obviously become a great challenge to our generation spreading its impact to almost
every society across the globe. The impacts largely depend on certain climate
factors’ changes; also it depends on the country’s societal, traditional, cultural,
ecological, and economic backgrounds. The impacts of climate change are already
being practically seen in many economic sectors across different regions. According
to Nzeh and Ajayi (2003), the major challenges facing humans today originate from
changes within the ecosystem. Climate change is a threat not only to the sustainable
development of socio-economic activities of countries but to the totality of human
existence. Much of the literature on the economic impact of climate change directly
reflects on agricultural activities and human health, yet the impacts of climate change
on human life goes beyond that (Surender and Amsalu 2012). All the determinants
of economic, social, and environmental sustainable developments were believed to
be affected by sustainable developments. Some scholars are even of the opinion that
climate change is the geneses of all problems to show its irreversible impacts (Griffin
2005). African countries that are experiencing the impacts of climate change have
since taken adaptation measures. Funding these adaptation initiatives required diversion of substantial resources which is another drawback to the economic progress
efforts by Africa. According to Collier and Ong (2008), increasing climate variability is already affecting crops, livestock, water resources, land, forests, and biodiversity. In terms of projections, uncertainty pervades climate change projections for
Africa. The rapid population growth in Africa fosters a huge challenge to rural
development, agriculture, and food and water security. In addition, rapid population
growth contributes enormously to unemployment issues. Accordingly, it leads to
higher rural populations, extremely rapid urbanisation, and high dependency rates,
which in hard-hit countries are accentuated by high adult mortality from HIV and
AIDS.
3.9 Conclusion
This is a conceptual study aimed at assessing the challenges and opportunities of
rural development in Africa based on related literature. In Africa, statistical evidence
shows that over 80% of the population of most African nations reside in the rural
areas. The mission of realising the desired rural development in Africa has remained
a critical issue. The rural areas have been continuously and consciously exploited
and underprivileged to the benefit of the urban areas, and the nature of most rural
development projects in Africa has unrelentingly been influenced by politics. In the
long run, this has led to a low life expectancy and high infant mortality. The majority
of the rural dwellers consider these conditions as harsh forcing massive migration
into urban areas in search of employment opportunities and better life condition for
survival. Agriculture has been the most prominent occupation among major rural
dwellers in Africa, yet rural development is accepted as much broader than agricultural development, because some other activities associated with rural development
3 Rural Development in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities
41
every society across the globe. The impacts largely depend on certain climate
factors’ changes; also it depends on the country’s societal, traditional, cultural,
ecological, and economic backgrounds. The impacts of climate change are already
being practically seen in many economic sectors across different regions. According
to Nzeh and Ajayi (2003), the major challenges facing humans today originate from
changes within the ecosystem. Climate change is a threat not only to the sustainable
development of socio-economic activities of countries but to the totality of human
existence. Much of the literature on the economic impact of climate change directly
reflects on agricultural activities and human health, yet the impacts of climate change
on human life goes beyond that (Surender and Amsalu 2012). All the determinants
of economic, social, and environmental sustainable developments were believed to
be affected by sustainable developments. Some scholars are even of the opinion that
climate change is the geneses of all problems to show its irreversible impacts (Griffin
2005). African countries that are experiencing the impacts of climate change have
since taken adaptation measures. Funding these adaptation initiatives required diversion of substantial resources which is another drawback to the economic progress
efforts by Africa. According to Collier and Ong (2008), increasing climate variability is already affecting crops, livestock, water resources, land, forests, and biodiversity. In terms of projections, uncertainty pervades climate change projections for
Africa. The rapid population growth in Africa fosters a huge challenge to rural
development, agriculture, and food and water security. In addition, rapid population
growth contributes enormously to unemployment issues. Accordingly, it leads to
higher rural populations, extremely rapid urbanisation, and high dependency rates,
which in hard-hit countries are accentuated by high adult mortality from HIV and
AIDS.
3.9 Conclusion
This is a conceptual study aimed at assessing the challenges and opportunities of
rural development in Africa based on related literature. In Africa, statistical evidence
shows that over 80% of the population of most African nations reside in the rural
areas. The mission of realising the desired rural development in Africa has remained
a critical issue. The rural areas have been continuously and consciously exploited
and underprivileged to the benefit of the urban areas, and the nature of most rural
development projects in Africa has unrelentingly been influenced by politics. In the
long run, this has led to a low life expectancy and high infant mortality. The majority
of the rural dwellers consider these conditions as harsh forcing massive migration
into urban areas in search of employment opportunities and better life condition for
survival. Agriculture has been the most prominent occupation among major rural
dwellers in Africa, yet rural development is accepted as much broader than agricultural development, because some other activities associated with rural development
3 Rural Development in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities
41