De-agrarianization in Africa: proceedings of the "De-agrarianization and rural employment" workshop held at the Afrika-Studiecentrum, Leiden, May 1994

Abstract

In Africa, agriculture still dominates, but its relative share has been declining since the 1970s, without any prior increase in agricultural productivity or in urban employment. A process of 'de-agrarianization' can be observed in the rural areas involving 1) livelihood reorientation, 2) occupational adjustment, and 3) spatial realignment of human settlement away from strictly agrarian patterns. This publication provides highlights of the papers and discussions which took place during a workshop organized in Leiden in May 1994 to consider the implications of de-agrarianization for sub-Saharan Africa. The publication is divided into a thematic section and nine regional sections: the Sahel, Ethiopia, Ghana and Zaire, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Zimbabwe, South Africa, pan-territorial issues.