CHAPTER 3
travel time from a local crop production area to nearby cities with over 25,000 inhabitants led to a 23 percent increase in local crop production over the long term. Addi- tionally, each 1 percent decrease in travel time to cities with at least 100,000 people resulted in a 2.9 percent increase in low-input crop production and a 1.6 percent increase in high-input crop production (Foster et al., 2023). Find over- leaf a country case showing some of these effects. 4
EASTERN AND CENTRAL UGANDA COUNTRY CASE
A major infrastructure project in Eastern and Central Africa, financed by the African Development Bank and presented as a case study in Sieber and Allen (2016), focused on rehabilitating rural roads, constructing markets and introducing agro-processing equip- ment. The project tool a community-driven approach to enhance agricultural infrastructure and improve farmers’ incomes. The initiative saw strong involve- ment from local communities, who helped set prior- ities, select labor-intensive projects and ensure main- tenance of infrastructure once completed. The project upgraded 3,089 km of all-weather rural roads, built over 200 rural roads and constructed 52 rural markets, alongside the installation of various agro-processing units. Local residents were actively engaged in taking inventories, prioritizing needs and selecting projects for infrastructure development and upkeep. Since its launch in 2008, the project has led to a 7.5 percent increase in marketed agricultural produce, a 36 percent rise in farm gate prices, a 20 percent reduc- tion in post-harvest losses and a 40 percent increase in household incomes. Additionally, travel costs have decreased by 63 percent. Other positive outcomes include the growth of rural centers, the construction of new schools and healthcare facilities, higher school enrollment and improved health outcomes, particu- larly among expectant mothers due to increased ante- natal visits to health centers. 5
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