Cultivate Africa’s arable lands to enhance the prosperity of African countries

The present economies of African countries are primari­ly based on agriculture, whilst those of Euro-American and Asia countries do rely heavily on industries.

Britain, America, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, China etc are highly indus­trialised countries; and this condition constitutes the bed rock of their economies.

African countries are yet to measure up to the description of being highly industrialised, owing to the low level of technology and technical – know – how that is prevailing in African countries.

The Industrial Revolu­tion took place in Europe between the 15th and 16th centuries which was charac­terized by drastic changeS from manpower way of pro­duction of goods to machine driven power.

This situation made it pos­sible for the mass production of goods to serve the needs of mankind.

Some typical examples of machines that were invented for the production of goods and services were combine harvesters, tractors etc.

This situation drastically changed Europe’s agricultural state of production of goods to highly industrialised state.

As time went on, indus­trial production of goods became the order of the day in Europe and swallowed up agriculture based economies of Europe, making them fully industrial based.

Europe arrived at this situ­ation due to the fact that the lands of Europe are limited and sparsely cultivable as compared to those of Africa.

From the foregoing analy­sis, one can infer that Africa’s present situation favors fully developed agricultural based economies.

Although, it may be doing this kind of job by now, the African Development Bank must emphasize and focus more in helping African countries to develop their agricultural potential to build their economies; its modus operandi must be for African countries’ agricultural devel­opment.

African countries’ loans solicited must be directed to investment in the agricultural sector.

Certain parts of Africa where rainfall is sparse and not sufficient to support much agricultural food and agricultural production should resort to irrigation system for food and agricul­tural productions.

This will contribute to abundant food supply to feed Africa; and to offset the hith­erto dependence on Europe and elsewhere.

Africa is a huge continent lying dormant like a sleeping giant, and when all its gifted natural resources are har­nessed, well organised, and directed, it can become the food basket to the world to change its present position of being dependable to the rest of the world for its survival, progress, development and prosperity.

In order for Africa to assert her rightful position in the world today, I advocate the following actions to be taken by African countries today;

1. Work collectively to annihilate the influence of evil force of neocolonialism.

2. Pay particular atten­tion to the development of agro-based economies.

3. Pay particular at­tention to the development of technology and technical know-how for the harnessing and exploitation of her abun­dant natural resources.

4. Plan a gradual pace of industrialisation.

5. Eschew divisiveness, sectionalism and over-ambi­tion.

6. Work collectively very hard and sacrificially for the quest of a continental African Union government.

In conclusion, I have the optimism that, if the above stated ideal conditions man­ifest on the African conti­nent at this time of the 21st century of recorded history, Africa will definitely re-assert herself; and become very wealthy, great and powerful to fulfill her great destiny.

BY MICHAEL AKENOO: THEATRE CRITIC