Africa is the economically most backward part of the world economy. According to the main indicators of economic and social development it is significantly inferior to other regions. Africa ranks last in terms of industrialization, transport security, health and science development, crop yields and livestock productivity. In terms of its share of global GDP (4.5%), Africa is ahead only of sparsely populated Australia.
Agriculture in Africa
Leading Industry Agriculture Africa - crop production. In the structure of crop production, two directions are distinguished: the production of food crops for local consumption and the production of export crops.
Crops consumed in African countries include millet, sorghum, rice, wheat, maize, cassava (or cassava), yams and sweet potatoes (yams).
The main grain crops of the African continent - millet and sorghum - are cultivated almost everywhere. Corn is the main food crop of the savannah zone. Wheat crops are concentrated in North Africa and South Africa. Rice is mainly grown in well-watered areas East Africa(Nile Valley, Madagascar, etc.). The scale of production of wheat and rice does not cover the internal needs of the region, so many African countries import wheat and rice.
African agriculture in the international geographical division of labor is represented primarily by branches of tropical and subtropical agriculture. Africa excels in the production of cocoa beans (60%), cassava (42%), sisal (41%), palm nuts (39%), peanuts (27%), coffee (22%), millet and sorghum (20%), olives (16%), tea (12%). African countries also major exporters citrus fruits, grape wines, tobacco, tropical wood.
The population of Africa is very complex in its ethnic composition. Both ethnic and linguistic diversity were aggravated by colonization, which divided historical, cultural and linguistic zones with related peoples into a large number of colonial possessions, which predetermined the multinational composition of the population of modern independent states. There are great differences in the level of social development of the peoples of Africa: from clan groups (Bushmen) to large peoples with established feudal relations (Hausa, Kanuri, Fulbe, etc.) and multimillion-dollar nations (Algerians, Tunisians, etc.). The development of national processes is closely intertwined with the general socio-political and economic development society. Along with the trends of rapprochement between different peoples within modern states There are tendencies towards the isolation of individual ethnic groups. The struggle of these opposing tendencies has a great influence on the course of national and socio-economic development African countries.
It is widely believed that African agriculture has enormous natural potential to grow and achieve food self-sufficiency. However, in our opinion, the effective implementation of this potential is possible by carrying out market reforms in the following directions.
Natural resources
Despite the abundance of natural water resources, their distribution on the continent is uneven, and today Africa is not able to intensify agricultural production only through irrigation and improved water management, water collection and storage. Sub-Saharan Africa uses less than 4% of its water resources and uses less than a quarter of all land available for rain-fed grain production. Wet savanna agroecology has enormous potential to increase crop and livestock production. It could benefit from lessons learned in other regions, such as the innovations that have led to significant increases in production in Campos Cerrados, Brazil. According to FAO estimates, the potential additional land, suitable for cultivation, amounts to more than 700 million hectares. But at the same time it should be noted that the use of these natural resources and the creation of new farmland will require huge investments in infrastructure and technology, as well as appropriate guarantees that there will be no negative impact on environment.
New agricultural technologies
The main challenge to achieving agricultural productivity growth in Africa is the diversity of agro-ecological conditions and agrotechnical backwardness farms. Yield gains associated with high-yielding varieties in countries Africa
sub-Saharan Africa is much lower than other regions, partly due to poor agricultural extension services and infrastructure. Real option may represent conservation agriculture, given the climate, infrastructure situation, capital and labor shortages in some areas of Africa. A significant increase in livestock farming would be facilitated by the use of progressive methods of livestock breeding, veterinary medicine and other production and processing technologies in different levels. With locally adapted technologies, the region could also benefit from significant fisheries and aquaculture opportunities.
Farming potential
Small peasant farms using backward agricultural technology are the dominant form of organizing agricultural production in Africa. At the same time, agricultural growth, especially in the production of basic products, and the reduction of hunger and poverty are closely related to the growth of labor productivity in small-scale agriculture. Local food systems are being transformed into globally integrated ones that are more knowledge-based and capital-intensive agricultural practices. Cheaper capital, the attraction of new technology and greater opportunities for off-farm employment are factors driving consolidation optimal size farms The result over time could be an increase in average farm size, consolidation of land, and increased commercialization of agriculture in general. In this regard, there is an urgent need for the implementation of locally adopted programs and plans in order to increase the potential of small farmers and their competitiveness in the domestic and foreign markets.
Increased investment
African agriculture is extremely undercapitalized. Insufficient investment in agricultural value chain development and support services has a detrimental impact on the food security of the majority of poor and hungry people living in rural areas whose livelihoods depend directly or indirectly on agriculture. Creating a favorable investment climate in the agricultural sector of the African economy is impossible without well-functioning organizations that effectively secure and protect the property rights of entrepreneurs, promote the development of trade, reduce risks and promote the coordinated actions of business entities.
Reducing imports
In recent decades, many of Africa's least developed countries have become even more dependent on imported food products. This dependence is not in itself a serious problem as long as it is possible to develop other export sectors to generate income to pay for food imports and guarantee the availability of food raw materials. Consumers in these countries can benefit from low prices on imported products, due, among other things, to government subsidies to farmers in rich countries. However, the recent surge in prices has exposed the fragility of this position and at the same time highlighted the challenges that farmers, particularly small farmers in developing countries, face in trying to increase production in response to high prices. For sub-Saharan Africa, providing food security associated with their increase own production food to the level of self-sufficiency.
Climate change mitigation
Overall, climate change is expected to negatively impact agriculture, forestry and fisheries in most parts of Africa, including the most common extreme natural phenomena, such as floods and droughts, although in some regions it may lead to increased precipitation and improvements in other climatic parameters. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, rain-fed crop yields in sub-Saharan Africa could fall by 50% by 2020. Climate change must be factored into overall agricultural and risk reduction work plans, and capacity for agricultural technology development must be strengthened. Particularly urgent is the need to breed crops and livestock breeds adapted to changing climatic conditions, and the introduction of innovations to increase the content of organic matter in the soil.
Institutional reforms
Government institutions involved in agriculture in Africa are particularly weak in the poorest countries. It is necessary to create structures to support farmers and strengthen the activities of national and regional markets.
Africa's place in the world economy is considered the most backward in the world, although its economy is multi-structured in terms of socio-economic type. This is due to the fact that most of the population is within the pre-capitalist framework of structures and relationships.
Features of the way of life of African countries
The majority of the population is characterized by a patriarchal-communal structure; this applies to Tropical Africa and North Africa. In those zones where there is nomadic and semi-nomadic livestock farming, the feudal way of life is preserved.
The basis of the domestic economy are small producers; they are the main suppliers of agricultural products for the African market and for export. Great importance Foreign capital plays a role in Africa's economy.
He takes strong positions in countries such as Gabon, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and Morocco. Foreign enterprises account for up to 50% of GNP for half of the countries in this region.
State-owned enterprises are of great importance for the African economy; with its help, they try to solve problems of employment and limit the influence of foreign capital. The influence of state-owned enterprises is particularly pronounced in Angola, Tunisia, Algeria and Mozambique.
Such enterprises are characterized by such sectors of the economy as electricity, transport, mining and manufacturing, and foreign trade.
African economic structure
Africa's insignificant place in the world economy is due to low level development of production forces in the country. It is also important that the country’s agriculture is based on archaic types of farming and unmodern agricultural technology.
Obviously, this leads to lower productivity levels, especially compared to other countries. In Africa, nomadic livestock farming and slash-and-burn agriculture are common, which are low-productive and ineffective.
The territorial structure of the economy is disproportionate and uneven. This concerns the location of productive forces and the partial absence of inter-district economic ties. Regions in which the productive forces of countries are concentrated, small areas that have agricultural potential and rich mineral resources.
For most African countries, single-commodity specialization of the economy is common, and a significant part of export products is sold in unprocessed form. Bad condition For economic development and trade, most African countries are cut off from the outside world.
Sectors of the economy are determined by natural and climatic conditions, and the bulk of the population lives near rivers and other water sources. Therefore, subsistence farming predominates here. Africa is home to 26 least developed countries, out of a total of 36 in the world.
Many African countries are developing agricultural countries, among them are agro-industrial Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, Algeria and Zambia. Foreign trade is of decisive importance, despite the fact that it has an undeveloped structure of trade turnover.
Africa is the economically most backward part of the world economy. In terms of main indicators of economic and social development, it is significantly inferior to other regions. Africa ranks last in terms of industrialization, transport security, health and science development, crop yields and livestock productivity. In terms of its share of global GDP (4.5%), Africa is ahead only of sparsely populated Australia.
Industry of the region.
In the international division of labor, Africa is represented by products mining industry. Its share in world production is especially large:
|
Product type |
Share |
Main exporters of the region |
|
South Africa, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Guinea, Botswana |
||
|
Cobalt ores |
Mozambique |
|
|
Khromitov |
Botswana |
|
|
Manganese ores | ||
|
Phosphorites | ||
|
Copper ores |
Zambia, Zaire |
|
|
oil and gas |
Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Congo, Gabon |
The products of the mining industry have a pronounced export orientation, i.e. weak connection with the local manufacturing industry. This is due to the fact that manufacturing industries in most countries are at a nascent stage.
Among the manufacturing industries, textile and food industries have received the greatest development. The leading branches of the textile industry are the production of cotton fabrics (England, Sudan, Algeria), the food industry - the production of vegetable oils (palm, peanut, olive), coffee, cocoa, sugar, winemaking, canned fish.
Agriculture
Africa's leading agricultural sector - crop production. There are two areas in the structure of crop production: the production of food crops for local consumption and the production of export crops.
Crops consumed in African countries include millet, sorghum, rice, wheat, maize, cassava (or cassava), yams and sweet potatoes (yams).
The main grain crops of the African continent - millet and sorghum - are cultivated almost everywhere. Corn is the main food crop of the savannah zone. Wheat crops are concentrated in North Africa and South Africa. Rice is mainly grown in well-moistened areas of East Africa (Nile Valley, Madagascar, etc.). The scale of production of wheat and rice does not cover the internal needs of the region, so many African countries import wheat and rice.
African agriculture in the international geographical division of labor is represented primarily by tropical and subtropical industries agriculture. Africa excels in the production of cocoa beans (60%), cassava (42%), sisal (41%), palm nuts (39%), peanuts (27%), coffee (22%), millet and sorghum (20%), olives (16%), tea (12%). African countries are also major exporters of citrus fruits, grape wines, tobacco, and tropical wood.
Livestock in the region is subordinate to agriculture, with the exception of countries where agriculture is limited by natural conditions (Mauritania, Somalia, Lesotho, etc.). Livestock farming is characterized by low productivity (due to low breeding). It is based on a backward production and technical base.
Nomadic, semi-nomadic and transhumance-pastoral livestock farming predominates. The main branches of livestock farming are sheep breeding (wool and meat-and-wool), cattle breeding (mainly meat), and camel breeding.
Agriculture experiences great difficulties due to periodic droughts, livestock diseases (tsetse fly) and other negative phenomena.
Desertification and deforestation have become environmental disasters in Africa. The main area of drought and desertification is the Sahel zone, which stretches along the southern borders of the Sahara from Mauritania to Ethiopia across ten countries. This zone is famous for the fact that not a single rain fell here between 1968 and 1974, and droughts recurred several times in the 80s. The Sahel turned into a scorched earth zone, and this phenomenon began to be called the “Sahel tragedy.”
Transport The region is characterized by an underdeveloped transport system. During the era of colonialism, only sea and railway transport developed in the interests of the metropolises (although the length of railways was small). Road and air transport are now developing.
For some countries in Central and East Africa, a large economic importance has an internal water transport. By length, the basins of the Congo, Nile and Niger rivers stand out in terms of intensity of use.
Maritime transport mainly provides external relations for the countries of the region. The Strait of Gibraltar, which separates Africa and Europe (its distance is only 14 km), and the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas, are of great importance for shipping.
If we consider the economies of the countries of the region, it should be noted that after gaining independence, the share of industry and non-production spheres in their sectoral structure increased, but still in most countries it remains colonial type of industrial structure farms. Its distinctive features:
the predominance of small-scale, low-productivity agriculture;
poor development of the manufacturing industry;
severe backlog of transport;
restriction of the non-productive sphere mainly to trade and services;
one-sided economic development.
In many countries, the lopsidedness of the economy has reached the level monocultures, which is understood as single-commodity specialization of the country’s economy (narrow specialization in the production of one, usually a raw material or food product, intended mainly for export).
Monoculture countries in Africa:
|
Share in country's exports |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Oil and petroleum products |
Ferrous and non-ferrous metal ores, uranium, diamonds |
Food products and agricultural raw materials |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Botswana | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Congo (Zaire) | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Mauritania | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Mauritius | |||||||||||||||||||||
African countries import mainly machinery and equipment, industrial goods, and food.
Energy in Africa remains at a very low level. In terms of electricity production per capita, African countries lag behind other regions of the world. Only South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Libya have more or less acceptable indicators of electricity production. Despite the fact that Africa has certain reserves primary sources energy (oil, gas, coal), most of it is exported. Hydropower resources are not yet fully utilized. For example, the hydroelectric potential of the Congo River is much higher than that of the Amazon, although it carries 5 times into the ocean less water. This is explained by the fact that in the 300-kilometer section of its lower course the river drop is 275 m with 32 waterfalls and rapids. Here it is possible to build hydroelectric power stations with a total capacity of 80-90 million kW, which is approximately equal to the capacity of all hydroelectric power stations in the United States.
Prepared by: geography teacher Shaikhina Ainagul Zhanabaevna
Mostly good news for Africa's economy Jonathan Glennie Global d.
IN South Africa The world's largest diamond was mined.
the largest was raised in South Africa
in human history, a diamond weighing 3,106 carats (621.2 g).
All kinds of mining of mineral resources
leads to the formation of huge holes in
the earth's crust after mining is completed.
Huge “scars” are visible from space... 9.
The Big Hole, Kimberley, South Africa.
State in southeast Africa,
former Portuguese colony, independent
state since 1975.
NefisWeb Forumları - Afrika "da Elmas Çıkar mı. Çıkarsa. Nasıl Çıkar?
An unusual pink lake is located in the vastness of Africa
But the color of the lake is not due to the fact that it is so
Littered, but only because
it contains many minerals.
Export and import of wheat. Africa.
Nascent Industry
In addition to mining, an important industry
Africa's economy is agriculture
- grow peanuts, cocoa, coffee, spices, dates.
True story coffee begins from the moment
When coffee trees come from Africa
to Yemen. This is the second home of coffee.
Here for the first time they began to grow it on plantations and consume it .
Primitive Africans with their
customs and traditions
Severe weather and economic barriers
undermine African agriculture.
East Africa is on the brink of famine
and poverty - 13 million people in this
region are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
There are countries where there are no mineral resources
and agriculture is not developed, where children
suffer from hunger and die in agony...
- IN modern world North Africa appears as a region inhabited predominantly by Arabic-speaking peoples with ancient traditions in crafts, irrigated agriculture, and nomadic livestock raising. A significant part of its member countries is concentrating their efforts on developing an independent economy.
- North Africa is an important region for the production of oil, gas, phosphorites, and iron ore, which go mainly to the world market. Cotton, olives, citrus fruits, grapes and other agricultural products also come there from North African countries. Many countries in the region have built and are creating large enterprises manufacturing industry
- West Africa covers zones of tropical deserts, savannas, humid tropical forest- between the Sahara and the Gulf of Guinea. On the motley political map In West Africa you can find the most populated country on the continent - Nigeria, and countries with a very small population, areas of developed commercial farming (mainly export-oriented) and areas of subsistence and semi-subsistence farming.
- Most countries in the region grow food crops to meet population demand. In the savannah these are sorghum and millet, in the tropical forest zone they are cassava, yams, and sweet potatoes. West African commercial agricultural production exports peanuts, oil palm fruits and kernels, natural rubber, cocoa, and coffee. The export of mineral raw materials is important: iron ore, bauxite, oil, diamonds, gold, tin.
- Central Africa, located in zones of tropical rainforest and savannah and inhabited mainly by Bantu peoples, has great natural resources, which include huge hydro resources (primarily the Congo (Zaire) basin), various minerals, vast tracts of forests, savannah pastures . These huge resources are still far from being fully utilized, and most of all valuable mineral raw materials are utilized.
- Central Africa is a major supplier to the world market of industrial diamonds, copper, cobalt, as well as manganese, tin and some other mining products.
- The nature of East Africa is very diverse, which is explained not only by the large elongation of the region from north to south, but also by its complex, highly dissected topography. East Africa combines sultry deserts and humid forests, a variety of savannas and woodlands. And when climbing the highest mountain ranges, you can reach eternal snows and glaciers.
- The ethnic composition of the population of East Africa is mosaic, which is manifested in linguistic diversity. The economies of the countries in the region are diverse, most of which are exporters of tropical agriculture and livestock products: coffee, tea, food coconut tree, cloves, sugar, pepper.
- In South Africa, located in the subtropical and partly tropical latitudes of the southern hemisphere with diverse landscapes (from forest to desert), there is the most economically developed country on the continent - the Republic of South Africa, which supplies a large amount of valuable mineral raw materials to the world market. The manufacturing industry has developed significantly in this country.
- The most important sectors of the economy are under the control of national and foreign capitalist monopolies. Some countries in the region are, to one degree or another, economically connected with South Africa, supplying labor, receiving enslaving loans from South Africa, etc. The economic weakness of many African countries, the limited natural and labor resources and at the same time the desire to achieve full economic independence based on policy
