Rural life in Africa
Rural life in Africa. Poverty, according to research in Tanzania, is a affair. The majority of the people in the rural areas depend on agriculture for their livelihood. If true development is to be realized in the country then as a country, we need to reduce the problems that hinder development in the areas. However, eradication of poverty in those areas needs a combination of multiple efforts which includes but not limited to the following: education, water, agricultural modernization, markets for farmers crops, improve transport, ameliorate the source of energy, increase accessibility to electricity, ameliorate housing.
Education – Rural
Education is the most important development indicator that is so important in itself as it can influence other indicators to bring about required changes. Nelson Mandela says “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world“. This indicator is necessary for changing, ameliorating and improving people’s living standards.
When the rural and urban areas are compared the areas lag behind in many aspects of education; they have few schools, schools are of poor quality, they have few teachers, the quality of education offered is low and on and on… therefore, there is need of affirmative action for education in the rural areas.
Water -Rural
Water is an important indicator of development and ingredient necessary for living a decent human life. In many areas in Africa and Tanzania in particular, clean and safe water is still a problem. In recent years, there have been great efforts in making sure that people just like their urban counterparts have access to clean and safe water. Despite the efforts, access to water near by people’s homes in the areas is still problematic. There is still need of improving the water situation in the areas if development in the country is to be realised. The efforts registered is very much appreciated but much more is still needed.
Agriculture -Rural
This is the single most important activity carried in the areas. It is said that about 70 percent and more of the people living in the areas involve themselves with this activity. However, the contributions of the same in the income of the people is very much minimal as it contributes insignificantly to the country’s economy and even to individuals themselves. When agriculture is improved through multidimensional approaches such as amelioration of technology, facilitation of agricultural experts’ activities and so on, will very much be able to improve a the living standards of many people.
Markets
The rural people have products that need proper markets so as to sell them and thus improve their economic status. Rura people, depending on where they are, have products of different nature ranging from crops from their fields, water products from the oceans, lakes or rivers. Most villages have markets but which are not of good conditions; they need improvement so that they become attractive to buyers and will come with competitive prices to improve income of the people in the areas.
Transport -Rural
Transport is one of the important indicators of development in a society. It is transport that ensures services being realised in a society. In many parts of the areas roads are in poor conditions and at times they are passable only during dry seasons. Roads in the areas are necessary as they could very much stimulate development in those settings that at times seems neglected.
Improved roads would help in transporting quickly and efficiently goods and enable services to/from the farmers. They would facilitate provision of social services such as health care facilities, provision of portable water to the population.
Source of energy
Source of energy is necessary for people to realise and expand their choices in life while improving their standards of living. Energy is vital for life; it is necessary for most human activities ranging from cooking at home up to the energy needed in the industries. That fact reveals then that any economy needs a reliable source of energy that is friendly to both its users as well as to the environment.
It is important to have a source of energy that is environmental friendly as the move in development now is on sustainable development and we can only think of sustainable development when we have a clean source of energy that can ensure life in the future generation.
Studies reveal that most people in the areas use tree products such as fire wood and charcoal as a source of energy. This source of energy is destructive to both people’s health and to the environment as well. Therefore, there is need of improving the source of energy that people use if we are to realise development in the areas and in the country in general.
Electricity
Electricity is a source of power that in modern life it is almost impossible to conceive of a life without it. Up to 2014, in Tanzania, only a small percentage of people of less than 10 per cent had access to electricity. Thanks to the government’s efforts, through its specialised agency, it is now sending electricity with all vigour to the areas in a low cost to users.
Electricity has the potential to change and improve greatly the living standards of people in the settings. It can improve the reading habits of people from where (in books) they can find new knowledge and skills.
Moreover, it is through electricity that people can have improved agricultural activities, realiable health care services, water access, telecommunication and the list goes on and on.
