Introduction

One of the cardinal notions about rivers and related water bodies is that they have immense social, cultural, spiritual, and economic significance. While the proof of the social, cultural, and spiritual significance of rivers was the objective of most of the previous chapters in this book, the last two chapters focus primarily on the economic aspects of the exploitation of rivers in Africa and the world at large. Both chapters explored the relationship between rivers and other water bodies (such as rivers and seas) in the forging of trade relationships between countries and undertaking intra-regional and international trades and exchanges. It goes without saying that rivers are important means of moving people, products, and ideas from one location to another. While a resilient future for international trade is anticipated by certain current trends and dynamics such as recent technological advancements, rise in the adoption and execution of regional multilateral agreements, and improvements in infrastructure building and transportation logistics, the fact, however, is that river transport systems in Africa are currently facing a multitude of challenges, including infrastructure deficits, security concerns, and environmental impacts. Rivers will remain a significant contributor to the delivery of the projected future of international trade, most especially in intra- African trade and export of agricultural produce, which depends largely on the use of rivers for production, management, processing, and transportation.

As the major economic activity embarked upon by humans since the dawn of time, agriculture is one of the important aspects of human needs, and rivers have been found to have utility and significance.