Population agriculture and the environment in Africa.

An overview is provided of the World Bank study about the interaction between rapid population growth poor agricultural performance and environmental degradation. The links between these 3 phenomena are identified as traditional methods of crop and livestock production land tenure systems womens responsibilities and methods of forest use. When land was abundant and capital limited pastoralism shifting cultivation and setting aside fallow land was possible. Mobility and allowances for natural regeneration of vegetation could not continue with rapid population growth. Permanent settlements developed but cultivation methods remained the same; the result was deterioration of soil fertility low yields and erosion of soil as occurred in Rwanda Burkina Faso and parts of Nigeria. Technological innovation has been slow and poor roads have interfered with a market oriented economy. Inappropriate pricing exchange rates and fiscal policies also prevent productivity gains. A heavy demand is placed on womens time. Demand for children is high and is stimulated by environmental degradation food insecurity land tenure systems and cultural traditions. Child labor is needed. The demand for contraception is 30-50% in North Africa 36-55% in Asia and 40-60% in South America. Land ownership problems have arisen under community ownership and between herders and settlers. Solutions have ranged from land nationalization and arbitrary designation of individual ownership. Open access situations have developed and lent themselves to exploitation. Fuelwood needs have exacerbated the destruction of forests. Commercial logging accounted for 10-20% of the forest loss. New approaches are needed to link cross-sectionally population the environment an agriculture. Emphasis should be on resource conservation family planning and environmentally benign intensive farming. Agricultural production needs to grow at 4%/year fertility lowered by 50% over 30 years and deforestation slowed. Womens time constraints should b alleviated and productivity improved. Open access and state ownership should be stopped.