Population, economic, agricultural and sustainable development system

What is urbanisation? What are causes and effects of urbanisation?

What are urban growth and urban sprawls?

More than one-half of the world population lives now in urban areas, and virtually all countries of the world are becoming increasingly urbanised. More than half of the world’s population now lives in towns and cities, and by 2030 this number will swell to about five billion.

URBANISATION

Is something that eventually happens in any developing country, as the population condenses into smaller cities and towns.

Refers to the increasing number of people that live in urban areas.

It is when people move from rural farmland to cities and towns.

It predominantly results in the physical growth of urban areas, be it horizontal or vertical.

Can represent the level of urban development relative to overall population, or it can represent the rate at which the urban proportion is increasing.

Majority of people move to cities and towns because they view rural areas as places with hardship and backward/primitive lifestyle. Therefore, as populations move to more developed areas (towns and cities), the immediate outcome is urbanisation.

CAUSES OF URBANISATION

1. Industrialisation is a trend representing a shift from the old agricultural economics to novel non-agricultural economy, which creates a modernised society.

Industrialisation has increased employment opportunities by giving people the chance to work in modern sectors in job categories that aids to stir economic developments.

2. Commerce and trade.

The distribution of goods and services and commercial transactions in the modern era have developed modern marketing institutions and exchange methods that have tremendously given rise to the growth of towns and cities.

3. Social benefits.

PROBLEMS OF URBANISATION IN JAMAICA

In urban area:

Shortage of housing facilities and development of slums.

Rising unemployment levels, leading to poverty.

I Rising pollution levels – land, air, water. I Natural environment cleared for housing development.

Pressure on social facilities due to overcrowding.

Rise in crime rate, and deviant and criminal behaviours.

I Traffic congestion.

I Increase in pests and diseases due to unsanitary conditions.

In rural area:

Skilled labourers leaving the area – teachers, doctors, engineers.

Government and private sector pay less attention to the development of rural areas – infrastructure, health, education, businesses and industries.

Rural areas remain undeveloped.

WHAT IS URBAN GROWTH?

Urban growth is defined as:

The rate at which the population of an urban area increases. It is a gradual increase. This results from urbanisation, which is the movement of people from rural areas to urban areas.

Urban growth may lead to a rise in the economic development of a country.

Urban growth is also referred to as the expansion of a metropolitan or suburban area into the surrounding environment.

It can be considered as an indicator of the state of a country’s economic condition, as the effect of urban growth directly impacts the country’s economic development. URBAN GROWTH LEADS TO URBANISATION WHICH, IN TURN LEADS TO SOME CHANGES SUCH AS: Migration of rural people to urban areas. Employment opportunities in urban centres.

Transport and communication facilities. Educational facilities.

Increase in the standard of living.

Every city faces problems with growth, ranging from sprawl – the expansion of suburban areas away from the central city – to blight, slums and community issues.

WHAT IS URBAN SPRAWL? URBAN SPRAWL

The uncontrolled growth of towns and cities, encroaching on rural surroundings.

CAUSES OF URBAN SPRAWL

Population growth – increased demand for housing.

Demand for out-of-town shopping and retail parks lead to buildings constructed on previously undeveloped places.

Migration – from urban areas to rural areas – (in HICs) as the urban fringe area has more space, cheaper land and less congestion than the inner city.

Migration – rural to urban – pull factors include better opportunities, etc, and urban sprawl can happen when there is rapid urban growth and the housing facilities cannot cope with it.

EFFECTS OF URBAN SPRAWL

More congestion and pollution in the countryside.

Similarly, commuter towns can be established, where people work in the city and live on the outskirts, so they have to commute into work – this causes pollution and congestion.

Commuter towns also lead to a rise in house prices.

There is building on greenfield sites – this could lead to environmental impacts such as loss of habitats.

Developing on farmland areas can lead to people losing their income as farmers, and also the loss of wildlife, etc.

Urban sprawl as a result of rapid urban growth can lead to squatter settlements or slums.

POSITIVE EFFECTS OF URBAN SPRAWL

Out-of-town retail and business parks can benefit as the land on the outskirts of urban areas is cheap, and this offers employment for local people.

SOLUTIONS TO URBAN SPRAWL GREEN BELTS

These are areas of undeveloped, natural land that are established on the outside of cities to help prevent urban sprawl.

REGENERATION

Reusing or repurposing old industrial sites. This may be more expensive than building on greenfield sites as there must be clearing and decontamination, however, in the long term it's more sustainable .

SOLUTION TO URBAN PROBLEM ENGAGE THE COMMUNITIES

On-going social work: sensitising about environmentally friendly practices, family life, education, work ethics, etc.

Increase community policing.

ENGAGE THE COMMUNITIES

On-going social work: sensitising about environmentally friendly practices, family life, education, work ethics, etc. Increase community policing.

Skills and Entrepreneurship training.

FIX UP THE TOWN

Enlarge schools, hospitals, post offices, police stations. Build high rise car park buildings to accommodate plenty vehicles, while using less land space. The improvement of public transportation – decreasing the high volumes of traffic on the roads.

AN INTEGRATED APPROACH MUST BE TAKEN IN ENCOURAGING PERSONS TO RESIDE IN RURAL JAMAICA.

Solving Rural Problems

Educating the citizens about the issue of urbanization and the benefits of living in the rural area.

IMPROVEMENT OF RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Roads, water supply, telecommunications, electricity, internet.

PROVIDING NEW AND IMPROVING THE SOCIAL FACILITIES IN RURAL AREAS

health, entertainment

ASSISTING FARMERS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTION BY PROVIDING LOANS, FERTILIZERS, SEEDS ETC.

Judith Henry teaches at Ardenne High School. Send feedback to kerry-ann.hepburn@gleanerjm.com.