Rural development is the backbone for any country’s economic development and it helps the economy to grow and sustain. The development of rural areas means not only the aggregate development of the area but also the development of the people living in rural areas. The social, economic, and overall development of a rural area depends on a wide number of factors like agriculture, better planning, employment generation, etc. Rural development over the years was merged as a strategy designed to improve the economic, social, and cultural life of a specific group of people living in rural areas.
Components of Rural Development
People have certain basic needs, without which it would be impossible (or very difficult) for them to survive. The basic necessities include food, cloth, shelter, basic literacy, primary health care, and security of life and property. Below discuss in brief some of the chief components of rural development below-
- Employment Generation
Employment Creation is the main component of rural development. Every person and every nation seeks some sort of self-respect, dignity, or honor. Absence or denial of self – respect indicates a lack of development. Though, in rural areas, the agriculture sector is the largest employer. Therefore, to generate employment opportunities in villages, there is a need to strengthen the agriculture sector and also set up other industries.
- Better Planning
Better planning must be done by the government, to boost up the local economy of a village by employing a development model conducive to its growth. A healthy and dynamic agricultural sector is an important foundation of rural development, generating strong linkages to other economic sectors. A village economy largely depends on agriculture and hence any positive changes made in the latter will automatically improve the state of the former. The vulnerabilities of the rural poor to the economic and financial crisis and to climate change and water shortage must be addressed.
- Better Roads
Better road connectivity is a major sign of rural development which also improves the agriculture sector. Rural communities in developing countries are still faced with challenges related to access to basic services, economic opportunities, and some degree of incoherence with regard to planning related to the rural-urban divide. Better roads and connectivity to urban trade centers mean that the farm produces to reach the market early and fetch good prices, hence, aiding in the agricultural economy as well.
- Modern Techniques
Introducing modern techniques in agriculture and allied industries will automatically improve the overall development of villages. Using genetically modified seeds and organic fertilizers for better yield will consequently lead to the overall development of rural areas.
- Basic Amenities
The availability of basic amenities like water and electricity is also a major component of rural development. It also improves crop yield by ensuring that the field never runs dry even when the natural rain is scarce. Investments in environmental protection, rural infrastructure, and rural health and education are critical to sustainable rural development and can enhance national well-being. Similarly, a continuous electricity supply is also beneficial for agriculture.
Conclusion
Rural development is the axis of the economy involving labor ethics impacting the potential of business in a big way. Agriculture and Rural Development are the backbones of the economy of a nation. It is a popular belief that economic development takes place because of rapid industrialization. This becomes more befitting in the case of developing and underdeveloped economies of the world. Specifically, agriculture contributes to economic development by-product contribution and market contribution. In an agrarian economy, the better the state of agriculture is the better will be the development around rural areas. Agriculture is the economic face of any country. It is important for the prosperity and growth of the country. On the other hand, rural development in terms of infrastructure and other sectors creates an environment conducive to the growth of the agriculture sector.
