Many countries aim to relocate factories and large industrial firms from urban areas to rural settings. This essay argues that this approach has more merits than demerits, as raw materials are more accessible in rural areas and rural-to-urban migration will decrease. However, poor internet connectivity in these regions may hinder productivity.
One significant merits is the easy availability of raw materials in rural areas. Many factories invest considerable capital and labor in sourcing and transporting raw materials from these rural areas to their facilities in towns. Relocating factories closer to the main sources of raw materials can mitigate these costs. For instance, some fruit juice companies in Ghana, a country in West Africa, filed for bankruptcy due to the capital and labor required for transporting fruits from villages.
Additionally, rural-to-urban migration will likely decrease. Many individuals in rural communities move to urban centers in search of better job prospects, which can lead to brain drain in these areas. By relocating factories and large industrial firms to rural locations, new job opportunities will be created, thus reducing the incentive for migration.
On the downside, poor internet connectivity in rural areas may adversely affect productivity. Most companies rely on a stable and reliable internet connection to operate efficiently. Unfortunately, internet service in rural settings tends to be poor and relatively unstable, which could lead to decreased productivity for these businesses.
In conclusion, I believe that the advantages of relocating large industries and firms to rural areas outweigh the disadvantages. This trend should be encouraged as it can significantly decrease rural-to-urban migration and the capital and labor invested in obtaining raw materials.