A newly upgraded road linking Itete Njiwa and Ipera Asilia in Malinyi District has significantly reduced transportation costs for farmers, improving market access and increasing the value of agricultural produce in one of Morogoro Region’s key rice-growing areas.
The road, constructed by the Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) under the Roads to Inclusion and Socioeconomic Opportunities (RISE) Programme financed through a concessional loan from the World Bank, is already transforming livelihoods by easing the movement of people and goods.
Residents of Njiwa Ward say the project has addressed a longstanding infrastructure challenge that had hindered economic activities and increased the cost of transporting farm produce to markets.
Njiwa Village Chairman, Mr Plasdius Lihawa, said farmers had previously faced high transportation expenses because of the poor state of the road connecting farming areas to the ward headquarters.
“The road was a major challenge for our community. When we learned that the project would be implemented, residents were very happy because we knew it would change our lives. Today, transportation costs have fallen significantly,” he said.
Mr Lihawa noted that the impact has been particularly evident in the rice subsector, which serves as the main source of income for many households in the area.
According to him, transporting a bag of rice to market previously cost up to TZS15,000, but the improved road has reduced the cost to between TZS3,000 and TZS5,000, enabling farmers to retain a larger share of their earnings.
The improved accessibility has also attracted more buyers to farming communities, strengthening competition and helping farmers secure better prices for their produce.
“Previously, traders would factor in the high transport costs when negotiating prices. Now they can reach production areas more easily, purchase produce directly from farmers and transport it without difficulty. As a result, the value of our crops has increased,” he said.
TARURA Malinyi District Manager, Engineer Charles Mang’ela, said the project involved raising the road embankment along a three-kilometre section, reshaping another three kilometres of roadway and constructing two box culverts to improve drainage and all-weather accessibility.
He said the upgrades have enhanced transport and communication services for residents of Itete Njiwa and Ipera Asilia while strengthening connectivity between farming areas, markets and essential social services.
The road improvement is part of the RISE Programme’s broader objective of expanding rural connectivity and creating economic opportunities for communities by improving access to reliable transport infrastructure.
For farmers in Malinyi, the project represents more than a road upgrade. It is a critical investment that is lowering production costs, improving market access and supporting efforts to raise rural incomes through agriculture.
