This paper examines the relationships between agricultural development, population movement, technology, and the human factor on one hand and the environment on the other. The paper argues that, until recently, many states in Africa were not able to appreciate the critical nature of the dialectical relationship between environment and development. Conceptualization of priorities was in terms of economic development which was thought to be synonymous with economic welfare and ultimately social development. Economic growth was perceived as the supreme objective that would bring about progressive reduction and eventual elimination of mass poverty, malnutrition, illiteracy, disease and squalor. The paper shows how uncontrolled developmental activities adversely affect the environment and how in turn devastation of the environment inadvertently affects development. Economic growth is viewed in terms of uncontrolled exploitation of the environment, resulting in deforestation, soil erosion, pollution of water and the atmosphere.
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