This document discusses concepts related to rural development. It defines rural development as improving quality of life and economic well-being for rural people. Large rural populations, poverty, and contributions to GDP are reasons for concern over rural development. Population growth can impact development either positively, negatively, or neutrally depending on economic and social factors. Gender equality is also important for effective rural development. Elements of rural development include meeting basic needs, increasing economic welfare, and enhancing capabilities. Agricultural research and extension play key roles by generating and disseminating new technologies to farmers.

1. RURALDEVELOPMENT
By Hiwot D.A

2. CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1. Concept of Rural Development
Rural: refers to areas which is characterized by - sparsely population settlement
- poor infrastructure
- agrarian economy etc.
Development: refers to the process of overall improvement in the quality of
life. - changes in structures, attitudes and institutions
- improvement in socio-economic facilities
- reduction of inequality, eradication of absolute
poverty and unemployment
Rural Development: refers to the process of improving the quality of life and
economic well-being of Rural people.

3. Whywe concernabout ruraldevelopment?
Because
 Large population live and employed in rural area
 Most of extremely poor live in rural area
 Contribution of Rural economy to GDP is large
 To control the extent of rural-urban migration

4. 2. Socio-economic Factors in Rural Development
I. Population and Development
There are three views towards the effects of population growth on economic
development.
A. Pessimistic view
Population growth:
 restricts economic growth.
 is a threat to food supplies and natural resources.
 can hinder human capital development,
 hamper employment creation,
 has pressure on the environment,
 result in poor public services, etc.

5. Malthuspopulationtheory
According to the theory of Malthus
Population grows at a geometric rate i.e. 1, 2, 4, 16, 32, etc.
Food production increases at an arithmetic rate i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.
 Population would rise until a limit to growth was reached. Further growth would
be limited by:
A. Preventive checks: these checks lead to a reduction in the birth rate through birth
control.
B. Positive checks: these checks lead to an increase in the death rate through war,
plague, famine, etc.

6. B.Optimistview
 Optimists argue that population growth promotes economic growth.
Large population is desirable. Because
 large population size implies large number of strong military power which
maintain of national security.
 large population has its own influence on international diplomacy.
 Large population increase labour force
 Large population expand market
 Large population increase invention and innovation

7. C. Neutralist view
Most economic analysis has examined the statistical correlation between population
and economic growth and found little significant connection.
when controlling for other factors, there is little cross-country evidence that
population growth impedes or promotes economic growth.
For neutralists, there is no unique statistical relationship between population
and economic growth.

8. II. Genderand Development
Traditionally, sex and gender are used interchangeably. However, they are different
concepts.
Sex: refers to the biological differences between men and women.
Gender: refers to the socially constructed differences between men and women.
Why we bother about gender involvement or equality?
Almost half of the total world’s population is women.
 Rural as well as the overall development can be effective if and only if there is
women empowerment in the following dimensions.
1. Social empowerment
2. Economic empowerment
3. Political empowerment

9. 3. Elements of Rural Development
1 Basic Need Dimension
According to this dimension the main focus of development has to be on
improvement of peoples’ access to basic goods and services of life, political
freedom and self respect.
Basic elements of Development
 Having access to basic needs of life
 Having freedom
 Having self respect
Theoretical and Practical Shortcomings of Basic Necessity Dimension
1. The actual definition and measurement of basic needs in practice is vague.
2. The link between the supply of basic needs and the generation of sustainable
economic growth is not clearly understood.

10. 2.EconomicWelfareDimension
According to this school of thought,
If an economy has functional market, the market should supply private goods and
services, and
If an economy has functional and democratic state, the state should supply public
goods and services;
It assume people are rational enough to be the best judges of their own welfare.
This school tries to measure development by income or expenditure (utility).
People with more income will have more goods and services to generate more
utility. But this can be realized:
1. If there are functional market & state or other institutions
2. If people are rational enough to be the best judges of their own welfare.

11. ElementsofRural DevelopmentUnderEconomicWelfareDimension
 Income per capital & its distribution
 Expenditure per capital & its distribution
Theoretical and practical shortcomings of this school.
1. Utility is psychic in its nature, it is impossible to use utility as a direct measure of
development since comparison among individuals or groups is difficult.
2. In practice, it is difficult to find the well functioning market without any
intervention.
3. The utility of an individual or group is not depends only on the income level but
also on other non income gains like autonomy and freedom.

12. 3. Capability Dimension
It focuses on the ability of individuals or groups to functioning well.
Under this dimension, development is measured in terms of the ability of individuals
or groups in having the quality of life that they prefer.
 Elements of rural development under capability dimension
Access to;
health care
educational
infrastructural facilities
market employment opportunity all necessary information
political freedom
 Short coming of the school
It requires the distribution of income from rich to poor which may cause social
disorder.

13. The Role ofAgriculturalResearchand ExtensioninRural Development
Agricultural Research and Extension concerned with the generation and diffusion
of new agricultural technologies.
Generation: means undertaking of research
Diffusion: means provision of extension services or spreading of information among
farmers.
In order to transform the subsistence state of agricultural products to market
oriented production system, agricultural research and extension services are crucial.

14. 1.AgriculturalResearch
Agricultural research is crucial for the development of the agricultural sector.
Agricultural research helps to:
 Generate new or improved production techniques and technologies
 Improving agricultural productivity in terms of quantity and quality
 Increase and generate agricultural income and foreign exchange moderate food
prices by increasing production reduce pressures on the natural resources

15. ClassificationofAgriculturalresearch
A. Basic Agricultural research:
Develops knowledge with little or no specific practical use.
It includes; studies of evolution, genetics, and biochemical process, etc.,
It is the base to discover fundamental principles of substantial significance to
more applied researchers,
The specific end use of the research results are often difficult to identify prior to
the research.
B. Testing Agricultural research
It is conducted on local experiment stations or on farms to assess whether research
results from other locations are suitable for solving local problems or not.
Improved pesticides, management practices, or plant varieties are examples of
research results that may be tested.

16. C.Appliedagriculturalresearch
It is aimed at solving particular biological, chemical, physical, or social science
problems affecting one or more countries or areas in a state or region.
Development of new plant varieties, methods for controlling specific insects and
disease in plants or animals, and animal nutrition research are examples of applied
research.
D. Adaptive Agricultural research:
It takes the results of applied research and modifies or adapts them to local
conditions within a country or region.
A plant variety developed for a broad area may need to be modified for a specific
microclimate.
Fertilizer recommendations, methods for controlling soil erosion, and many other
technologies require adaptation to the local setting.

17. 2.Agricultural Extension
 Extension service is an institution which:
educate and train farmers on environmental conservation methods
Improve farmers awareness on adopting improved farming technologies and new
innovations
Facilitate the interaction of research centers and farmers
Develop a bridge for the relationship of farmers themselves
In general, agricultural extension bridges the gap between available technology
and farmers' practices through the provision of technical advice, information and
training.