Africa Should Now Turn to Technology For Its Survival and Economic Development

Land remains static while population increases. Inaspirations lies in technology. The fact that Africa
Africa, land is becoming infertile, while desertificationpopulation is increasing while land is not mean that
and effects of global warming threatens theother people would have to work elsewhere to earn
continent. The continent's raw materials are dwindling.a livelihood. And the educated youth's hope is in
Where would Africa turn for solutions?technology.
For many years, the emerging independent statesAfrica also faced with dwindling resource base cannot
saw agriculture to be the continent's developmentafford to be wasteful. Technology that would reduce
magic. They were unable to see that it was alsowaste and enhance recycling effort should be
possible for agriculture to be Africa's curse. Theyembraced by all African countries. African countries
would have to buy agricultural machinery, fertilizers,need technology to add value to their resources
and animal drugs from the developed world and sellsbefore exporting.
their produce to the developed world at a throwThe bulk of world trade today is technology based.
away price.Africa and its growing youthful and educated
It is now even worse because land is becoming anpopulation cannot afford to be left behind as the
explosive source of conflicts that threaten to tearworld grapples for a share of revenue from the
African countries apart. The same land has becometechnology trade. Quoting Allan Ngugi's article
infertile and there is threat of desertification.published in the Daily Nation of March 12, 2008
Due to global warming, farming has becomeentitled, "We should be thinking industries," President
unpredictable activity. There is either long dry periodMuseveni during an East African Legislative assembly
or too much rain. Pumping money into agriculture is asession said. "Many people in East Africa still depend
very likely source of frustrations for peasant farmerson Agriculture rather than being in industry and
who makes up large part of Africa's populations.services. East Africa cannot provide enough jobs for
African countries have also for along time relied onthe increasing educated population. We shall not earn
export of raw materials. The revenue they earnedenough foreign currency as we could (with industrial
from the raw materials has not helped much andproduction) and we shall not collect enough taxes."
they are dwindling. Africa has been a source forTechnology will not only create jobs but will help
diamonds, gold, copper, oil and other minerals for theAfrica's countries handle problems brought about by
developed world. Africa's answer for its developmentdesertification and global warming.