Good road network is an important vehicle for development in a contemporary society. Inspite of the rapid industrialised development taking place worldwide, only a small fraction of the population lives in the towns.
Obviously, the disparity in the provision of infrastructure between the urban towns and rural communities has reached a critical stage in all the States of the federation.

These rural communities are the home base of the bulk of food producers nationwide. While the major proportion of these farmers are women and young people who contribute significantly to the food production programme. Majority of these communities in Abia State are seriously restricted in movement during rainy season due to lack of access roads. It is on this note that rural road rehabilitation becomes very strategic to enhancing the agrarian policy of the State.

Available records show that farmers produce surplus food which have no market value because they lack a network of feeder roads to convey it to the cities. Thus, the quantities of food items produced every year are allowed to waste or abandoned in the farm because of lack of means to convey them.

This is not acceptable in the present agrarian policy of Governor Orji Uzor Kalu. What-more, it is amazing that while these small farmers may look insignificant, yet they collectively form an important foundation on which our food production rests.

To this end, what is required is a solid rural road rehabilitation programme that can alleviate the sufferings of farmers and boost food production.

It is in realisation of the importance rural roads play in food production that prompted Governor Orji Uzor Kalu to embark on massive rural rehabilitation in the State.

Governor Uzor Kalu's rural roads rehabilitation programme should be complemented by in-coming local government chairmen. Also well to do Abians should assist the government through self-help rural roads rehabilitation projects in their areas. Communities on the other hand should exploit the world bank agency for community based poverty reduction programme for people oriented self- help developmental projects especially, the package for rural road construction in the communities.

Therefore, increased rural road network is directly proportional to the expected increased food availability and affordability. Indeed, rural roads construction is a top priority area of governor Uzor Kalu's administration in Abia State and should be given its due attention this farming season. .

henry ekwuruke henry
Umuahia Abia state Nigeria