The mechanization of agriculture as a factor influencing population mobility in developing countries: Experiences in the Democratic Republic of the Sudan
E.Mangouri, H.A.
Abhandlung des Geographischen Instituts der Freien Universitat Berlin, Anthropogeographie 35: 288
1983
Document Number: 368616
After a general discussion of mobility studies and of the historical background of African population mobility, chapter III looks at the effects of rural development measures, including expansion of mechanization, on migration in developing countries, particularly in Africa. Chapter IV describes the development of mechanized rainfed and irrigated agriculture in the Sudan and V, VI, and VII present case studies of the types of population mobility which have resulted: rural-rural (tractor drivers), rural-urban (skilled workers to Khartoum), and the effect of the location of workshops on the rural population. The main emphasis is on the movement of skilled workers, though VIII touches more briefly on the various types of unskilled labour movement caused by mechanization. The main causes of increased mobility since the 1960s have been improved education, to which mechanization contributes by providing a skill, improved communication, but particularly disparities in wages and earnings arising especially from the very high minimum wage for even unskilled workers in government employment.