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redmamba
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Ruralization
September 24, 2008 - 03:43 PM
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Everywhere, I hear worried voices about congested cities, climate change and global warming etc etc. Don't you think it is time for shift in paradigm and is this not the way to development say in africa that rather than just talking of decentralization and devolution (politics), we talk of ruralizing our economies.
Ruralizing the economy will entail making sure only necesary industries are encouraged ( those we can absolutely not do without). Some industries are driven by good technological innovations that are not really necesary - this innovations only promote consumerism and more marginalization of the masses; what do you think or can you think of any?
Secondly, geographical placement of industries becomes of prime consern as opposed to expected returns or contribution to GDP or GNP. Green production be moved to another level, where structure of organization is designed to suit into a real rural setting and people do not have to move into settlements as workers. To a great extent, Africa necesarily can only operate agribased factories competitively; these ones can easily be immersed in rural settings and traditionalised in the way they are run such that workers care about industry effect on themselves, kin and neighbour.
Don't you think the concept of ruralization can help save the world for the grand children of my grand children?
This post was edited on: 2008-09-24 at 03:54 PM by: gideonwafula
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Rajesh
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Re: Ruralization
October 3, 2008 - 10:10 AM
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Dont you think ruralizing economy will enhances urbanization of those rural areas. 
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Hafiidhaturrahmah
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Re: Ruralization
October 4, 2008 - 12:17 PM
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do you think rural people ready for this change?
here, in indonesia, we have a trully rural area and people there is still uneducated (ew call them original ethnic)
otherside, we have rural area which is closer to medernism. They living in rural but their action just imitate urban people.
which one that also happened in ur rural area?
let me know
^_^
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redmamba
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Re: Ruralization
October 13, 2008 - 10:58 AM
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Every single day and encounter informs my conscience and intellect that the way of development is in undeveloping much of what has been developed and developing anew. The way of developing is in Unlearning what has been learnt and learning anew.
Are rural people ready for the change I desire i.e. that industries be decentralized and optimised as to suit rural settings without necesarily interfering with the rural settings? I do not know for sure but I suspect they yearn for such a state of affairs. The copying of urban ways of life is not by rational principle but due to neglect and hype( especially in Africa) about western lifestyle.
By ruralizing the economy I am advocating for a return to something very beautiful about primitive economies i.e. during the primitive days alot was produced but only that which was in tandem with natural provisions and dictates. This concept can be explored and clarified further but the basic tenet is: the crowding in urban centres and the abstract structures that current economies are built around are not stable and sustainable enough.
If economies are ruralized, for me it means people not having to migrate to urban areas. secondly; using modern technology, home offices will become ideal.
All that will have to be enhanced is infrastructure for easy movement of finished goods and some raw inputs. What do you think?
This post was edited on: 2008-10-13 at 11:05 AM by: gideonwafula
This post was edited on: 2008-10-13 at 11:14 AM by: gideonwafula
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Nikki
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Re: Ruralization
February 9, 2009 - 02:54 PM
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I think a focus on returning to rural areas could be a really good idea. Inner cities especially seem to have trouble gaining access to and distributing such vital natural resources as produce. Because of the way technology is developing, people's physical presence is not always necessary for business; things can be accomplished online or through conference calling. Access to specialized items, too, is no longer a trait only of the cities, as products and resources can be purchased or traded over the internet. I think we are coming to a point where not only is deurbanization more eco-friendly, but the supposed benefits of the city are lessening over time.
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redmamba
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Re: Ruralization
May 28, 2009 - 04:41 PM
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Thanks for those who have contributed to this post. In Kenya, my country, I have just listened to a minister for the Metropolis (what they want Nairobi our capital city to be) rant on and on about de-congesting the city. He talked firmly and passionately about how the city is crammed and why we need parking spaces away from the city center with other means sought to ferry people into the city.
Kenya is not an industrial country; our economy is an agricultural based with tourism and mining being the next major contributors. this means that a majority of those people in the city are cheap hands either working in offices or traders especially hawkers in the streets.Majority of Kenyans are employed as sales people of such commodities as clothing and electrical appliances.
Decentralization anchored on devolution and consequently Ruralization would work in the best interest of all. traders would sell more, if the rural areas were activated i.e. force people who need things like electrical appliances back to the rural areas and need for appliances would spread across the country. it is funny that all ministries are housed in Nairobi the capital city. We need some of those e.g. Ministry for North Eastern Kenya and Arid lands be decentralized so that the minister be closer to the people in Arid lands.
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Wangchuk Chungyalpa
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Re: Ruralization
May 30, 2009 - 01:57 PM
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For most developing countries, rural development has always posed a challenge. Despite economic gains, rural areas remain poor in much of the developing countries. The following are some key points on why rural development poses such a huge challenge:
1. Lack of proper infrastructure
Rural areas lack proper infrastructure to support industries, such as roads, bridges, highways, electricity, access to water etc. Unless these basic “challenges” are first met, rural development remains a distant possibility.
2. Lack of educated and skilled work force.
Most of the rural areas are agricultural based. Thus generation after generation, farmers have remained farmers. However, this is changing particularly in rapidly developing economies that are providing more opportunities for employment to new generation of farmers, thus leading to growing urbanization.
Posted below due to text limitation ....
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Wangchuk Chungyalpa
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Re: Ruralization
May 30, 2009 - 01:58 PM
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3. Lack of economically viable markets.
In many countries, particularly in Africa, rural areas are very thinly populated and distributed. As a result, it is difficult for businesses to provide their products and services and realize a reasonable return. Even when it is relatively densely populated as in India, it can still be a challenge because of lack of purchasing parity of the rural population. However, in a rapidly growing economy such as India, all these are changing. Due to highly targeted effort by the national government, rural areas are prospering and growing and is in fact seen as the engine for economic growth.
4. Industry regulations and labor laws
Industry regulations and labor laws play a critical role in ushering development – urban or rural. Stringent labor laws and highly regulated and protective industry laws can stifle development as it provides little impetus for new business ventures. Yet, particularly in the agricultural sector, trade regulations, policies and tariffs form a very sensitive issue. In much of the developing world the agricultural sector is characterized by small farmers of which a large portion are subsistence farmers. Since these farmers lack the education and the skills to seek livelihood in other sectors protecting the farmers is a top priority for the national government. One of the reasons for the failure of the Doha trade talks was inability to come to a consensus on agricultural subsidies and tariffs.
Ruralization is a sequential process [i]and governments will find it difficult to realize long lasting rural development by implementing short and fast measures, ie establishing industries in rural areas.
At the core of ruralization lies capacity building i.e. infrastructural development, education, development of markets, industries, employment opportunities, equitable distribution of wealth and more.
This post was edited on: 2009-05-30 at 02:00 PM by: Wangchuk
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prieten47
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Re: Ruralization
June 6, 2009 - 09:22 AM
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This is a very interesting topic. Where is the world's economy going? Will India, China and the rest of the "developing world" be able to attain the same level of development (and consumption) as the so-called "developed world"? The contributor from Sikkim seems to think so.
Everyone knows the high level of development in the developed world was achieved during an era of relatively cheap oil and other resources. Can this model of development be used in the developing world? Both China and India are trying to do this. Before the financial meltdown hit the developed world, the world economy was experiencing its first "limits to growth". The prices of oil, other mineral and even food commodities were reaching new records almost every day.
I think it is safe to assume, once the financial mess has been sorted out, that these limits to growth will once again come to the forefront. Is that all we have to look forward to, more food riots and waiting in line for gasoline?
Some advocate a "relocalization" of the world economy as an alternative. Maybe this is similar to the title of this thread "ruralization". Industrial production should return closer to home and local food production should be emphasized instead of food imports. This trend would offer a different future for us and our children.
The problem is can relocalization or ruralization really satisfy the ever-growing world's population (which is expected to top 9 billion by 2050)? This may not be possible. There might not be enough arable land in the world to feed this burgeoning world population, especially if we cannot rely on the availability of cheap energy and other fossil fuel based agricultural inputs.
Once the oil price shoots up again, relocalization is perhaps inevitable, but it will cause great disruptions as urbanization begins to unravel.
I personally see the agrarian way of life as a more sustainable economy for the world than American-style development. But I fear the panic that will set in when urban dwellers start flooding into the countryside, looking for food!
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redmamba
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Re: Ruralization
June 10, 2009 - 05:53 AM
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I like the Questions asked by contributors. Sincerely, what do we expect? what will be of this world in the next 100 years?
Much of what is not necessary needs be done away with. Do we all need cars? Do we need this stuffy cities that have sprouted all over the world? Urbanization was as a result of people seeking greener pastures; what they did not realize is that they were enslaving themselves to life styles that are not sustainable in the long run.
A lot of world resources are spend on industries producing very unnecessary items. In as long as the issue of world population control is still relevant; thinking more in terms of people engaging in more basic trades like food production and Eco-management would be more beneficial than say development of robots, weaponry, cars, toys etc.
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prieten47
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Re: Ruralization
June 10, 2009 - 08:38 PM
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Redmamba, I think you and I are very much in agreement. The old American model of economic development is unsustainable. I am sure that when oil and other resources become very expensive again, the relocalization/ruralization trend will become inevitable.
History tells us, however, a cautionary tale. Julius Nyere's "Ujamaa" policy in Tanzania was such a relocalization, self-reliance effort in Africa. I think it must have been a failure since Tanzania has largely aboandoned it.
I know Tanzania is not Kenya, but can you tell us in your opinion whether Ujamaa is a viable model for African self-reliance? What went wrong? What could make it successful?
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redmamba
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Re: Ruralization
June 14, 2009 - 06:31 AM
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It is a tricky discussion, that is why I agree that caution and conscious deliberations are necessary.
Mwalimu Nyerere thought wisely and his Ujamaa concept is laudable. However, it was more hinged on communism than capitalism. Necessarily, the capitalist influence or reactions from beyond and around Tanzania must have contributed to failure. Secondly, the inherent limitations and paradoxes in communism or socialism also necessitated its failure.
Having learnt from history, it is clear that the Ujamaa kind of arrangement, communal ownership etc can not work. however, there is a lot to learn from it if Re-localization or Ruralization are to be tenable possibilities.
At some point, I think governments in Africa will have to reclaim land (assert more state control and ownership of land). this will go against the excessive subdivision of land on which the rural people do subsistence farming. It will also discourage ownership of unused tracts of land by a few individuals. State sponsored/directed farming can help towards achievement of economies of scale in food production, communal ownership of land has to be encouraged (ujamaa).
The government has to focus more on educational opportunities that encourage self reliance, away from established cities. For example, if we were training scientists, we do not need them in the city centers - they can quietly work from a village home.
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prieten47
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Re: Ruralization
June 14, 2009 - 08:48 PM
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gideonwafula wrote:
Having learnt from history, it is clear that the Ujamaa kind of arrangement, communal ownership etc can not work. however, there is a lot to learn from it if Re-localization or Ruralization are to be tenable possibilities.
At some point, I think governments in Africa will have to reclaim land (assert more state control and ownership of land). This will go against the excessive subdivision of land on which the rural people do subsistence farming. It will also discourage ownership of unused tracts of land by a few individuals. State sponsored/directed farming can help towards achievement of economies of scale in food production, communal ownership of land has to be encouraged (ujamaa).
The government has to focus more on educational opportunities that encourage self reliance, away from established cities. For example, if we were training scientists, we do not need them in the city centers - they can quietly work from a village home.
Thank you for that explanation of Ujamaa.
I agree taking the land away from the farmers is very problematic. Private ownership does bring inefficiencies with it as the land is more and more subdivided with each generation of children. I read an interesting chapter on Rwanda and how the farm plots kept getting smaller and smaller which contributed to the genocide there ("Collapse" by Jared Diamond). However, it cannot be denied that a private owner takes much better care of his/her land since survival often depends on it. History is full of failed collectivization efforts. Perhaps government could help with the reallocation and consolidation of disconnected small plots.
I am not sure I understand the advantage of having scientists work in isolated villages. Often the university environment is the best for fermenting scientific discovery and training future scientists.
This post was edited on: 2009-06-14 at 09:01 PM by: prieten47
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redmamba
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Re: Ruralization
June 15, 2009 - 04:14 AM
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My last Post seemed to have a contradiction of sorts. However, it has to be viewed more of a paradox i.e. private ownership as ideal and yet not ideal; government control of land as ideal and yet private developers have proved that they can do a better job.
However, the point I was laboring with is that "there has to be a way of avoiding Multi-subdivision of land if sustainable development is to be achieved". secondly "there has to be a way of dispersing the population rather than cramming people in cities".
the scientist example was not well thought through, I agree. However, I mentioned scientists because, although I appreciate the need to work together in an enabling environment, some studies that do need physical presence and collaboration, could rely on technology e.g. e-conferencing for sharing ideas or project progress.
When we mention village, many are quick to imagine the backward, neglected villages like the one I come from. However, with good planning, a simple investment in technological infrastructure and better shelters, our rural villages are most ideal places from where individuals can pursue academic researches in quiet and peace.
All said and done, re-localization or ruralization may be looked at by many as utopia; I agree with those that may consider it as such. However, we live what was fantasy or mere dreams for our Fathers.
As world population soars, as cities become more and more stuffy, and climatic change continues to threaten our survival as a race; then either humanity will seek to annihilate some a people for survival or Humanity will have to come together and think more closely. Trusting that people are born to care for and not annihilate one another; communal ownership may just be the thing as opposed to Personalized or private ownership. In a few hundred years, may be personal good or desires will no longer make sense but rather the communal good or survival of mankind per se will be the greatest concern. May be such a concern will make communal ownership more tenable.
As things stand in the now; God for us all and each Wo/Man for her/himself seems unchallengeable.
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prieten47
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Re: Ruralization
June 16, 2009 - 02:11 AM
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I agree with your apprehensions completely. "Urban sprawl" can't go on forever. The cities will become uninhabitable when cheap energy is no longer available. The city dwellers will leave the cities and fan out into the countryside, looking for food and shelter. It is a very apocalyptic vision!
Can countries plan for this now? When oil prices became very expensive last summer, I thought maybe the poor farmers of Africa would finally get a fair price for their farm products, because cheap grain could no longer be imported. But oil prices came down again. I read that the violence that accompanied the Kenyan elections also disrupted farm production when many farmers were driven off their land.
Zimbabwe is a very sad case of a government destroying the farming sector to reward its political supporters.
Where are the new leaders of Africa who will try to make Africa self-sufficient in farming economy again?
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