Author: Richard L. J. Lacroix

Publisher:

Published: 1985

Total Pages: 108

ISBN-13:

Integrated rural development projects have a number of functional components which are operationally unrelated. Agricultural production promoting activities such as the extension of credit are combined with social components such as the provision of health services and with infrastructure building works such as rural electrification. Although the concept of a multipronged approach to rural development appears sound and attractive to many, its actual application has in many instances been disappointing. In particular, concrete achievements and hence measurable benefits often fall short of planning goals. It is argued in this study that the modesty in achievements experienced, so far, is due as much to the complexity of the problem, rural underdevelopment, as it is to the result of structure and inexperience of the mostly public sector institutions that are asked to implement the project designs. Concluding that the concept of integrated rural development merits further application, the study recommends pursuing an institutionalization of project development activities, (2) enlisting private sector land development companies as executing agencies; and (3) supporting financially and with technical assistance the many nongovernmental agencies that operate in rural development.