A soon-to-be completed 23km road linking Karongi and Rutsiro districts in the Western Province is expected to ease market access for agricultural produce.

Jean Damascene Nsanzimfura, the vice mayor for finance and economic development in Rutsiro District, said the road will help farmers to take their produce to the market.

According to Imena Munyampenda, the Rwanda Transport Development Authority (RTDA), project manager, the $52.7 million project is funded by the Government and several partners, including Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) Saudi Fund, Kuwait Fund, and the Africa Solidarity Trust Fund (ASTF).It is expected to be completed in December. Construction works started in October 2015.

Speaking to The New Times on Wednesday, Nsanzimfura said, "Our district is rich in both food and cash crops.

But it is a challenge for our farmers to take their produce to the market. Once completed, the road will enable farmers to take their produce to Karongi, which will help farmers to embrace commercial agriculture and graduate from subsistence farming.”

"The road will also bring more investors to our district as it passes near Kivu Lake. We hope to have investors who will construct hotels there.”

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