RDP3223: Development Policies and Legislation

The present module "Development Policies and Legislation is taught to students of third year, Rural Development.

Description of aims and content

Aim:

This course examines policy and practice in agricultural development. It approaches development by looking at the factors that help or hinder social and economic development in the world, in particular in developing countries, the theoretical and practical response to facilitate development and overcome the constraints, and the outcomes of these responses.

Content:

The first part examines specific policies and practice that seek to overcome the barriers which keep some countries underdeveloped. The arrangement of the topics aims to provide you a step by step discussion which reflects the growing understanding of development. We first examine the traditional approach of reducing poverty and combating the consequences of inequality by aid and income redistribution. We then look at the more proactive approach of using economic policies to achieve economic growth. This will be followed by supporting policies such as migration and urban policies. The next lecture will study the relationship between social development and economic development. However, social development can face its own challenges, i.e. demographic changes and changing supporting culture at the household level.  Even if a country is experiencing economic and social development, the improvement may face bottlenecks imposed by institutions constraints. These constraints include unclear property right and the absence of the rule of law and democracy. Finally, we will look at the sustainability of development models in terms of environment and climate change.

Learning Outcomes 

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Learn about the key theoretical debates over the approaches to development and critically assess the relevant arguments.
• To explain the role of actors in the development community and the way different aspects of development connect to and interact with each other.
• To identify real life cases to carry out independent research and write an essay to offer structured criticism of the policies and practices concerned.
• Identify challenges of agricultural development and know how to dress them using participatory approaches
• Develop small scale projects and generate farmers interest in these projects using the participatory approach

Indicative Resources:

Adams M.E. 1987. Agricultural Extension in developing countries. Longman Scientific and Technical, England.

Boyle P.C. 1965, The Programme Planning Process with emphasis on Extension. NAECAS, Winsconsin.

Coombs P.H. and Ahmed M. 1974. Attacking rural poverty. How non formal education can help. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

Leagans J.P. 1963. The communication Process in rurl development. Cornell international agriculture development bulletin-1, Cornell university, Ithaca, New York.

Supe S.V. 1987. An introduction to extension education. Oxford and IBH publishing co. Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi.

Joyce, L.M., Okigbo, B.N. 1986. Understanding Africa’s Rural Households and Farming Systems. Westview Press, USA.

The module is composed of the following three components: (1) Agriculture and Food Policy, Off-farm Activity Development and Agribusiness Development and Strategies. The component of Development Policies and Legislation aims at empowering students with business skills to enhance their job prospects, help them develop entrepreneurial skills and talked about various toolkits used in creation of ventures.