CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE
Dr. Oliver Kandela Bulaya, PhD
14/04/2026
Feeder roads in crisis: Farmers deserve better
Adopt eco-friendly farming practices
Biodiversity & Environmental Protection is key to sustainable development. Stop deforestation and forest degradation
THE recent inspection of the Kabwe–Ngabwe Road by Central Province Permanent Secretary Dr Milner Mwanakampwe has exposed a persistent problem in Zambia: our feeder roads are failing, and so are the systems meant to maintain them.
These roads are more than gravel—they are lifelines for farmers, connecting fields to markets and rural communities to opportunity. Yet, despite government commitments and resources allocated for rehabilitation, many critical routes remain in a deplorable state. Poor workmanship, weak oversight, and a lack of accountability continue to undermine progress.
Farmers do not ask for luxury—they need reliable roads to transport their produce efficiently. Instead, repeated substandard work wastes public resources and stalls development. Even roads recently repaired often deteriorate quickly, a clear sign that professionalism and patriotism in project execution remain wanting. The President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema has directed all councils to rehabilitate feeder roads by April 2026.
Time is short, and with the crop marketing season approaching, delays threaten increased post-harvest losses, lower incomes, and weakened food security. It is urgent that local government managers and engineers step up.
Oversight must be strengthened, accountability enforced, and quality prioritised. Delivering durable roads is not optional—it is a responsibility to the Zambian people.
We commend Dr Milner Mwanakampwe for setting a strong example of leadership and accountability. Zambia needs more leaders like him—proactive, patriotic, and committed to results.
Let us rise to the occasion. Our farmers deserve roads that work, resources that count, and a government that delivers. The time for excuses is over—Zambia’s rural communities cannot wait.
In upcoming editions, we will spotlight several feeder roads currently in a deplorable state, urgently needing attention from local authorities or the Road Development Agency (RDA).
These roads are not just pathways—they are lifelines for our farmers, traders, and rural communities whose livelihoods depend on reliable access to markets and essential services.
For the past four years, we have consistently raised our voice, calling for the rehabilitation of feeder roads across many parts of the country. Unfortunately, these calls have largely gone unanswered, with little tangible progress on the ground. This continued neglect is not only unacceptable but also detrimental to national development, particularly in the agriculture sector where accessibility directly affects productivity and incomes.
What is needed now is decisive action, accountability, and a renewed commitment to delivering on infrastructure that supports inclusive growth. We owe it to our communities to ensure that feeder roads are no longer treated as an afterthought, but as a priority.
The objective of this column is to empower smallholder farmers with knowledge for growth, resilience and climate smart agriculture for sustainable development.
Top of Form
Our voice shall be heard. We live today to impact tomorrow. Stop deforestation and forest degradation. Act against climate change. Environmental and biodiversity protection key to sustainable development. Arise Zambia Agriculture A sleeping Economic Giant. Together we can!
The author is an expert in Climate-Smart Agriculture, Organisational Leadership and Project Management. He is the Projects & Communication Lead at the Conservation Farming Unit and Executive Director of the Agriculture Climate Action Foundation. For feedback, send comments to: acafoundationzambia@gmail.com or WhatsApp: +260-956-261174
