[rts] From Ary Bustamante<abustama@ucauca.edu.co>

[econf-ifrtd at gn.apc.org]

This is Ary Bustamante, coordinator of the Rural Transport Group 
from University of Cauca in Colombia.

I agree with the analysis made by the authors for this week 
background paper.  

It is quite common to think that in mountainous areas with small 
population the first development action on rural transport should be
paths, and often, with the help of animals.  The great effort involved 
in crossing rivers, climbing or descending steep mountains and 
avoiding risks make rural transport less attractive.  Only when 
some minimal infrastructure conditions are offered it is possible to 
think that the private sector will be interested in providing transport 
services.  For this reason, I think that the World Bank development 
policy and that of a great number of governments is erratic.

Examples of indigenous peasants in Colombia who have had to 
wait for too many years to get a cable car or a foot bridge to get to 
the other side of the river in a more comfortable way; or the 
rehabilitation of a road during the rainy season are common.  This 
reflects the lack of support from governments and the lack of 
adequate rural transport development planning.

I think that it is important to estimulate and encourage 
governments, policy-makers and others to support initiatives of 
investment in rural areas.  This would benefit the people in the rural
areas as well as those in the urban areas.  Academics and 
technicians should focus their attention on the development of 
appropriate transport, economically feasible, realistic, short-termed 
and where the strategies proposed in this discussion find the 
space to be developed.

Regards,


Priyanthi