Colombia : small farmer market access

This document assesses the impact of one such effort -- A.I.D.'s Small Farmer Market Access Project. Some 900 km of all-weather, unpaved access roads were planned to link isolated mountain communities with the nearest market road in order to stimulate agricultural production and trade and to open these communities to agricultural extension, health, and educational services. Construction was directed by the host government agency Caminos Vecinales, but as most of the work was performed by the intended beneficiaries, 60-65% of road construction costs were paid as wages to local campesinos. Substantial underestimates of the cost of construction will cause the final total of 59 roads averaging 8 km in length to fall well short of the projected total. Impacts of road construction and road use are discussed in detail. Marginal farmers, the landless, and the unemployed provided the main labor source, using the income gained to make improvements on house and farm, for fertilizer and improved seed, and for purchase of consumer goods. The resulting switch from animal to motorized transportation sharply reduced transport costs, leading to increased agricultural production without changes in policy or agricultural extension services. Wages in the areas near the roads have also increased, as the landless now have alternative employment opportunities. The anticipated increase in government services such as health and education has yet to take place, however. The evaluators raised long-term questions concerning the inadequacy of maintenance funds, the need to guard against erosion and siltation of rivers, and the lack of political support for replication of the project. In conclusion, the project was found to offer a replicable model for labor-intensive construction of rural roads under specific conditions. Attached to the report are various annexes regarding evaluation methodology, development strategies, alternative construction methods, and environmental considerations.