Rural development

• Rural development is a comprehensive term that focuses on action for the development of areas that are lagging behind in the overall development of the village economy.
• Some of the areas which are challenging and need fresh initiatives for development in rural India include development of human resources, land reforms, development of the productive resources of each locality, infrastructure development, special measures for alleviation of poverty and bringing about significant improvement in the living conditions of the weaker sections of the population.
• Basic Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Statistics ( for various years), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India
• Government Reports Successful Governance Initiatives and Best Practices: Experiences from Indian States, Government of India in Coordination with Human Resource Development Centre and UNDP, Planning Commission, Delhi, 2002
• Annual Reports, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, New Delhi
• Websites www.dahd.nic.in www.saanjhi.gov.in www.ruralindiaonline.org
• Rural development implies that people engaged in farm and non-farm activities in rural areas have to be provided with various means that help them increase the productivity and given opportunities to diversify into various non-farm productive activities.
• The majority of the poor live in rural areas where they do not have access to the basic necessities of life.
• Agriculture is the major source of livelihood in the rural sector.
• Mahatma Gandhi once said that the real progress of India did not mean simply the growth and expansion of industrial urban centres but mainly the development of the villages.
• More than two-third of India’s population depends on agriculture that is yet to become productive enough to provide for them.
• One-fourth of rural India still lives in abject poverty.
• Rural development is crucial for India’s overall development.
• The growth rate of agriculture sector decelerated to about 3 per cent per annum during the 1991-2012, which was lower than the earlier years.
• In recent years, this sector has become volatile with the GVA growth rate of agriculture and its allied sectors being less than one per cent during 2014-15.
• Scholars identify decline in public investment since 1991 as the major reason for the slowdown of agriculture sector.
• There is an increasing demand for organically grown food to enhance food safety throughout the world
• Studies across countries have shown that organically grown food has more nutritional value than chemical farming, providing us with healthy foods.
• Inadequate infrastructure and the problem of marketing the products are major concerns which need to be addressed apart from an appropriate agriculture policy to promote organic farming.
• Organic farming helps in sustainable development of agriculture and India has a clear advantage in producing organic products for both domestic and international markets.
• Organic agriculture also generates income through exports as the demand for organically grown crops is on the rise.
• The produce of organic farming is pesticide-free and produced in an environmentally sustainable way.
• Rationalised 2023-2487 RURAL DEVELOPMENT farming that restores, maintains and enhances the ecological balance
• Organic produce may have more blemishes and a shorter shelf life than sprayed produce.
• Organic agriculture offers a means to substitute costlier agricultural inputs (such as HYV seeds, chemical fertilisers, pesticides etc.) with locally produced organic inputs that are cheaper and generate good returns on investment
• Popularising organic farming requires awareness and willingness on the part of farmers to adopt new technology.
• Organic farming yields less than modern agricultural farming in the initial years, making it difficult for small and marginal farmers to adopt large-scale production.
• The rural sector might continue to remain backward unless changes occur, necessitating diversification into dairying, poultry, fisheries, vegetables and fruits and linking up rural production centres with the urban and foreign markets to realise higher returns on investments.
• Infrastructure elements like credit and marketing, farmer-friendly agricultural policies and a constant appraisal and dialogue between farmers’ groups and state agricultural departments are essential to realise the full potential of the sector.
• Environment and rural development cannot be viewed as two distinct subjects, necessitating the invention or procurement of alternate sets of eco-friendly technologies that lead to sustainable development in different circumstances.
• Organic farming requires more labour input than conventional farming, making it attractive for India.
• Inadequate infrastructure, lack of alternate employment opportunities in the industry or service sector, increasing casualisation of employment etc., further impede rural development.
• The impact of this phenomenon can be seen from the growing distress witnessed among farmers across different parts of India.
• The 'Green Revolution' and 'Golden Revolution' are different approaches to agricultural development.
• Various measures taken by the government to improve agricultural marketing include the establishment of agricultural produce markets, price support schemes, and agricultural extension services.
• Diversification towards new areas such as livestock, fisheries and other non-agricultural activities is necessary to reduce the risk from agriculture sector and provide productive sustainable livelihood options to our rural people.
• Animal husbandry, fisheries and horticulture can contribute to rural diversification as sources of employment and income.
• Agricultural marketing is the mechanism through which agricultural products are sold to consumers.
• Non-farm employment in promoting rural diversification can be encouraged through policies that support rural entrepreneurship and provide incentives for rural-to-urban migration.
• Organic farming faces challenges such as high initial costs, lack of access to markets, and lack of awareness about government schemes.