Further to Charlotte Goemans interesting contribution, as well as leasing of agricultural equipment hire-purchase can also be a way of creating decent rural employment for rural youth. While the tractor may provide security for the loan, some additional guarantee is normally required which may be met by the family. There are great advantages in getting youth involved in small contract work in areas where casual labour has become scarcer due to urban drift. Such youth are motivated and prepared to work long hours. Farmers therefore get their land prepared at reasonable cost and contractor services can also cover other operations including harvesting and threshing.
Such hire-purchase schemes can be valuable in providing a 'market' for youth labour. The problem with vocational training is that often there is only a weak or non-existent rural market for anything half-way 'decent'. In this situation vocational training becomes a very much two-edged weapon and can in fact speed-up the process or urban drift. Any agricultural or fishery college certificate is all too often used as the passport for a job in the city.
Sr. John Weatherhogg