chapter 2, section 5 economic issues -colonial powers took raw materials from africa to their own...
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Chapter 2, Section 5Economic Issues
-Colonial powers took raw materials from Africa to their own countries’ factories to produce goods.- few factories in Africa today -mostly farming and mining
Farming- 60% are farmers
subsistence commercial farming – large scale production of
cash crops (coffee, cacao, and bananas)
Mining• export mineral resources (gold, diamonds, oil,
copper)
• About 75% of African nations have specialized economies.
• countries are diversifying
Economic Challenges
• problems feeding the growing population• hybrid plants - goal is to develop a plant that has
the best qualities
Farming Improvements
Social Issues• goal - better health care and education
Education
• Many children work, leaving little time for school.• Communities support schools, but overcrowding
means some take turns going.• not everyone has a seat, and they have to keep
it clean
Reading and Writing
• Literacy • Since independence, more people have become
literate.
Health
• Life expectancy - varies across Africa
• childhood diseases, malaria, bad water, AIDS
Preventing Disease
• Southern Africa has been hardest hit by AIDS.– The poor don’t have access to drugs.– not educated on how to avoid getting AIDS
• WHO – World Health Organization, making some progress
The Environment• quality farmland is scarce, rainfall varies
Soil Problems• Land is not always good for farming.• Cutting trees can lead to erosion.• Many Africans face starvation.
Solutions From Science• Irrigation, hybrids and plants that hold water in
the ground have all helped.• Plant trees between rows of crops to prevent
erosion.• improve education