Sub-Saharan AfricaChapter 22

Define Mecarrying capacity- how muchan area can support, animals.ecotourism- When the majority of the economy is based on tourism.

AgricultureMost Africans practice subsistence farming, which provides only enough food for their family or village.The three types of agriculture practiced in Africa are…1)subsistence farming: 2)commercial farming: 3)sedentary farming

Exploitive PracticesMost cash crops grown in Africa today are remnants of colonial times._Cocao___________cocoa is grown in the Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Ghana, and Nigeria._mostkly___Tea and Coffee_________ is grown in Madagascar, Tanzania, and Kenya.African farmers get paid only a small portion of the price of the finished good (cocoa, chocolate, tea, etc.) because they are only being paid for the raw material. Most raw materials are shipped out of Africa to manufacturing plants in America or Europe, where they are turned into finished goods. That means for one pound of chocolate, the farmer only got paid a small portion for his part (1 lb=8 chocolate bars)Do the Math…cacao=$2.9/kilo1 pound=0.454 kilos1 lb. cacao beans-0.7 lbs. cacao nibs (dried pieces of bean actually ground and used to make cocoa paste) 1 pounds of chocolate=c. 300 beans1 bean=.3 grams=90 grams of cacao beans/lb. of chocolateHow much does the farmer receive per pound of chocolate?1 pound of Ghirardelli dark chocolate is $20.80. What percentage of this price goes to the farmer?

Downside of Big Ag in AfricaReliance on cash crop farming has several negative consequences for Africa-

1) environmental destruction- a) Heavy use of unregulated chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers leads to poisoned soil and water. b) Deforestation from slash-and-burn farming practices also destroys habitats and negatively alters entire

biomes.c) Erosion from overgrazing, heavy machinery, and poor land-management practices has stripped much of the

soil in Africa.i) Example-Ethiopia. Multi-national corporations concentrated the majority of farm land on peanut

farming in the twentieth century, stripping the soil of its nutrients while poor land management practices (overproduction, failure to rotate crops, heavy and frequent tilling, lack of wind rows) led to topsoil erosion. A combination of drought and destruction of arable land have left an impoverished, famine-wracked nation where once there was a thriving African kingdom. To add insult to injury, since those farms were not owned by Ethiopians, they didn’t even get much of the profits from all those peanuts that left them in dire straits.

2) risky business- when an entire economy relies on one or two crops, famine and poverty await at the end of a bad year for that crop. (Remember the Irish potato famine?)

3) uneven land distribution- the majority of arable land is taken up by cash crop farming, leaving insufficient land for food production. In addition, a disproportionate amount of land is owned by the white minority, while black Africans often do not have enough land to adequately feed their families.

a) What happened in Zimbabwe when President Mugabe attempted to enact land reforms to redistribute land more equitably?

b) How is farm labor divided by gender in Africa?c) What steps are being taken to better protect farmland in Africa?

Logging and FishingLogging only accounts for about ________ of sub-Saharan Africa’s economy.In which countries is logging most important economically?What woods are exported from there?Why is commercial ocean fishing not a big industry in Africa?Where does commercial fishing take place?

MiningThe Belgians first started mining for gold and diamonds in the Congo during the 19th century, forcing native Africans into a near-slave labor system in their mines.___________ is the world’s largest producer of gold, gems, and industrial diamonds.Who benefits the most from the mineral wealth of this area?Are mineral resources distributed evenly throughout sub-Saharan Africa? Explain. How does this affect the region?The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a wealth of mineral resources, including copper, gold, diamonds, and tungsten. Despite this wealth, the GDP per capita is only $400/year (CIA 2013 estimate) and 71% of the population lives below the poverty line. What accounts for this?What lessons is Chad trying to learn from Nigeria with regards to managing its mineral resources?

IndustrializationWhat obstacles does industrialization face in sub-Saharan Africa?

Transportation & Communication

What obstacles are there to building viable transportation systems in Africa?What major highways exist in this region?How does a lack of infrastructure affect economic development?What communication limitations exist in this region?Why is cellular service more popular in some areas of Africa than traditional landlines?

Trade & InterdependenceWho are the dominant trade partners of sub-Saharan Africa?What is the Economic Community of West African States and what is its purpose?What difficulties does this region face in attempting to expand its economy?How has the international community attempted to aid Africa in its quest for economic growth?What entrepreneurial businesses are enjoying an uptick in sub-Saharan Africa?How has the internet changed business all around the world?

China v. USChina invests about 3.4% of its total foreign investment in Africa. The US, but comparison invests about 1% of its foreign investment money in Africa. Look at the economic activity map on p. 558 in your book. Why do you think China invests money where it does?

Why do you think China is willing to invest so much money in Africa?

Wildlife ConservationWhat is the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and where is it located?What is the purpose of this type of park?How do these types of park contribute to the African economy?Why are so many animals in Africa endangered?

It’s not just a commercial.What is one of the most pressing problems facing Africa and what causes it? (hint-there is NOT one single cause)

HungerLook at the map on p. 566Which countries are most seriously affected by food shortages?Which countries receive adequate nutrition?What do you think accounts for this difference? Explain your answer.How do international organizations help to ameliorate the symptoms of this problem?Political corruption is rampant in many parts of Africa, which means a lot of the aid intended for people in need is instead sold for profit by corrupt governments and rebel groups.

Problem-SolutionBased on your knowledge of sub-Saharan Africa, how do you think famine can be resolved in the region?

Human ImpactWhat other impacts have human activities had on sub-Saharan Africa?

What actions are being taken to positively impact the region?