UNITED NATIONS {:s? g f p !
[A N D
SOCIAL COUNCIL
Iustr.
LIMITED
E / c x , ~ ~ / s I ~ c D / ~ ~ 1 8 September
1969
ENGLISH
O r i g i n a l : FRFX'TCH
, ECONOMIC CUPNISSION FOR AFRlCA
. . A f r i c a Regional Conference
-
on t h e I n t e g r a t e d Approach t o Rural Development Noshi ( T a n z a n i a ) , 13-24 October1969
'
L./
DEFINITION AND OBJECTIVES OF P A L DEVELOR'IENT
i
. . . . , -
, .
hy r u r a l development? . .
. . . .
Colin C l a r k e ' s s e c t o r i a l t h e o r y s u g g e s t s t h a t economic development v e s a s h i f t i n g of emphasis cn economic a c t i v i t i e s f r o m t h e primary
t o t h e secondary and t e r t i a r y s e c t o r s . According t o t h e economist
.
N.W.
Rpstow, a predominantly a g r i c u l t u r a l s o c i e t y should be-.transformed . ' : i n t oa
s o c i e t y c h i e f l y engaged i n i n d u s t r y , communications, t r a d e andservices.: I n o t h e r words, an economically advanced c ' o u n t r y ' i s c h a r a c t . e r i z e d :by:, t h e r e l a t i v e l y secondary r o l e played by a g r i c u l l u r e ; . f o r e s t r y ..and f i s h e r y
i n r e l a t i o n t o . i n d u s t r y and t h 6 . d i s t r i b u t i o n . of goods and s e r v i c ' e s . ( . t r a d e , , l i b e r a l p r o f e s s i o n s , p u b l i c s e r v i c e s , etc..). Should t h i s be t h e c a s e ,
: t h e q u e s t i o n t h a t a r i s e s i s whether t h e problem of r u r a l development , i s no$
a n u n r e a l i s t i c problem o r a t l e a s t a problem of minor importanoe..in s o f a r a s any e f f o r t s towards g i v i n g prominence t o a g r i o u l t u r e and o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s
. . which have t r a d i t i o n a l l y ' c h a r a c t e r i z e d r u r a l dev@opment wou2.d r e s u l t i n i n t e n s i f y i n g t h e backwkrd t r e n d o f t h e n a t i o n a l economy. Without w i s h i n g t o r e v i v e a n o l d q u a r r e l of p l a n n e r s a s t o whether a g r i c u l t u r e o r i n d u s t r y . , s h o u l d have p r i o r i t y a s a n i n s t r u m e n t f o r economic development, i t : s h o u l d
be r e c a l l e d t h a t . u n d e r t h e c o n d i t i o n s g e n e r a l l y p r e v a i l i n g i n t h e o o n t i n e n t h i c h we a r e concerned
-
A f r i c a-
t h e problem of c h o i c e does n o t u s u a l l y e . . Rural a c t i v i t i e s ' a n d a g r i c u l t u r e i n p a r t i c u l a r s t a n d o u t a s t h et i o n of t h e economy.
. . . , ,
. . , ..
,
! . . ural . a c t i v i t i e s a f f e c t t h e m a j o r i t y of t h e economically a c t i v e popula-
' A f r i c a .
A
survey conducted by t h e U n i t e d Nations Economic Commission ;i c a i n d i c a t e s t h a t , i n 1960, t h e economically a c t i v e , p o p Q l a , t i o n d 120 m i l l i o n workers d i s t r i b u t e d a s f o l l o w s :
77
per d e n e l i n a g r i -1 4 per c e n t i n s e r v i c e s , a n d
9
p?r , c e n t i n i n d u s t r y . Thd s t u a y adds- t h a t i n time, t h i s breakdown w i l l o b v i o u s l y v a r y b u t n o t a t a r a t e t a a t w i l l . '
, ,
. . make i t p o s s i b l e t o f o r e c a s t any mmked i n c r e a s e i n job o p p o r t u n i t T e s i n t h e
secondar'y and t e r t i a r y s e c t o r s f o r r u r a l manpower, Apart from. t h e f a c t t h a t
3
t h e y occupy and w i l l , i n t h e f o r s e e a b l e f u t u r e , continue t o occupy t h e l a r g e r1
, : ,. p a r t of t h e economically a c t i v e p o p l a t i o n i n most Atricsm c o u n t r i e s , r u r a l , 'i
a c t i v i t i e s , a r e t h e main s o u r c e of, t h e f o r e i g n our<:ency ~ e q q & e @ . ' f o r : g r o c u r -i. ,.... ~
ing. ' & p i t a 1 goods. F u r t h e r , , t h e y a r e t h e main if
not:
th.s.;~gnly .source of raw1
, ' ' m a t e r i a i s f o r e x i s t i n g o r p r o j e c t e d i n d u s t r i e s . , ?JIoye.oVe~,. l i k e P i e r r e Noussa, w e t h i n k t h a t "developme&t i n t h e l e s s developed c o u n t r i e s : shouldi : . :. above a l l be based on t h e expansion of a g r i c u l t u r ~ . The f i r s t reason i s
?: ' t h a t a n i n c r e a s e i n t h e ~ v e r a l l n a t i o n a l income i s n o t th'e o a l y a s p e c t t o
1. , ~ ~. .., ,
1
, .,!
k
, .. . ." ,
1 j
, I n t r o d u c t o r y n o t e by Moise C. Mensah, FA0 r e g i o n i v e : f o rA f r i c a . . ,
j
! W.W. ~ o s t o w , "Five S t a g e s of Nations", The Economist, August
1959.
E / c N . ~ ~ / s w c D / ~ ~ Page 2
, .
be oonsidered. I t s d i s t r i b u t i o n shmild a l s o be t a k e n i n t b c o n s i d e r a t i o n . Development cannot be thought up a s a super-imposition of new urban
i n d u s t r i a l e n t i t i e s on a p r i m i t i v e r u r a l economy. Norma'lly, i n c r e a s e d
w e a l t h r e s u l t i n g from development should be s h a r e d among t h e i a c h i e v e d .
by
endeavouring t o develop. .
. .
e s a i d t h a t , w h i l e t h e y a r e n o t t h e main.
u r a l a c t i v i t i e s a t l . e a s t i n A f r i o t i u n d e r l i e t h e t o r s . . Rural development 'can: theregbm;:by
:
ag e n e r a t e t h e development of o t 5 e r s e c t o r s of t h e o l o s e examination of t h e p r o b l e
t e i s simply t o t r y and g i v e s o , t h e l i g h t of which t h e s e p r o b l
,.
a t t e m p t a t a d e f i n i t i o n i
A ' p r a k t i & d e f i n i t i o n
of
r u r a l development i s n o t 16ul.ty stema from t h e f a c t t h a t t h e . i d e a o f develo and t h a t ' t h e term r u r a l i s even more complicated... . , .. . , ,
t i m p i i e s two o t h e r s : a q u a n t i t a t i v e conoept l a t e d by t h e term growth and a q u a l i t a t i v e concept r e n d e r e d : f k i r l y a c c u r a t e l y by t h e i d e a o f well-being. Economic growth i s a phenomenon measurable i n terms of i n c r e a s e d n a t i o n a l income o r p e r c a p i t a income, o r
he number o f jobs c r e a t e d . The, second as,pect o f , t h e ,concept: of
ment i s d f a q u & i t a t i , v e n a t u r e . I t can be s a i d t h a t , . while economic wth. i n d i c a t e s a h i g h e r s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g , d e v e l o p n m t imBlies, ' i n '
. . , .
d i t i o n i f a v o u r a b l e changes i n t h e way of l i f e , a c o m p l e x n o t i o n d i f f i c u l t t i f y ahd which encompasses such v a r i o u s f a c t o r s a s the:-na,.ture: :of i n d u s t r i a l a c t i v i t y , d u r a t i o n of work, t r a n s p o r t , r e c r e a t i o n a l , a c t i v i t i e s ,
. . . . .~
h o u s i n g , h e a l t h , e t c .
! , . . ,
, .
14
t h e ' l i g h t o f t h e f o r e g o i n g , we may s a y t h a t .~ura_!._ de$elopm&t i s ' t h e outcome of a s e r i e s of q u a n t i t a t i v e and q u - a l i t a t i v e changes o c c u r r i n gamong a g i v e n r u r a l p o p u l a t i o n and whoss converging -. e . f f e o t s i n d i o a t e i n time a r i s e i n t h e s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g and f a v o u r a b l e changes i n th&:.wa;y of
-
, ..
l i f e . . .
-
. .. . , . .
I
'
his
a t t e m p t a t a : d e f i n i t i o n shows t h a t &a1 develo&ent s h o u l d be!
a n a l y s b d both from t h e s t a h d p o i n t bf i n c r e a s e d p r o d u c t i o n , which l o g i c a l l yI , promotes i n o r e a s e d revenue, and from t h e stanrlpoin-t of s o c i a l advancement . , j
1
i1
, ,> a r i s i n g from a h i g h e r l e v e l of p r o d u c t i o n and income. Further', t h e ' d 6 f i n i t i o n
~.
t a k e s i n t o , account t h e time f a c t o r . which s u g g e s t s t h a t r u r a l development i sI
,':a'
g r a d u a t e d process. The i d e a of s t a g e s developed by t h e economistW.W.
RostowI: ....
. ~, . . . . . . . . . ,. -
I >
I I:. .,
1/
P i e r r e ~ o u s s a , Nations P r o l B t a i r e s , P.U.F., 1959.i
I ;
a
1 ii
I:.
k
. .
. I
..$
.E?CN, 14/~W~i?/32 Page 3
i s a n impor%ant one because i t e n a b l e s . t h e . p l a ~ r i e r ; t o . - d i B g m s e t h e ' p ~ e s i ; n t s t a g s of t h e economy arid t o a s s e s s v a r i o u s phases of a c t i v i t i e s t o whio-L?
; , a p p r o p r i a t e m e t h d s of a c t i o n should correspond., According t o $ostow,
, . .
. . . t h e r : e a r e f i v e phases i n t h e $ r ~ c e s s of economic development. Th.9 firr,t
p h a s e - . c o ~ r e r s ' s h a t i s known a s ' t h e t r a d i t i o n a l s o c i e t y . ' The.secon6, i s a.
tra;is?~tiol-:fl S ~ Z ~diwin? ?.rbicb Z t41e economic s t r u c t u r 2 s undergo the' &angos r e q u i r e d by t h e t h i r d phase, "take-off phase." whj.chp a s i n a e r o n a u t i c s , i s the. essenti&!.. g h a s e o f t'ne ' d ~ v e l o ~ m e i i t ' p r o c e s s . T h e "take::offN
,
accni'd:.- i.ng 'tu- Xoetow'.s ow3 d e f i n i t i . 3 6 i s a r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t per<.-d of t w o ' o r ikhruc: decades during' which. t h e ec&omy and t h e s o c i e t y on which i.: ~ e i e n d s ;!:re
:
s o tPansforined tllai; economic growth becomes i n o r e ' o r l e s s s e l f - - s u s t a i n e d , .;/
, The n e x t phi;se, which,i.'s - t h e f o u r t h s t a g e , 1 s l i h e r e f o r o t h a t bf . s e l f - s u s t a i n e d growth, A t tk;e l a s f s t a g e , we have t h e h i g h mass comu?p%io?
. .
s t a g e s . . . . . ,
. . , , . ,.
- , . .
. T i e mkin. db j e c t i v e c t h a t can be s e t ' i n : r u r a l d e v e l b ~ e n t ' a r & : ~
; a l r a a d y . s u g g ~ t e . i 1 9 , d i c t a t e d b.y t h e ..salidn.t:. fea$ur,es of t h e ' r u x a l ' , ed&omy o f . t h e s o c i e t y c ~ n c b r n e d ~ . . Considering A f r i c a a s a w ~ o l e , t h e most i.&:trilci.n,.;. . ..
f e a t u r e s of i t s m a 1 economy can be i d e n t i f i e d a s follows: . . ' ..
. . . . . ,
, . . . . . - .
. . ,
) Lirnite6.~ t e c h i c a l lr~lowled&e c h a r a c t e r i z e d ' by r e i a t i v e ,.%Echilologi-:ai , . s t a g n a t i o n , which, f o l l o w i n g t h e s t a n d a r d ' p a - t t e r n o f " t d e - ~ ? . c i o u s
., . . ,
. c i : h l e of under-developments i s a t t h e same t i m i t h e caus- a-r.6
. ,
, ... . . t h e oonsequonce.of wrong l a n d u t i i i e a t i o n ; finder-emPloym+nt sf
, , ,
, . tlie a v a i l a b l e rui-il manpower? a r e l a t i v e l y lorr p e r c a p i t a - .income, and hence, a c h r o n i c s h o r t a g e of a a p i t a l f o r f i n a n c i n g " r u r + > l equipm e n t ;
. . .
, , . . ,
.. . . . . .
~ ( 2 ) Weak s t i p e r v i s o r y s t r u c t u r b i f o r rural producers ' and f a i l i x e rural.
. . . ~ i n s t i t u t i o n s , and p a r t i c u l a r l y .tile i n a d e q u a t e organj.zation of
'
: t h e domestic'ma?:ket r e s u l t i n g ' i n a m a r k 6 ' t e n d e n c ; ~
:tb
&bvplon sicport c r o p s ( i f i f d ~ t , e x p o r t monoculture) which ; A r c c f t e j i 3 l r :. ..
o n l l - p r o f i t a b l e ones.
. On: t h c b a s i s o f . ' t h e s e d a t a , we admit a s a f a c t t h a t o y A f Y i c a n econorn?.as a m i n :;he > ~ r a n s i t i & a l . phase between t h e ' t r a d i t i o n a l soaip:iy
and -:;he take-off s t a g e (the;te0hniques u s u a l l y l a g behind, b a t t h e . ~ c x o n l y , i s i ~ c r e a s i n g l y o r i e n t e d towards m a r k e t s ) , i n t h e ciroumstances, two t,
s e r i e s of o ~ . ~ P c % ~ N ~ ? s f@r r u r a l . .dev'el:opmen+, may be sr;h,ematicaily sl$ggt::dted;
cn,i ,nodium- -berm :c?b j 6 c t i v e s on t h e one hand, and longer-term ob jccti:m:ii
on t h 6 other: - - .
.,
. . .. . ' . . . .., . ---.
. , P . . , . . . ' . . , . !
3.. W O W . Rostow
-
o f Rconcmic Growth, Oxfbrdi 1960.-
' '.
.A. Short-and medium
-tern
o b j e c t i v e s... . . ,
... ..
, . , . . . i . . , , . . ,
., . , . , . ,
. ~ Ta.kin& a n
&sy
guide ,mark, t h e s e ob j e c t i v e s over a f i x e : y e a r~.
&i&oti;
> i , + ,,
, t h e d u r a t i o n of a f i v & ? e a r . phase o evelopment 'plain.During t h a t period,, we t h i n k a n a t t e m p t shduld b a c h i e v e '.faw
, .
. . .. ~. ,. ~
main g o a l s ,
.
. , ..
/ .,. . .
. .. ,
.
... F i r s t , g o d : To work, f o r an i n c r e a s e d p e r c a p i t a income f o r t h e . ~
d o n 0 ~ 6 a l l y a c t i v e p o p u l ~ t i o n s and hence fa-r' t h e e n t i r e p o p u l a t i o n . ; T h i s i m i s & s - h f i e d b y t h e f a c t ' t h a t t h e r e i s a wide g a p between tlie income:
'
0 f ' ~ ~ r k e . r ~ i n t h e r u r a l s e c t o r , p a r t i c u l a r l y
i n
agriculture,^ and t h e -income. ~ ~,
b f wdxkers~ i n o t h e r s e c t o r s . A s t u d y of dbcumelits:such a s developm&t $.3:1::
arid,, "Na,tional Accounts"' i n d i c a t e s r a t i o s of t h e o r d e r of l t o 1 0 when comparing t h e f a r m e r ' s income w i t h t h a t of t h e i n d u s t r i a l worker.. -.This r a t i o drops t o 1 / 2 0 when comparing t h e income of t h e peasant w i t h t h a t o f a n employee i n t h e s e r v i c e s s e c t o r . Such d i f f e r e n c e s a r ~ e a p t : t o f b s t e r f r u s t r a t i o n among c e r t a i n s o c i a l c l a s s e s vis-a-vi's o t h e r c i t i z e n s i n Ye.e same country. I n p o i n t of f a c t , t h i s i s t h e r e a l e x p l a n a t l o n o l t h e r ~ w a l exodus. ' I n h i s bobk " S o c i o l o g i e d e s B r a z e a v i l l e s noires;'!, Georges-3alizndicir
, . ' mentions a . s o c i o l o g i c a l survey which enabled. him t o d e t e r m i n e t h e , r e a s o n s
\ f o r t h e d r i f t , o f - r u r a l p o p u l a t i o n s towards t h e towns. : I n h i s . o p i n i o n ,
" f a m i l y i n f l u e n c e " p l a y s ' only a secondary r o l e ( i n 25 t o 30 per c e n t of t h e o a s e s ) - Economic c o n s i d e r a t i o n s a r e . t h e main r e a s o n s . . m e n i n a c a s a
.. ,determined and of "family i n f l u e n c e " , i t g e n e r a l l y comes:from tlhe b e n e f a c t o r : , s a y s B a l a n d i e r ,
t
he i n i C i a t i v e i s . .. '!Ail economically aged nan :*roqli;.. .
l i k e t o have a few young r e l a t i v e s around t o h e l p h i m o r b k a u s e he i s a l r e a d y ' t h i n k i n g of h i s s u c c e s s o r s . An e l d e r b r o t h e r i n v i t e s h i s you.rigt;r
b r o t h &
t o
come t o town i n o r d e r t o h e l p him t r y h i s l u c k u .I n c r e a s e d wages f o r t h e r u r a l worker may come e i t h e r from an ire- -a s t:
i n h i s o u t p u t o r from h i g h e r p r i c e s , ; o r , may be t h e combined e f f e c t o t both,
A
wage p o i i c y b a s e d o n h i g h p r i c e s i s n o t r e a l i s t i c , , f o r i t S r i ~ l g s a b o u t i n f l a t i o n w i t h i n t h e country; and t h i s . d e c r e a s s s t h e a c t u a l pmzhas-.&
p o w e r , & any a d d i t i o n a J income. F u r t h e r , s u c h a po1ic;- ma2- r e d u c e e x p o r t o p p o r t u n i t i e s and make p r o d u c t s l e s s c o m p e t i t i v e .Conversely, a d r o p i n p r i c e s may have an d v e r s e e f f e c t b n production, I t m a y tend- t o cancel: o u t t h e p r o f i t s expected a s a r e s u l t nf %e e f f n r i s
. .
, made t o ' i n c r e a s e t h e volume of production.
. .
. .
.
. ,. .
' I n c r e a s e d income' o f :the r u r a l worker theref0r.e i m p l i e s an bioiwase i n h i s p r o d u c t i v 5 t y . a s w e l l as g u a r a n t e e d s t a b l e p r i c e s . ..,. :The work,erls improved p r o d & t i v i t y i n d i c a t e s t e c h n o l o g i c a l p r o g r e s s and henbe a. b d t e ; . y i e l d by t h e p r o d u c t i o n f d c t o r s ( l a n d , c a p i t a l , and l a b o u r ) . A s rega-d;i p r i c e s t a b i l i z a t i o n , i t can o n l y come from a r a t i o n a l s t o r a g e and marketlr.g . . p o l i c y planned a n d . a p p l i e d by the- p u b l i c a u t h o r i t i e s , .
. . . . . . ~ . .
G , B a l a n d i e r
-
S o c i o l o g i e des B r a z e a v i l l e s n o i r e s , P a r i s ,1955.
. . .
~. . -- Second goal r T o ~ e n s u r e t h e maximum c o v e r a g e of. t h e p o p u l a t i o n ' s
- food n e e d s : . A f r i c a ' s popuLation i s now around 30.0 m i l l i o n ; . w i t h a n a n n u a l ~ r o w t h - r a t e . o f 2.5 uer c e n t ; i t i s exuected t o double by t h e end " .
.:
pf t h e c e n t u r y , From t h e s t u d y qf ' t h e c u r v e s i n d i c a t i n g p o p u l a t i o n and-
-..food. p r o d u c t i o n t r c n ~ s i n A f r i c a over t h e l a s t t e n y e a r s , . it can h e seen t h a t : t h e s e curves hav-e.~~~~~~~~~~~~~y
t h e sa,me s l o p e . I n o t h e r words, 21 c a p i t a food p r o d u c t i o n h a s b e e n a t a s t a n d s t i l l . Thus t a k i n g 100 a s t h ea b a s e , t h e mean i n d e x number of
per
food p r o d u c t i o n f o r t h e y e a r s, . 1952-1956, t h e t r e n d between
1960
and1-967
i s 5,s follows!. . .
. I t can be seen t h a t ~ 3 r capita, food p r o d u c t i o n i s m a r k i n g t i m e . I n p o i n t of f a c t , t h e above f i g u r e s , w h i c h a r e f o r t h e c o n t i n e n t a s a whole,.,do n o t t a k e i n t o account c e r t a i n s i t u a t i o n s where p r o d u c t i o n t e n d s t o d e c l i n e .
: Moreover, t h e f i g u r e s qimted i n d i c a - t e t h a t by m a i n t a i n i n g t h e p r e s e n t
. s i t p a t i o n , t h e p r o s p e c t s of improving t h e l e v e l o f , nourishment o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n of A f r i c s a s a whole a r e almost n o n - e x i s t e n t . An e f f o r t . should t h e r e f o r e be made t o i n c r e a s e food p r o d u c t i o n a t a c l e a r l y f a s t e r tempo t h a n t h e r a t e of demographic growth. This e f f o r t s h o u l d cover b o t h t h e
. .~ .
q u a n t i t a t i v e and q u a l i t a t i v e a s p e c t s i n o r d e r t h a t n u t r i t i o n a l needs may
. .
be t a k e n i n t o account.
.
When c o n s i d e r i n g t h o c o n t i n e n t ' s food p r o d u c t i o n i t s h ~ u ~ d be borne i n mind t h a t while ssmc c o y t r i e s , a s we have s t a t e d , undergo s h o r t a g e s Others a r e a l r e a d y encumbered w i t h a , s u r p I u s . Hence t h e need f o r r e e i o n a l co-operation. This i s why t h e i n i t i a t i v e taken by t h e OAU, a s s i s t e d by.
FA0
,
t o establish r e g i o n a l s t o r a g e c e n t r e s which a r e v e r i t a b l e s a v i n g s. . banks f o r stap1.e food,.products', i s t o be encouraged a s an impartant s t e p
forward i n t h ~ o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r a l m a r k e t i n g c h a i n s , t h e s t a r t i n g p o i n t f o r bn"ra-regional t r a d e t h e development o f which i s v i t a l t o A f r i s a ' s economic growth. : , F u r t h e r i n i t i a t i v e s a t sub-regional l e v e l , such a s t h e p r o j e c t f o r g r a i n , s - t a b i l i z a t i o n i n C e n t r d and West $ . f r i c a answer. ar s i m i l a r
need. . .
-
T h i r d goal:
and increasing need of f o r s l g n c u r r e n c y f o r equipment and, i n some c a s e s , f o r t h e impor% of f o o d s t u f f s t h a t t h e y cannot produce i n t h e immediate f u t u r e . For some of t h e s e c o u n t r i e s , t h e problem of t h e balance of t r a d e and t h e b a l a n c e of payments i s becoming i n d r e a s i n g l y a c u t e . I n c r e a s e d e x p o r t s of a g r i c u l k u r a l , f o r e s t r y and f i s h e r y produce u s u a l l y o f f e r a n immediate s o l u t i o n t o t h e s e d i f f e r e n t problems.
FA0
-
The S t a t e of Food and A m i c u l t u r e , 1968..While f o r e i g n . a i d . a p p r e c i a b l y h e l p s t o remedy weak p u b l i c f i n a n c e and - n a t i o n a l s a v i n g s , i t should n e v e y t h e l e s s be r e g a r h a a s a temporary s o l u -
t i o n a s f a r a s granCs a r e concerned; i t c a n be v e r y c o s t l y when l o a n s a r e
concerned. Moreover, t h e . s o u r c e s of l o a x . a r e wary of a country w i t h a -.
weak currency and shaky f i n a n c e s . A t r a d e b a l a n c e and b a l a n c e of payments t h a t a r e f a v o u r a b l e or9 bette-. s t i l l : : show a s u r p l u s nake f o r sound.
f i n a n c i a l s t a n d i n g and i n s p i r e confidence abroad. I
To maximize t h e ~rol.x.~e 051 fn>oi@ ~ ~ r j : e ? ~ j - s v a i l a b l e , e f f o r t s d i r e c t e d a t i n c r e a s e d e x p o r t s should. go hand i.n hand w i t h a r e d u c t i o n i n i m p o r t s , We have j u s t p c i n t u d out t h a t , some c o u n t r i e s a r e s t i l l compelled t o import f o o d p r o d u c t s which t h e y cannot prsdu-ce i n t h e immediate f u t u r e , Within f i v e years, however, 5.t may be p o s s i b l e t o modif'y c e r t a i n ' t r e n d s . For i n s t a n c e , a maize o r :ice i m p o r t i n g c o u n t r y , g r a n t e d f a v o u r a b l e s o i l s n d c l i m a t i c conai-ti,ons ( f o T t u n a t o l y t h i s i s o f t e n t h e c a s e i n A f r i c a ) may become s e l f - s u f f i c i e n - t ; i n d e e d i t may become a minor e x p o r t e r i n l e s s than . f i v e y e a r s . There a x examples which d e s e r v e t o be s t u d i s d and f0ll.owedO
The s u b - r e g i o n a l r i c e c?evolcpment p z c j e o t i n Y t s t A f r i o a i s based on such examp1.e~. , I f t h i s pro j o c t i s s ~ t i s f a c t o r i l y . complefed, t h e sub-Yegion w i l l have f o r e i g n currency s a v i n g s of more t h a n US$150 m i l l i o n a year.
i
Fourth ~ c a l : To reduce t h e r m a l exodus and uxder-ernplo-yment i&
--
--
countryside: -4frican agricultuze i s s t a g n a n t and A f r i c a i s t a r e a t o n e d w i t h hunger baoause, among o t h w r e a s o n s , t h e economically a c t i v e popnla- t i c n a c t u a l l y ongaged i n TL:.:~ ?rork i s growing o l d and may n o t be r e p l a c e d a t a s a t i s f a c t o r y r a t e . W i t h some s l i g h t e x a g g e r a t i o n ; one can s a y t h a t our chi!.drm. >-.e b s i ? ~ f s d 5g t h e i r g r a n d p a r e n t s and t h a t our grand-
. . c h i l d r e n run t h o r i s k of n o t b e i n g f e d by anybody, s i n c e we oursel3'es and our c h i l d r e n a r e c k s e - t i n g t h e c o u n t r y s i d e ,
According t o a aiudy made by t h e United Nations Economic Commission f o r A f r i c a , 43 p e r ~ c n t of all A f r i c a n s a r e under
15
y e a r s of 'age 'a,nd80 per c e n t s f t h e s e young p e o l l e l i v e i n r u r a l a r e a s . But i t i s w e l l known t h a t t h e y a r e o n l y d i t i n g f o r t h e f i r s t o p p o r t u n i t y t o q u i t t h e
c o u n t r y s i d e , We have. a l r e a d y i n d i c a t e d ' t h a t t h e f o r c e which d r i v e s them fowards t h e towns i s e o s r i n t i a . l i y soonomis, Thoy canaot be made t o ' s t a y i n t h e i r r u r a l $3:-irmment u n l e s s t h e economic problem f a c i n g them i s s o l v e d t o t h e i r s a t i . s f 2 . c C i w . Th-!.+ i . 2 , R Z , ? . ~ T o h i $ s . t i v o f o r any r u r a l development programme i n A f r i c a , s i n c e t h e a v a i l a b l e human r e s o u r c e s must be m o b i l i z e d and used p r o d u c t i v e l y where job o p p c r t w i t i e s ? x i s t , ' On t h e o t h e r hand, t h s s o you-rig people r e p r e s e n t t h e f u t u r a of t h e i r n a t i o n s and of t h e continsn-b; c o n o e q u e ~ t l y , t h e i r f a t e cannot b s l o f t t o chance^ without i n c u r r i n g s e r i o u s s o c i a l and p o l i - t i c a l dav:,ars, The c o n s i d e r a t i o n bf t h i s problem w i l l t h e r e f o r e % . o n e of :?,major 2 o i n t s d e a l t w i t h i n a f u r t h e r paper t o be presented t o t h e Conferenoe.
~ E / c H . . ~ ~ / s w c D / ~ ~ Page
7
.
Long-term ob j e c t l v e s (20-30 y e a r s )I f we a g r e e t h a t t h e s h o r t - t.? ri medium-term o b j e c t i v e s cover a
-< . , p r e p a r a t o r y p e r i o d d u r i n g which t h e pre-ccnditio?ls f o r take-off a s a l r e a d y
. . d e f i n e d would be l a i d down, %he long-term o b j e c t i v e s ( a perpod c o v e r i n g two o r t h r e e decades) nhculd corrnspcind t o t h e nstaClishmc<% c f ' a r u r a l
, .
' ii economy w i t h s e l f - s u s t a i n e d growth. T h i s phas,e of ecoiiomic development i s c h a r a o t e r i z e d by t h e f a c t t h a t t h e investment r a t e i n c r e a s e e i n such a w a y t h a t p e r c a p i t a p r o d u c t i o n rises and t h i s i n i t i a l i n c r e a s e b r i n g s . a b o u t r a d i c a l ohanges i n p r o d v c t i o n t e c h n i q u e s a n d i n t h e arrarigements
r e g a r d i n g income flows which e s t a b l i s h t h e new s c a l e ' of invedtment and consequently p e r p e t u a t e s t h e upward t r e n d o f p e r c a p i t a ~ p r o d u c ~ ~ c n .
-
A s , d e f i n e d above, take-off p:e--supposes n o t on -economic p l a n s , b u t a l o o s o o i a l changes. A s r e
e economy, t h e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s whether, such a transforma'tion ,can be
., - a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e expansio:2 of a g r i c u l t u r e o r =ihei;her on t h e ' c o n t r a r y , i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n i s n o t t h e b e s t instrument. We s h a l l dnoe'more r e f e r t o P i e r r e Moussa d w h o observed t h a t . even i f one c o n s i d e r s ' o n l y t h e i n c r e a s e t h e t o t a l income l e a v i n g a s i d e t h e m e r i t s of a g r i c u l t u r e a s an e q u i t a b l e
. .,
. . . . , n s f o r t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h e ' n a t i o n a l incomc: t h i s i n c r e a s e i s u s u a l l y
. ..
a i n e d more -cheaply i n a g r i c u l t u r e t h a n i n o t h e r s e c t o r s . , T h e r e a s o n , . . i s
~
. . . ,t h a t a g r i c u l t u r e a l r e a d y e x i s t s i n t h e l e s s developed c o u n t r i e s ; whereas o t h e r s e c t o r s have t o be esJcsblishe2. from s c r a t c h . ?. Moussa kdds t h a t i n many c a s e s , c o n s i d e r i n g a l l t h e econcmic a c t i f i t i e s a t t h e same c o s t , t h e most p r o f i t a b l e inves-tment i s t o provide t h e v i 1 l . g ~ ~ w i t h e x t e n s i o n
. . o f f i c e r s t o t e a c h counfry f o l k b e t t e r working-methods.
. .
.
.. . ,. ,
.
It can n e v e r be over-emphasleed t h a c i n d u s t r i a i i z , :ion r e q u i r e s a p r o d u c t i v e a p i c u l t u r e which i s b o t h a s o u r c e o f s i ' p p l j and a n o u t l e t . A f t e r t h e s e p r e l j n l n a ~ y remarks, what can t h e long-+arm o b j e c t i v e s of a r u r a l development progcamme be? We have i n n i n d two main o b j e c t i v e s .
. . .
, ,
. ,
W.W. Rostow
-
The P r o c e s s of E c c n m i c G r d G t l l . . P i e r r e Moussa--
Nations : - r o l 6 t a . i r e s . -.-."-, .- ..-.
. ~ . F i r s t o b j e c t i v e : To ensure t h e . gradual:. t r a n s i t i o n . E r o m the. s t a t u s
o f peasant t o t h a t
-df
farmer:By.
"CCzsant 6 t & . i s ' c ~ i i k p 5 0 p o s e t o d e s c r i b e a s i t u a t i o n . c h a r a c t e r i z e d by:. t e c h p l o g i c a l ba~kruzrdness and, l a c k of economic. . . . k n o , w l ~ . Q e . . h e ; u s e t h e t e r m . "farmer s t a t u s " t o d e f i n e . a :,!:{p.v , o f , ' a g r i c u l t u r a l
.
.pr.oducer, who, w i t hexperience
and adequafte productj.on f a:cixi%i'b&, .: , ,, j can a c h i e v e:
. , r e s u l t s . under fay.oura7sle ecoi?gmin c , t . n d i t l o n s - , This t r e n d , correspoilding tci, what Rostow . . c a l l & " r a d i c a l changesin
prod.v.ction t e c h n i q u e s " , i s. .. ... . n e c e s s a r y , s i n c e t h e p r o d u c t i c : ~ SyStems a p l . i e d i n . t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r u r a l "
~, . economx hardlymalce i t p o s s i b l e t o r i s e above . s u b s i s t o n o s . l e v e l . This
means l i t t l e o r n q . o p p c r t u n + t y t o s a v e and t h e % e f b r e p r a c < i o a l l y . n o i n - . . v&stment c a p a c i t y . 4 s we have a 1 r e a . d ~ s a i d , t & e - o f f . c a l l s f o r i n c r e a s e d - - . .
i n v e s ~ e n t . . I t . w i l l t h s r e f j r e be necessa::y t o . apply i n tho: r u r a l s e c t o r of
-
per -. c a p i t 9-
-.- . . . 131'03.u6tioi>9 and henoe a l e a d i n g t o a h i g h e r , r a t e . . of investment.s , a g r l c u l t u r s , z'or$2-try a.nd f i s h e r y should , ' . opment, but a . 1 ~ 6 provj.de , r e s o u r c e s f o r . .
om t h e e o x ~ o n i c n e c d s , t h o $ r a n s f o r m a t i o n emr.-:r:::nS.z;:inr?. 2f a g r i c u l t u r e , a l s o
i n r e l a t i m t o t h e yonth problem. The n t h e r u a l a r e a s . T h i s i s ' r e f l e c t e d
c c e p t i n n c v a t i o n s and r:e je.c% t h e t r a d i t i o n a l ' . . o i e n g a s i t cannot be used i n t h e
s p o t e n t i a l m a n p w r open t o p r o g r e s s ,, i v i . t i e e , e s p e c i a l l y a g r i c u l t u r e .
, . , . ,
. . . , .
Second o b j e c t i v e : To r e o r i e n t a.nd t ; i v e r s i f y . . r u r a l a c t i v i t i e s 8 ,
We have d e f i n e d t h s r u r a l s i . c t o r . a y o s s e n ~ t i a L 1 ~ . made up o f a g r i c u l t u r e (inol.uding l i v e s t o o f i r a i s i n g ) , .fares-try and f i s h e r y . T h i s d e f i n i t i o n which corresponds t o . t h e p ~ e s o n t image of A f r i c a n r u r e l 4conomy . ( a s we have
' s h o . h i t ) i s , however, theoretically i n a c c u r a t e , Undsr a.ra.:ionzl p o l i o y
. . ' of n a t i o n a l ph,lsi'cal p l a n n i n g t h e t ? r m 7 r u r a l ' s o u l d de s I r o t c h e d t o oover . ~ . .
"INDUSTRY" a s well. a s "AGRICIJLTbiRE!', We wculd t h a r e f o.r.3 suggest t h a t
... '' '
., . . r u r a l development can n o . l o n g e r , be wholly, i d e n t i f i e . & r r i t h a g r i o u l t u r a l
. :
. .development.
The d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n o f r u r a l a c t i v i t i e s iia i z C f a c t Q n e c e s s i t y and s h o u l d be a c h i e v e d once t h e b z s i c c o n d i t i o n s a r e f u l f i i L e d , I t is j u s t i f i e d
by t h e f o l l o w i n g reasons: , . . . . . . .
... - ~ ~.
. . ,..
( a ) With technol.ogioa1 p r o g r e s s , a developii?g a g r 9 0 u l t u r e g ~ & u a l l y and necessaril.5: r e l e a s e s ns.ncowr;r +haJc h a s beocrcs redundant and
unnecessary i n t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l h o l d i n g s :
:
t
( b ) On t h e o t h e r hand, a g r i c u l t u r e i s i n growing need of i n c r e a s i n g l y complex s e r v i c e s whrch should be made a v a i l a b l e by s p e c i a l i z e d n o n - a g r i c u l t u r a l o r p a r a - a g r i c u l t u r a l companies (at t h e pre- p r o d u c t i o n s t a g e : fertilizer, t r a d i n g f i r m s and r e p a i r work- shops f o r farm machinery and b u l l d i n g f l r m s ; a t t h e post-produc- t i o n s t a g e : organization r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e s t o r a g e and
m a r k e t m g of p r o d u c t s t o r t h e supply of v a r i o u s consumer goods, e t c . ) ;
( c ) Economlc p r o g r e s s i m p l i e s t h a t extremely thorough p r o c e s s m g r u c t u r e s a r e t o be found a t t h e post--production s t a g e of i o u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n - That i s an e s s e n t q l c o n d i t i o n f o r he b e s t p o s s i b l e v a l o r i z a t i o n o f p r o d u c t i o n , whether i t r e l a t e s o a g r i c u l t u r a l , f o r e s t r y o r f i s h e r y .
, , This i s where i n d u s t r i a l i ~ a t i o n comes i n . . " I n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n i s s o co&only regarhed a s a . b a s i a a s p e c t of development t h a t t h e s e two nouns
r e
o f t e n used a s 'synonyms.. , The psychologyof t h e under-developed.o u n t r i e s s h o u l d b e taken i n t o account. A f a c t o r y ohimney h e r e has t h e
, . . v a l u e of a myth. 1t , i n d i c a t e s a c o u n t r y ' s achievements, and i t s s t a t u s
, . i n . t h e modern world.. T h e r e f o r e , i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e o b j e c t i v e reas.ons ' f o r i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n , . w e m a y a d d t h i s . f u r t h e r reason: t h e absence of a . , f a c t o r y chimney' c r e a t e s a s o c i a l complex". . .
, . . .
I n our 'opinion t h i s a s s e r t i o h by P i e r r e ~ o u s s a r e f l e c t s a psycho- s o c i o l o g i c a l r e a l i t y , b u t we p r e f e r t o s u g g e s t t h a t i n d u s . t r i a l i z a t . i o n based on a g r i c u l t u r a l raw m a t e r i a l s from t h e i a n d i s a m e a n s b o t h of c r e a t i n g and d i v e r s i f y i n g employment and, i n t h e c a s e of s u b s t i t u t e a g r i - c u l t u r a l i n d u s t r i e s , a s o u r c e of f o r e j g n currency saving.' An i n d u s t r i a l i z a -
, ' ?ion p o l i c y c a n envisage medium-sized a g r i c u l t u r a l i n I d u s t r i e s a s , w e l l a s m u l t i p l e small-scale, s e q i - i n d u s t r i a l , o r i n d u s t r i a l units, based on t h e
i n t e n s i v e u t i l i i a t i o n of t h e l a b o u r f a c t o r (manpower) r a t h e r t h a n , c a p i t a l .
. . . .
. .
. . ~ e s i d d s t h . e l . d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n of a ~ t i v i t i e s ~ n a m e i y &ployment i n
r u r a l a r e a s , a ' f u r t h e r o b j e c t i v e should be t h e , r e o r i e n t a t i o n of agricultural production. 1 n : t h e develo$ed c o u n t r i e s , r u r a l economy i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by th:e f a c t t h a t i t i s p r i m a r i l y o r i e n t e d towards:dcmestic needs-,, e x p o r t -
' i n g ' o n l y t h e s u r p l u s a n d
at
t i m e s s e l l i n g t h i s s u r p l u s a t s u b s i d i z e d' p r i c e s . s i m i l a r l y , a g r i c u l t u r a l production p a t t e r n s i n , t h e take-off phase s h o u l d f i r S t 13f a l l be 'formulated i n terms of domestjc needs a n d ' s h c u l d aim, i n t e r d i a , a t t h e f o l l o w i n g g o a l s .
-
To s a t l s f y t h e n a t i o n a l food needs f u l l y from t h e q u a n t i t a t i v e and q u a l l t a t i v e s t a n d p o i n t ; b u t q u a l l t a t i v e improvement should have p r i o r i t y over t h e q u a n t i t a t i v e a s p e c t , s i n c e higher income l o g i c a l l y b r l n g s a b o u t an improvement i n t h e d i e t a r y q u a l i t y and t h e broadening of t h e spectrum o f t h e p r o d u c t s consumed;P i e r r e lkoussa
-
Nations p r o l 6 t a l r e s .E / c N , ~ ~ / s w c D / ~ ' ~
;
Page 1 0
!
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j e o p a r d i z e t h e p r o g r e s s made over l o n g y e a r s of t o i l .
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