
In the four new hubs, NOPP will construct and maintain roads critical for oil palm development, production and marketing. Some 300 km of access roads and 910 km of farm roads will be constructed. In Kalangala, there remain about180 km of roads yet to be constructed. If they are not completed under VODP2, then Government will finance these roads as part of its contribution to NOPP. All roads will be delineated with farmers and, to the extent possible, constructed before the oil palm is planted, so as to ensure that farmers do not plant in the areas earmarked for roads, and facilitate the transport of seedlings and fertilizers. Road construction will be contracted out, while supervision of construction will be done by the PMU with the assistance of the District Local Governments. Road maintenance will be funded by the Project prior to the start of the oil palm harvesting phase, after which the farmers, and for certain roads the Districts, will be fully responsible for maintenance. NOPP will also finance the provision of fertilizer storage capacity of 15,000 tons in each hub. New ferries and landing sites for Buvuma and Kalangala will be funded under the IFAD loan for VODP2, though if it is not possible to make these expenditures prior to the completion of VODP2, then Government will finance them as per the NOPP budget.