There is a critical need for an improvement in rural transport and logistics in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa according to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) deputy-secretary general, Isabelle Durant.
This so that it can help governments increase opportunities for people living near regional borders – such as smallholder farmers and other traders – by improving rural agriculture transport and logistics services.
“Improvements in rural logistics help farmers to harvest and market crops more efficiently; and by improving rural transport access, they serve to expand the markets for agricultural products and lower transport costs,” said Durant.
She pointed out that developing rural transport and logistics networks could result in effective and efficient transport and distribution channels between national and regional markets while improving the quality and value of agricultural products.
Additionally, Durant highlighted that increased cross-border trade would be crucial to sustaining peace and security in the central African region which has experienced years of unrest and instability due to conflict and extreme violence.
