Rural development aims to improve quality of life and economic standards in rural areas through governmental action plans focused on developing human resources, land reforms, infrastructure, employment generation, and poverty alleviation. Key problems in rural/agricultural sectors include farmer indebtedness, low crop prices, high input costs, poor storage and transportation, and lack of non-farm jobs. The objectives of rural development are to develop farms, homes, public services, and village communities while improving crop production and living conditions.

2. RURAL DEVELOPMENT
• Rural development is a process of improving
the quality of life and economic standard of
living in rural areas .
• Rural development aims at developing
backward rural areas through govermental
action plans

3. Governmental action plans
• Development of human resources (literacy,
education, skill development, public health,
sanitation)
• Land reforms
• Development of productive resources of rural
areas
• Infrastructure development (electricity, irrigation,
marketing, transport, roads)
• Employment generation and poverty alleviation
programmes

4. PROBLEMS OF AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
• Indebtedness to village money lenders
• Low prices of agricultural products
• High cost of agricultural inputs like fertilizers,
insecticides, etc
• Poor storage and transportation facilities for
agricultural produce
• Lack of non- farm employment opportunities
• Causation of employment

5. OBJECTIVES OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
• To develop farm, home, public services and
village community
• To bring improvement in producing of crops
and animals living conditions

6. CONTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURE
SECTOR IN GDP
KOLLAM CONTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURAL
SECTOR IN GDP (IN PERCENTAGE)
1950-51 55.4
1980-81 38.0
2010-11 14.5

7. RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES
• MGNREGA Act
• SWARNAJAYANTI GRAMEEN SWAROJGAR
YOJANA