| dc.description.abstract |
To reduce poverty, the logical and paramount goal of African countries should
be to pursue policy objectives of sustainable development. Sustainable development
entails the harmonization of population growth with utilization and exploitation of natural
resources through redirection and re-orientation of research and development, as
well as institutional changes. The basic requirement in this harmonization process is to
address challenges posed by the negative synergy arising from rapid population growth,
environmental degradation and low agricultural production leading to food insecurity.
Historically, African traditional farming methods were suited to the needs of a
slowly growing population living off a fragile environmental resource base. As long as
the rate of population growth was in line with the carrying capacity of the land and the
efficiency of available traditional technologies, these farming systems were adequate
to meet the subsistence needs of local communities. |
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