RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Lesson 3: Rural Development

P.B. Dharmasena
0777 - 613234, 0717 - 613234
dharmasenapb@ymail.com , dharmasenapb@gmail.com
 Course Content
Introduction to rural sector
Rural poverty
Rural development
Rural demography
Supporting services
Rural development societies and their role
Planning and implementing rural development
projects
Past and present rural development programs
in Sri Lanka and constraints
Analysis of rural development projects in the
Asian region
 Fate of Rural Population in the World

Although the population of the developing world is still more rural

than urban, the twentieth century witnessed a significant decrease in
the percentage of people inhabiting rural areas worldwide.
Global rural population declined from about 87% in 1900 to 71% in
1950, and 51% 2005.
 What is rural?

1. Size of place;
Rural communities tend to be generally smaller in size
of area inhabited than urban communities
2. Population density and composition:
Number of inhabitants per unit area of land in rural
communities is always smaller than for urban centers.
Rural populations also tend to be less heterogeneous than
urban populations.
 What is rural? Contd..

3. Closeness to nature:
Rural environment permits greater and more direct
closeness to physical environmental elements such as
soil, wind, radiation, parasites and microorganisms.
4. Occupation:
Farming and other primary production activities are
generally the major occupations in rural communities,
unlike urban centers where organization, commerce and
industry take the centre stage.
 What is rural? Contd..
5. Cultural simplicity:
Complex culture, high fashion, music and literature are more
associated with urban areas than rural ones.
6. Social interaction:
Primary group contacts form the main feature of social interaction
in rural areas, while secondary contacts define most interactions in
urban centers.
Primary group -
Group of individuals living in close, intimate, and personal
relationship.
Secondary group - Secondary groups include groups in which one
exchanges explicit commodities, such as labor for wages, services
for payments, and such. They also include university classes,
athletic teams, and groups of co-workers.
 What is rural? Contd..
7. Social stratification:
There are generally fewer social classes in rural areas
than urban areas.
8. Social mobility:
Urban dwellers often move more rapidly from one social
stratum to the other than their rural counterparts.

Social mobility is the movement of individuals, families,

households, or other categories of people within or
between social strata in a society. It is a change in social
status relative to others' social location within a given
society.
 What is rural? Contd..
9. Social differentiation:
Rural areas tend to have very little division of labour and
specialization and are thus made up of several similar independent
units, unlike urban centers.
Social differentiation is the distinction made between social groups and
persons on the basis of biological, physiological, and socio-cultural
factors, as sex, age, or ethnicity, resulting in the assignment of roles
and status within a society.
10. Social control:
There is usually greater internalization of societal values and norms in
rural areas, thereby leading to higher levels of social control than in
urban centers which relies more on formal institutions.
Social control is the enforcement of conformity by society upon its
members, either by law or by social pressure.
 What is rural? Contd..
11. Levels and standards of living:
Although this is not true for all places and periods, urban
centers, due to the presence of a variety of infrastructures,
goods, and services tend to offer higher levels of living than
rural centers. Especially in developing countries, urban centers
tend to offer higher standards of living due to better housing,
education, health and communication facilities.
 RURAL COMMUNITY
1. A group of people with a common characteristic or
interest living together, in a village.
2. A Rural Community can be classified as rural based
on the criteria of lower population density, less
social differentiation, less social and spatial mobility,
slow rate of social change, etc.
3. Agriculture is the major occupation of rural people.
MAIN FEATURES OF RURAL COMMUNITY
Village is an institution-
The Village is a primary institution. The development of villages
is influenced considerably by the life of the village. It satisfies
almost all the needs of the rural.
Community-
They have a sense of unity and a feeling of belongingness towards
each other.
Religion-
Faith in religion and universal power is found in the life of the
villages.
Agriculture-
Main occupation is agriculture which involves dependence on
nature. Nature gives the livelihood to them. Farmers worship
forces of nature.
 LIFE OF RURAL PEOPLE
Lifestyles in rural areas are different
than those in urban areas, mainly
because limited services are
available.
Governmental services like law
enforcement, schools, health centres,
and libraries may be distant, limited
in scope, or unavailable.
Utilities like water, sewer, street
lighting, and garbage collection may
not be present.
Public transport is sometimes
absent or very limited, people use
their own vehicles, walk or ride an
animal.
 Rural Development
1. Rural development is a strategy designed to improve the
economic and social life of rural poor.

2. It is a process, which aims at improving the well being

and self realization of people living outside the
urbanized areas through collective process.

3. Rural Development is all about bringing change among

rural community from the traditional way of living to
progressive way of living. It is also expressed as a
movement for progress.
 Rural Development - The Definition of United Nations

Rural Development is a process of change, by which

the efforts of the people themselves are united, those of
government authorities to improve their economic,
social and cultural conditions of communities into the
life of the nation and to enable them to contribute fully
to national programme.
BENEFITS OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

INFRA-
ECONOMY STRUCTURE

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

HEALTH
Changing Scenario of Rural Development

Before 1970s
Rural development = Agricultural development.
1980s by the World Bank:
Strategy designed to improve the economic and
social life of the rural poor.
USDA in 2006:
Improvement in the overall rural community
conditions, including economic and other quality
of life considerations such as environment, health,
infrastructure, and housing.
 OBJECTIVES OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT.
1. To develop farm, home, public
service and village community.
2. To bring improvement in
producing of crops and animals
living condition.
3. To improve health and
education condition etc. for
improvement of the rural people.
4. To improve villagers with their
own efforts.
5. To improve village
communication.
 Main Objectives
To build
Public
Infrastructure Communication
Service

To improve
Health Education Living condition

To generate
Economic
Employment Farm & storage
activities
 PROBLEMS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT

1. People related problems

2. Agricultural related problems
3. Infrastructure related problems
4. Economic problems
5. Social and Cultural problems
6. Leadership related problems
7. Administrative problems
PEOPLE RELATED PROBLEMS
1. Conventional way of thinking.
2. Poor understanding.
3. Low level of education to understand development
efforts and new technology.
4. Deprived psychology and scientific orientation.
5. Lack of confidence.
6. Poor awareness.
7. Low level of education.
8. Existence of unfelt needs.
9. Personal ego.
 Agriculture in Sri Lanka

Nearly 40% of the population of Sri Lanka are involved in

farming, with the majority of these engaged in rice farming.
The farming community in the country is primarily from the
poorer segment of the society.
As an economically disadvantaged group, they lack effective
organization, leadership skills and representation at a political
level. Lack of strength and effective voice means the
community is dependent on the others, many of whom have
different agendas and interests.
 Agriculture in Sri Lanka

The needs and wants of the rice-oriented farming community:

Effectively managed water supply
Seed paddy
Fertilizers
Farm implements, pest and insect control solutions etc
Access to finances with least bureaucratic hurdles and at
reasonable cost
Purchase price that reflects both costs and a reasonable return
on the investment
 Sri Lankas rice sector SWOT analysis

Strengths:
Availability of land,
Farming knowledge,
Ability to work long hours,
Simplicity of life style
Sri Lankas rice sector
SWOT analysis
Weaknesses
No access to low cost finances
Lack of good storage facilities
Lack of financial power to
hold paddy for long periods
Limited influence in their own
affairs
Often in debt and under
obligation to the private paddy
buyer
No say in end consumer price
Benefits to middle man
Sri Lankas rice sector SWOT analysis
Opportunities
Innovate and organize to capture more of the value chain
Build influence in the paddy chain
Ensure right price for their paddy
Profit from any variation in the price of rice
Build financial strength
Ensure steady income even after having sold the paddy stocks
Uplift living standards
Overall increase in the purchasing power of farmers and benefit for other
goods and services sectors
Create a viable, sustainable and profitable industry
Attract those who are presently in marginal employ or under employed
Build and sustain marketing and distribution process
Establish a pension or provident fund scheme paid for from the profits
Dividends
Earn foreign exchange
Sri Lankas rice sector SWOT analysis

Threats
Mega rice industrialists
Power of the existing mega brands
Administration conditioned to present system
Import of agricultural products
Reluctance of younger generation to consider farming as a
worthwhile career
AGRICULTURE RELATED PROBLEMS

1. Lack of expected awareness, knowledge, skill and

attitude.
2. Unavailability of inputs.
3. Poor marketing facility.
4. Insufficient extension staff and services.
5. Multidimensional tasks to extension personnel.
6. Small size of land holding.
7. Division of land.
8. Unwillingness to work and stay in rural areas.
 INFASTRUCTRE RELATED PROBLEMS

Poor infrastructure facilities such as:

1. Water
2. Electricity
3. Transport
4. Educational institutions
5. Communication
6. Health
7. Employment
8. Storage facility etc.
 ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
1. Unfavourable economic
condition to adopt high
cost technology.
2. High cost of inputs.
3. Under privileged rural
industries
 LEADERSHIP RELATED PROBLEM
1. Leadership among the
hands of inactive and
incompetent people.
2. Self interest of leaders.
3. Biased political will
 ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS

1. Political interference.
2. Lack of motivation and
interest.
3. Unwillingness to work
in villages.
4. Improper utilization of
budget.
5. No proper monitoring of
programs and lack in their
implementation.
 Importance of Rural Development

Rural development is a dynamic process, which is mainly

concerned with the rural areas.
These include-
Agricultural growth,
Putting up of economic and social infrastructure,
Fair wages as also housing and house sites for the landless,
Village planning,
Public health,
Education and functional literacy,
Communication etc.
Rural development is a national necessity and has
considerable importance in Sri Lanka
 Importance of rural development
Rural development would continue to be a frontline issue in
global development agenda

For combating global poverty, disease, human slavery and

inequality

For arresting rural-urban migration that has become a crucial

issue in many developing countries.

It would ensure optimum utilization of human and natural

resources in rural communities and reduce pressure on already
overloaded utilities in the urban centers.
 Our Vulnerable
Farm Family

No knowledge Loneliness
No supporting services No body to help
 Our Vulnerable
Farm Family

No knowledge
Social Loneliness
Institutional
No supporting
improvements
services improvements
No body to help
 Our Vulnerable
Farm Family What
Physical improvements we do? Economic improvements
Land development (increased income)
Tank rehabilitation Crop
Well construction Livestock
Fishery

Social improvements Institutional improvements

Training Producers Societies
Strengthening service Farmer Organizations
organizations

Environmental improvements Livelihood improvements

Coastal conservation Value addition
Soil conservation Nursery development
Tank ecosystem Tourism
development
Ecological farming
 Institutional Framework

Threats and Community

Opportunities

Family

Strengths and
weaknesses

Community

Institutional Framework
Institutional Framework

Community

Family

Community

Institutional Framework
 Rural development is needed because
1. To develop rural area as whole in
terms of culture, society, economy,
technology and health.
2. To develop living standard of rural
mass.
3. To develop rural youths, children
and women.
4. To develop and empower human
resource of rural area in terms of their
psychology, skill, knowledge, attitude
and other abilities.
5. To solve the problems faced by the
rural mass for their development.
Rural development is needed because
6. To develop infrastructure facility of rural area.
7. To provide minimum facility to rural mass in terms
of drinking water, education, transport, electricity
and communication.
8. To develop rural institutions like Producers
Societies, Farmer Organizations, Banking and
Credit Societies etc.
9. To develop rural industries through the
development of handicrafts, small scaled
industries, village industries, rural crafts, cottage
industries and other related economic operations in
the rural sector.
10. To develop agriculture, animal husbandry and
other agricultural related areas.
Rural development is needed because

11. To restore uncultivated land, provide irrigation

facilities and motivate farmers to adopt improved
seed, fertilizers, package of practices of crop
cultivation and soil conservation methods.
12. To develop entertainment and recreational facility for
rural mass.
13. To develop leadership quality of rural area.
14. To improve rural marketing facility.
15. To minimise gap between the urban and rural in
terms of facilities availed.
Rural development is needed because

16. To improve rural peoples participation in the

development of state and nation as whole.
17. To improve scopes of employment for rural
mass.
18. For the sustainable development of rural area.
19. To eliminate rural poverty.
20. To empower them.
 Rural development indicators
The World Bank :
Core indicators are based on 5 themes:
1. Basic socio-economic data;
2. Enabling environment for rural development;
3. Broad based economic growth for rural poverty
reduction;
4. Natural resource management and biodiversity;
5. Social well-being (education and health).
Rural development indicators (contd.

The World Conference on Agrarian Reforms

and Rural Development (WCARRD):
Core indicators based on 6 themes:
1. Poverty alleviation with equity
2. Access to land, water and other natural resources
3. Access to inputs, markets and services
4. Development of non-farm rural activities
5. Education, training and extension
6. Growth rate
Rural development indicators (contd.
WCARRD -1:Poverty alleviation with equity
Income/consumption
% HH below poverty line and % income distribution of the population
Nutrition
% children (1-5 years) with < 80% weight-for-age, < 90% height-for-age
and < 80% weight-for-height
Health
Infant and child mortality rate and % population with at least one health
problem (group)
Education
Adult literacy rate and Primary school enrolment and completion rates
Housing
% of rural household with specified housing facilities, e.g. piped water,
electricity and sanitation facilities
Access to community services
% of population living in villages/communities with access to: potable
water, public health services, primary schools
Rural development indicators (contd.

WCARRD -2: Access to land, water and other natural resources

% number and area of agricultural holdings by size groups and tenure

% heads of rural households without land
Average wage rate of agricultural labourers
Rate of unemployment and under-employment
%landless agricultural labourers to the population economically active
in agriculture

WCARRD -3: Access to inputs, markets and services

% rural households receiving institutional credit

Rural development indicators (contd.

WCARRD -4: Development of non-farm rural activities

% economically active population engaged in non-agricultural

activities

WCARRD -5: Education, training and extension

Number of rural (including agricultural) extension personnel per 1,000
holdings/households.

WCARRD -6: Growth rate

Annual rate of population growth

 Determinants of rural development
(factors that determine rural development)
Availability and efficient utilization of natural resources
Production and employment capacities
Manpower and technology
Good and responsible leadership
Basic infrastructure
Peace and political stability
Literacy level
Other factors: (i) geographical location, (ii) size of a village,
(iii) productivity of land, (iv) type of land use, (v) active
population, (vi) popular production areas, (vii) proximity to a
river, (viii) housing comfort, (ix) characteristics of drinking
water, (x) productive fruit areas, (xi) cooperativeness, and (xii)
social infrastructure investments.
 Millennium Development Goals
At the Millennium Summit in September 2000 the largest gathering of
world leaders in history adopted the UN Millennium Declaration,
committing their nations to a new global partnership to reduce
extreme poverty and setting out a series of time-bound targets, with a
deadline of 2015, that have become known as the Millennium
Development Goals.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are the world's time-
bound and quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty in its
many dimensions-income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate
shelter, and exclusion-while promoting gender equality, education,
and environmental sustainability. They are also basic human rights-the
rights of each person on the planet to health, education, shelter, and
security.
 Success of MDG
The UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have,
overall, been remarkably successful in focusing attention and
mobilizing resources to address the major gaps in human
development.
Some of the MDGs key targets, such as halving the poverty
rate, could not be met by 2015;
Achieving the health goals looks difficult and Africa lags
behind, despite the substantial progress it has made since
2000.
The global community must build on the current MDGs,
moving beyond meeting basic human needs in order to
promote dynamic, inclusive and sustainable development.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

At the United Nations Sustainable

Development Summit on 25 September 2015,
world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, which includes a set
of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice,
and tackle climate change by 2030.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a
new, universal set of goals, targets and indicators
that UN member states will be expected to use to
frame their agendas and political policies over the
next 15 years.
The MDGs made no mention of human rights and
did not specifically address economic
development. While the MDGs, in theory, applied
to all countries, in reality they were considered
targets for poor countries to achieve, with finance
from wealthy states.
Conversely, every country will be expected to
work towards achieving the SDGs.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved
nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and
promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women
and girls
6. Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and

modern energy for all
8. Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth,
employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable
industrialization and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production
patterns
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change

and its impacts
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas
and marine resources
15. Sustainably manage forests, combat
desertification, halt and reverse land
degradation, halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
17. Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable
development
Enhancing rural development in the 21st century

Principles to be adopted:
1. Recognize the great diversity of the rural society and
its institutions;
2. Respond to past and future changes in rural areas;
3. Be consistent with wider poverty reduction policy;
4. Reflect wider moves to democratic decentralization;
and
5. Make case for productive sectors in rural
development in order to maximize growth and
reduce poverty.
Enhancing rural development in the 21st century (contd)
10 recommendations based on 5 principles:

1. Offer different development options to rural, peri-

urban, and remote locations. No single approach fits
all situations,
2. Provide livelihood-strengthening options for multi-
occupational and multi-locational households. In
increasingly noticeable feature of rural occupations is
that household members tend to be engaged in more
than one income-generating activity.
3. Put in place market institutions, with government
playing key roles,
4. Combat inequalities in income and assets targets,
timetables and concrete measures
Enhancing rural development in the 21st century (contd)

10 recommendations based on 5 principles:

5. Demonstrate that agricultural development strategies

would be compatible with natural resource
management,
6. Recognize the importance of investment in
infrastructure and human capital.
7. Respond to the obligation of protecting the poor with
new social protection measures,
8. Propose pragmatic steps towards greater de-
concentration and devolution,
9. Identify (and ensure) the place of rural development in
sectoral programmes, and
10. Recognize the need to support for research.