Organization of credit schemes at the grass-roots level for rural development in Africa

Abstract

Africa is mostly a rural continent, with agriculture as its primary economic base. The subsistence small farmers, many of whom are women, illiterate and poor, make significant contribution to agriculture, especially its food sub-sector. It is their combined effort and aggregate productivity which sustains the national economies. And yet they continue to be discriminated. Development requires, inter alia that economic growth be broadly based, offering equitable opportunities to all to participate fully. The current socio-economic crisis is largely a reflection of the failure of the region to accord priority to the development of the rural sector and its consequent deterioration. The process of recovery and self-reliant development of Africa, with people's participation will, therefore, have to start with rural transformation.