often characterized by many smallholder farmers who produce small quantities and at varied volumes. This makes aggregation highly inefficient and costly, as it requires many small transport movements leading to fragmentation. Sadly, many of these movements mainly rely on informal distribution channels. While these channels are essential for livelihoods, they are slow, inefficient, lack transparency and struggle to scale up to meet the growing demand of consumers. Asides from poor roads, high costs of transportation are driven by inefficient load consolidation, older or poorly maintained vehicles and volatile fuel prices, which drives up operational costs. Furthermore, inconsistent policies, multiple checkpoints and levies and administrative delays can further impede the flow of food, adding time and cost to the process.
Therefore, we need to invest in "Last Mile" roads. Focusing infrastructure budgets on upgrading and maintaining the secondary and tertiary rural roads (farm-to-market roads) that connect production areas to primary road networks. These upgrades should prioritize all-weather surfaces to ensure transport is possible year-round, even during rainy seasons. Also, we need to simplify regulatory procedures for distribution of produce. Multiple levies and ticketing should be abolished on our roads by introducing a single ticket to distribute produce to reduce bureaucratic delays, minimize rent-seeking behavior, and improve the flow of information.
In conclusion, achieving free flow of produce to the markets should be a priority for the stakeholders. We cannot afford to constantly lose our food in motion due to logistics challenges. Therefore, we need to fix up and ensure that there is a free pass way of produce to everyone, irrespective of where they are. Location should no longer be a barrier to determine who would be hungry and who would be fed. Today, let us commit to leaving no one behind whether they live in the valley or at the mountain top. That's the journey we should embark on.
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
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