NATURAL SCIENCE - GEOGRAPHY

Development Theory and Practice



Development Theory and Practice

Introduction

This document presents a field diary detailing the main features of what I learnt and observed in the Gambia during the two week field course regarding country's social and financial growth. The Gambia is a small state positioned in sub-Saharan Africa next to the West Coastline. It is bordered by Senegal to the North, South and East, and the Atlantic Ocean to the Western side. It is a narrow piece of terra firma not more than 500km from East to West and less than 40km from North to South next to the length of the state. A watercourse runs throughout the complete piece of the realm, the tributary Gambia. The total vicinity of The Gambia is 11,300 square km. The populace of the state is 1.36million (2003 market research), with a yearly development rate of 2.9 percent. The total Gambian populace in 1975 was 0.6 million, and it is expected to increase to 2 million by 2015. The populace below age 15 in 2003 was 40% but is expected to turn down to 36.9% in 2015. Population elderly between 65 and more than 65 in 2003 was 3% but is projected to boost to 4% by 2015. Just about 25,000 non-Africans reside in The Gambia, together with around 20,000 Europeans and 2,500 natives of Moroccan origin. Muslims comprise more than 92% of the inhabitants. Christians of different principles report for most of the leftovers. Gambians legitimately observe the festivals of both religious convictions and observe spiritual acceptance.

Discussion

General Observation and Urbanization

I observed that the Gambia has a laissez-faire, market-related financial system considered by long-established subsistence farming, a significant dependence on groundnuts for selling abroad profits, a re-export deal urbanized in the region of its sea port, low import taxes, nominal governmental processes, a supple trade rate government with no exchange powers, and a considerable sightseeing business. On Friday 8th March, I arrived in Banjul and found that it is the capital city of The Gambia. On Saturday 9th March, I visited this town and observed that it has one of the fastest growing populaces in Africa; the development is most marked in the Greater Banjul Region, its leading urban region. Banjul will almost certainly provide accommodation to half million populace in 1996 and 2006, more or less trebling its populace in the time. Such increase in populace will lead to great hassles on infrastructural sources. The Gambia is experiencing fast urbanization in the coastal parts radiating out from Banjul and Serrekunda.

In accord to the World Bank, “generally, development has been strong in the last decade. Financial growths are motivating. The real GDP development improved from a drought-induced downfall in 2002, to usual concerning 6.6 per cent a year all through 2003-2008. Overseas direct venture in 2004-2008 averaged more than 13 per cent of GDP”. The Banjul market is considered into three most important segments - crop growing, manufacturing, and services, with the last reporting for 60% of ...