FACTORS OF DEVELOPMENT

Haven looked at the indicators of development we still need to look at the “factors of development”.

These factors of development include the following:  

• Nature of soils
• Relief
• Climate
• Absence of Disaster
• Economic Activities
• Administration

Nature of Soils: Food is one of the basic requirements for human existence. Fertile soils area is the best for intensive agricultural activities. Such location facilitates human movements and exchange of ideas and product. It is a potential center for trade communication, administration and production. Hence the growth of such settlement. Examples include: In Nigeria, Sokoto plain for rice and beans, Benue for cereals and yams, Abakaliki, Uzo-Uwani areas for rice, also central U.S.A for grains and cereals.

Relief: When people are choosing settlement, people chose a location that will favour them like low lands, valleys and plains that are good for agricultural and communication activities. But since lowland favours human habitation, highland and rugged topography will rebel human settlement. Such towns that grow on a lowland location where agriculture and communication are possible are Lagos, Aba (Nigeria), Durban (South African).

Climate: A climate that favours and attract people, equally leads to the growth and development of settlement. Also make crops and animals to growth well. Example of such location that grows on this kind of climate is jos plateau. (Nigeria).

Absence of Disaster: People love to settle in a location where there is absence of natural and man-made disasters. Such location tends to attract people and growth fast. Examples such as Ibadan (Nigeria), Rome (Italy) and Cape Town (South Africa).

Economic Activities: Many settlements grow because of the presence of economic activities that take place in the location, which attract people and create the opportunities of jobs to people. Economics activities such as trading, farming, mining etc. make settlement to grow fast.

Administration: People like to settle in administrative towns where there are social amenities and other facilities that are present in such areas. 

 

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