Charles K. Kaira

Transportation Needs of the Rural Population in Developing Countries

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Statement of the problem

The problem confronted by this investigation is the inability of past transportation planning approach - the 'road & car' - approach (The term 'road & car'-approach refers to transportation means whereby motorised vehicles are used) - in rural areas of developing countries to significantly ease transportation problems of subsistence farmers. It is argued that the tendency of solving rural transportation problems using unilaterally the 'road & car'-approach has even in some cases, made matters worse for the subsistence farmer who is always at the mercy of the motor vehicle owner when it comes to transporting farm products to the market. For certain, motor vehicle is something the subsistence farmer cannot own or have at his disposal in the near future given the global economic problems caused by the energy crisis. Even the annually rising fare charges and vehicle hire charges have already, in some cases, proved too high for the subsistence farmer to afford.

Furthermore, considering the daily activities of the subsistence farmer that require some form of transport and the rate of rural development, if any, that has taken place since the end of World War II, a mere provision of a feeder road or a bus cannot meet even one third of the daily transport needs of a subsistence farmer.

In this investigation the author carries out a survey of transport modes at the disposal of the subsistence farmer and discusses in how far each transport mode:

1. relates to the farmer's transport needs around the farm and to market;
2. helps in carrying out efficiently household jobs that require transport;
3. relates to the farmer's financial capabilities, living environment and technological development and knowhow.

In the survey, information regarding the acquisition and operation costs, utilization, and load carrying capacities of intermediate technology modes (The term 'intermediate technology modes' covers all transport options above human porterage and below motorised vehicles.) like the bicycle and the animal-cart is gathered with the aim of developing these modes as good complements of the 'road & car' - approach in rural areas. Further, the thesis considers the survey data and information in light of rural areas of developing countries in general and develops planning maxims for transportation planning in rural areas with the aim of minimizing the shortcomings of the existing transportation planning approaches. Finally, techniques of evaluating projects in developing countries are discussed in light of the donor (industrial countries and international lending institutions) and the reciever (developing countries) and improvements to the current techniques are suggested.