Also from the Wikipedia article: Urbanization and the shift to mechanization of farm technology during the past 60 years has sharply reduced jobs in t

Also from the Wikipedia article: Urbanization and the shift to mechanization of farm technology during the past 60 years has sharply reduced jobs in the Delta. People have followed jobs out of the region, leading to a declining tax base. This hampers efforts to support education, infrastructure development, community health and other vital aspects of growth. The region's remaining people suffer from unemployment, extreme poverty, and illiteracy.