Mchinji-Mkanda Road to boost agribusiness

Farmers from areas along Mchinji-Mkanda Road expect a speedy economic transformation through agribusiness following the upgrading of the road.

Random interviews with the local people when Minister of Transport and Public Works Ralph Jooma toured the Kawere-Mkanda Road section on Friday showed that people are eagerly awaiting the completion of the road.

“We have been facing problems to transport farm produce to the market because of poor road network and high cost of hiring a vehicle was expensive,” said one community member, Jonathan Phaso.

Another community member, Regina Mbeta said they have farmers’ clubs that need to transport farm produce to markets, but struggle due to poor roads.

“Some buyers require us to deliver the produce to them and the setback was cost of hiring vehicles,” she said. 

The road, from Mchinji via Kawere to Mkanda, connects with the Kasungu Road at Kapiri Trading Centre, lies along a fertile area where people rely on agriculture for their income.

On his part, the minister said the road will boost agribusiness as  well as make access to health facilities easy.

Mchinji district commissioner Bester Mandele said the road will catalyse economic activities in the district where farmers produce various crops but do not  make profits due to poor access to better markets. A 25kilometre (km) section from the junction with Lilongwe-Mchinji (M12) road to Kawere Trading Centre was paved in 2013 and a10 km section from Kawere to Mkanda is nearing completion.