RURAL DEVELOPMENT

ASSIGNMENT 1

OCTOBER 10, 2017

20160134
KHAUHELO KAKU
Rural development is the process of improving the quality of life and economic well being of
people living in rural areas. According to Robert Champers (1983) rural development is a
strategy to enable a specific group of people, poor rural women and men to gain for themselves
and their children more of what they want and need. It has got different objectives and they will
discuss them below.

Rural development aims at improving rural people s livehoods in an equitable and sustainable
manner both socially and environmentally, through better access to assets(natural, physical,
human, technological and social capital) and services and control over productive capital,(in its
financial or economic and political forms) that enable them to improve their livehoods on a
sustainable and equitable basis. According to ministry of rural development (p.88-89) the basic
objective of rural development programs have been alleviation of poverty and unemployment
through creation of basic social and economic infrastructure, provision of training to rural
development youth and providing employment to marginal farmers to discourage seasonal and
permanent migration to urban areas.

Rural development was established to improve standard of living by increasing income by

controlling population. As S.Grant (2014) stated that for the standard living to be improved the
factors that restrict its growth have to be considered, for instance where the distribution of
income is unequal and the standard of living is very low, the government can levy higher taxes
on the wealthier part of the population and offer better assistance to the poor.

Rural development aims to answer the problem of unsustainability to make development,

sustainable people are given power to do things for themselves that will last for longer time for
example cooperation, they contribute money to raise more capital. Also to increase productivity
by limiting how much time to be spend on tasks, talking breaks and quick multitasking and
improving food supplies and nutrition.

Its objective also to increase agricultural production for urban and international. (This is essential
so as to generate foreign exchange and to attract revenue to finance public and private
consumption and investment). It increases agricultural production as it constitute the main source
of employment of the worlds poor. Although the contribution of the agricultural sector to cross
domestic product is relatively small in some countries, the sector still plays an important role as a
source of employment. The agricultural sector also contribute significantly to the economic
growth of many countries within the region.

To improve contribution of rural people in national economy as agriculture makes its

contribution to economic development by providing food and raw material to non-agricultural
sector of the economy and provide employment to a vast army to uneducated, backward and
unskilled labour. Rural development aims for the provision of social inputs namely; basic
services, such as health and education.

To implement gender specific programs, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, family planning and
population activities, peace and governance activities and also to create employment
opportunities and assist in tourism spot in the region.

According to Mark Bard(2010) its objective is access to good basic services is essential to
improve the daily living condition of the poor, and to realize their full potential to participate in
the economy and contribution to the countrys development. To improve people in planning and
development through their participation in decision making and through centralization of
administration and to ensure distribution justice and equalization of opportunities in the society.

To promote the rural economy by improving production and the employment situation and
incomes of the rural population through the improvement of working training and income
conditions of rural workers. To strengthen the effectiveness of national and local institutions
responsible for the formulation and implementation of rural development policies and projects
and support affective participation of population in the planning and implementation of local
activities.

To promote the generation of savings and facilitate a higher level of investment in the rural areas
and help to expand the access of the rural population to basic services including education, health
care. According to Sara and James Darcy (2008) its aim is to preserve and protect culture and
cultural heritage of the region and organize training, awareness programs, exploratory and
research activities.

Development of resource mobilization as special attention should be given to vacational training

and employment promotion, both in agriculture and in rural non-farm employment areas and
greater attention must be given to the encouragement of rural industries and services.
Infrastructural development physical inputs in rural areas such as the provision of feeder roads,
water and electrification.

Organizing community participation for rural development to encourage their participation in

decision making, organizational activities, training and rural education, social communications
including, where appropriate, the development of associative type economic organizations that
can open the way to socially and economically feasible solutions. It is a means to empowering
people by developing their skills and abilities to enable them negotiate and appropriate decisions
for their development.

In conclusion rural development is broader than agricultural development, encompassing many

sectors and addressing links between the social, technical economic, political institutional and
ecological dimension of rural areas. The mean include investment in agriculture, improved rural
services and infrastructure, institutional reform, technological change, political reform all
combined with measures to ensure environmental sustainability. It requires a truly multi-
disciplinary approach.
 REFFERENCES

Chamber R (1983) Rural development ;Harlow;Prentice Hall

Ministry of rural development p(88-89) Rural development ; Government of India

Mark Bard (2010) World development report

Sara and James Darcy (2008) Improving the provision of basic services for the poor in fragile
environment ;International literature review

S Grant (2014) Cambridge IGCSE Economics student book