In Ngororero District, more than 12,500 liters of milk, half of the daily production, fail to reach the processing plant because of severely damaged roads. The affected farmers are mainly those who graze cattle in the Gishwati pasturelands. They explain that although they were promised a 25-kilometer road to ease transportation, the contractor awarded the project has caused further delays and complications instead of delivering progress.
The road in question runs from Kabaya Sector to the Gishwati grazing zones located in Muhanda Sector, ending at the Bweru milk collection center. The road is expected to cost over 2.1 billion Rwandan francs and was planned to facilitate movement between farming communities around Gishwati and other areas.
Farmers say they were initially excited to see construction begin. Still, they are now frustrated as the contractor has allegedly worsened the condition of the road, leaving them with more losses.
Jean Bosco Zirimwabagabo, President of KAMU Ngororero Cooperative, which collects milk from farmers and delivers it to Mukamira processing plant, said the expectations were high, but the situation deteriorated quickly. He stated that the cooperative has spent over a year unable to deliver between 3,000 and 5,000 liters of milk per day to the factory.
He said, “The contractor came with machines, claiming he was going to build the road, but he ended up causing losses we cannot even fully explain. He damaged the road more than he improved it. Not a single kilometer has been properly completed. We have appealed to the authorities many times, but nothing has changed. Over 5,000 liters of milk per day can no longer reach the Mukamira plant.”
Ngororero District Mayor, Christophe Nkusi, told IGIHE that the delays were caused by several challenges, including unusually heavy rainfall in the Gishwati area, issues related to expropriation, and difficulties transporting construction materials due to the poor state of existing roads.
He emphasized, however, that despite the setbacks, the road is still under construction and remains vital for improving livelihoods and boosting economic activities in the region.
He said, “Once completed, farmers will be able to bring their milk to the market. The district produces around 25,000 liters of milk per day, but only 50 percent currently reaches the market.”
The construction works on the road which is expected to ease transportation for farmers near the Gishwati pasturelands, are currently at 31 percent progress.
