Development

[10] Studies
MODULE 3: RURAL
DEVELOPMENT

MATER SPEI COLLEGE

 MODULE 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT

TOPIC GENERAL SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

OBJECTIVES
Learners should be able Learners should be able to:
to:
- Explain rural development;
Rural Develop an - Describe typesof traditional rural
Development understanding and societies under the following
appreciation of the headings: land use and ownership,
nature of rural division of labour, cultural
development. activities, technology and
dependence on the environment;
- Explain the concept of colonialism;
Fig.1
- Discuss the impact of colonialism
on rural development with specific TYPES OF TRADITIONAL SOCIETIES
reference to Botswana;
- Discuss changes in rural areas in Hunter- Nomadic Agriculturalists
Botswana since independence; gatherers pastoralists
- Discuss positive and negative Land tenure Communal: Communal: Communal :Traditional tribal
aspects of rural development;
Everyone had a Members of the rights to land
- Discuss strategies to solve problems
of rural development; right to use the tribe had
- Assess different rural schemes, environment but traditional rights
programmes and projects: none owned it. to use the
- Investigate the changing family environment.
roles in rural areas. Division of The small family Family .Men Family. Men looked after
labour group. Men looked after livestock, smelted iron and
hunted wild animals while women weaved. Men cleared
What is meant by rural development? animals while women gathered the land and cultivated, built
women gathered plants, made huts for shelter, collected
- Rural development is the improvement in the living standards of people wild fruits, nuts, clothes and water and food from the bush
living in the countryside or village. roots and other shelter. Women or veld.
foodstuff from made clothing and
- Rural development is improving the standard of living or quality of life the natural shelter from
or status of people in villages or remote areas or the country side. vegetation. animal skins.
Technology Very simple, Simple Iron tools were used and fire
In the context of Botswana, rural areas are settlements where 75% of the population made from used to clear the fields.
is employed in agricultural sector, for example, farming. stones, bones and
wood.
TRADITIONAL RURAL SOCIETIES Cultural Collective Initiation Storytelling, ancestors and
Traditional rural societies were mainly shaped by the natural environment and Activities decision making, ceremonies held, idols worshipped, initiation
changing seasons. They made a living using the natural resources which surrounded natural objects natural objects ceremonies held.
them and they used their simple skills to survive and earn a living. Farming was and ancestors and ancestors
influenced by the natural environment and the level of production was small. As worshipped worshipped,
time went on, some communities learnt how to make iron, and the tools that they storytelling. marriage
made out of iron enabled them to work the land more effectively. festivities held.

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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
 What is meant by agricultural communities? DISADVANTAGES OF SUBSISTANCE FARMING

- Agricultural communities are societies that depend on cultivating crops and -It is easily affected by natural disasters such as drought and floods.
rearing livestock.
-Production is seasonal, and people may starve during the dry season
- Agricultural communities are groups of people or societies that depend on .
arable and pastoral farming. -Poor quality products are produced due to the use of poor methods.

COMMERCIAL FARMING
State any three ways in which agricultural communities differ from hunter-
gatherer societies. Commercial farming is the growing of crops and rearing of animals for sale.

- The way in which agricultural communities differ from hunter-gatherer CHARACTERISTICS

societies is that agricultural communities get food from domestic animals and
plants while hunter-gatherers get food from wild animals, wild fruits and -It is practised on large scale.
vegetables.
- Agricultural communities live in permanent settlement while hunter-gatherers -Labour is provided by paid workers.
are nomadic or built temporary structures as shelter.
- Agricultural communities use sophisticated technology, for example, iron -Division of labour is practised.
tools while hunter-gatherers use simple technology.
-It uses capital intensive mode of production.
TYPES OF FARMING
-Owners are companies or rich individual farmers who run the farm for profit.
SUBSISTANCE/ PEASANT FARMING
-Finance often comes from foreign companies.
Subsistence agriculture is the growing of crops and rearing of livestock for family
consumption. THE ADVANTAGES OF COMMERCIAL FARMING

CHARACTERISTICS -It creates employment as labour is provided by paid workers.

-It is practised on small scale.
-Labour is provided by the family members. -High quality goods are produced.
-Simple technology is used.
-There is production of low yields. -It is a source of foreign exchange as products are usually for export.
-Sometimes it uses primitive methods for production.
-Productivity tends to be high due to use of machinery and division of labour.
THE ADVANTAGES OF SUBSISTANCE FARMING
-It is cheap. -It enhances self- sufficiency in food production.

-it helps poor farmers sustain themselves and their families. -It allows for production to take place throughout the year with the help of better
methods of farming like irrigation.
-It requires semi-skill, hence can be done by almost anyone.

-There is less destruction to the environment.

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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
 THE DISADVANTAGES OF COMMERCIAL FARMING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A RURAL AREA

-There is too much damage to the environment, for example, the use of chemicals 1. There is an excessive dependence on agriculture.
and fertilisers may pollute the environment.
2. There is a lot of small uneconomic land and livestock holding.
-Machinery replaces human labour leading to the increase in unemployment.
3. There is low capital-labour ratio.
-Keeping large numbers of livestock in one area may lead to easy spread of parasites
and diseases. 4. There is high incidence of poverty, underemployment, and unemployment.

-It is expensive to run. 5. There is large number of illiterate, semi-skilled and unskilled workforce.
-Labour may receive low wages as farmers are after maximising profit.
6. There is lack of basic infrastructure.
THE PROBLEMS FACED BY ARABLE FARMERS
THE ASPECTS OF RURAL LIFE
-Arable farmers are faced with the problem of poor storage facilities with most of
the harvest being lost to pests. (a) THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF RURAL LIFE

-There is shortage of labour due to rural-urban migration. -Life is cheap as people depend on agricultural products that they produced for
themselves.
-Pests and diseases that destroy crops.
-There is less pollution as there are few industries.
-Drought and low and unreliable rainfall.
-There is still the spirit of communal co-operation in rural areas.
-Communal ownership of land hinder farmers from effecting meaningful
developments. (b) THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF RURAL LIFE

-Soil erosion. - The negative aspect of rural life is dependence on subsistence farming or poor
agricultural production due to overworked soils and poor farming methods.
-A young and more educated nation that shuns hard agricultural work.
-Poor and infertile soils. - Rural poverty is common

THE PROBLEMS FACED BY PASTORAL FARMERS - High cost of goods

-Poor management strategies. - Fear of witchcraft/ cultural rigidity

-Overstocking and overgrazing. - Less job opportunities/ lack of alternative sources of income

-Shortage of water. - Lack of recreational facilities/ poor infrastructure

-Outbreak of parasites and diseases, for example, foot and mouth. - Shortage of market

-Resistance to change, with some refusing to sell even during drought. - Lack of variety of goods to choose from

- Poor educational facilities

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 4. It reduces the gap between the rich and the poor, especially in rural areas.
- Poor roads
5. It increases production of raw materials for industries.
- Lack of access to health facilities
6. It reduces the inequalities between the rural and urban areas.
- Poor services
THE OBSTACLES OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
- Poor soil fertility
(a) There is shortage of land in rural areas.
- Deforestation because people use trees for firewood
(b) Most of the people in rural areas are credit unworthiness.
- Poverty or inability to fend for oneself
(c) There is lack of markets in rural areas.
THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(d) There is shortage of labour in rural areas.
- To generate adequate reliable employment.
(e) Poor managerial and market skills.
- To eradicate poverty.
(f) Natural disasters.
- To accelerate the growth rate of the economy with stable prices and services. (g) Poverty.
COLONIALISM
- To ensure food and nutritional security for all.
Colonialism is a system which a powerful country controls a less powerful country.
- To provide minimum services of safe drinking water, health care facilities, A colony is a country that is governed by a more powerful country. A coloniser is a
and universal education. country that rules another country.

- To promote self-reliance. Define colonialism.

- To empower women and socially disadvantaged groups. - Colonialism is when a country is ruled or controlled or dominated by another
or a foreign country.
- To increase agricultural productivity.
- Colonialism is a policy or system of rule or control in which a more powerful
- To promote the participation of the people in the development process. country takes complete or full control over a less powerful one.

- To contain the growth rate of the population. IMPACT OF COLONIALISM ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT

THE IMPORTANCE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (a) NEGATIVE

1. It reduces rural-urban migration. - Africans lost their most fertile land to Europeans.

2. It increases agricultural production, thus helping the country to be more - Taxes were introduced such as hut tax.
self-sufficient in food.
- Rural communities lost able bodied men (productive population).
3. It creates employment in rural areas.
- Some people lost their lives.

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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
 - Culture was lost.
3. The positive effect of colonialism on women is that of a platform for
- The powers of the dikgosi were diminished. women to prove themselves that they were able to fend for themselves.

- Establishment of unfair trade patterns between the rich and the poor countries. 4. The way by which a country may benefit economically from being
colonised is that of having organized markets as capable as men, for
- African initiative or craftsmanship was lost. example, struggle for liberation.

- Raw materials were lost. 5. The positive effect of colonialism on women is that of modern health
introduced women to family planning and immunisation.
- There was exploitation of cheap labour.
6. The positive effect of colonialism on women is that of job opportunities
- There was an emergence of migrant labour. outside home, for example, cashiers, cleaners and nurses.

- The family structure changed. 7. The positive effect of colonialism on women is that of new religion such
as Christianity which removed some bad practices relating to culture, for
- Native reserves were created. example, polygamy and killing of twins in the forest.

(b) POSITIVE IMPACT 8. The positive effect of colonialism on women is that of property ownership,
for example, land.
(a) New and better methods of farming were introduced.

(b) Money as a trading item was introduced. THE WAYS IN WHICH A COUNTRY MAY BENEFIT ECONOMICALLY
FROM BEING COLONISED
(c) The colonisers brought infrastructural development.
a) The way by which a country may benefit economically from being
(d) Christianity was introduced, ending cruel traditional practices such as the colonised is that of having organized markets.
killing of twins in the forests.
b) The way by which a country may benefit economically from being
(e) The introduction of the modern health care system led to the eradication of colonised is that of having large scale farming or plantation agriculture or
some killer diseases. ranching.
(f) New and better technology was introduced.
c) The way by which a country may benefit economically from being
(g) Cash crop production was introduced. colonised is that of having commerce or trade or cash economy or use of
money or cash cropping.
(h) Modern education was introduced.
d) The way by which a country may benefit economically from being
colonised is that of having paid employment.
THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM ON WOMEN
e) The way by which a country may benefit economically from being
1. The positive effect of colonialism on women is that of income generation colonised is that of having technological advancement or skills
because some women produced cash crops. development.

2. The positive effect of colonialism on women is that of introduction of f) The way by which a country may benefit economically from being
literacy for women or modern education. colonised is that of having resource development, for example, mining

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 THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM ON PEOPLE IN RURAL
AREAS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

- The negative effect of colonialism on people in rural areas in developing

countries is that of introduction of hut tax resulting in migration of labour.

- Colonialism lead to decline in food production in rural areas in developing

countries due to introduction of cash crops, for example, cotton.

- The negative effect of colonialism on people in rural areas in developing

countries is that of land dispossession or Africans lost their land.
- The negative effect of colonialism on people in rural areas in developing
countries is that of family breakdown due to labour migration or migrant
labour.
- Introduction of unhealthy diets, for example, alcoholic beverages.

- Abolition of initiation schools

- Dikgosi lost their authority or their powers

- Loss of culture

- Increased workload for women due labour migration as women were not
allowed to join their husbands who worked in South African mines

- Loss of property such as cattle.

THE REASONS WHY EUROPEAN NATIONS COLONISED AFRICA

1. The reason European nations colonised Africa was to get minerals and
other natural resources, for example, copper, gold and diamonds.

2. The European nations colonised Africa to exploit cheap labour.

3. The European nations colonised Africa to set up plantations for industries

in Europe.

4. The European nations colonised Africa to give land to European settlers.

5. The European nations colonised Africa to expand their markets.

6. The European nations colonised Africa to expand political influence.

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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
 RURAL POVERTY
- Weak and inappropriate representation by the authorities.
Rural poverty is a situation whereby people in villages or countryside have
insufficient of their basic needs. THE EFFECTS OF RURAL POVERTY

FORMS OF RURAL POVERTY 1. There are low yields as a result of poor soils due to overgrazing and shortage of
manure.
(a) ABSOLUTE POVERTY
2. Erosion and flooding result from shortage of land which leads to slope clearance.
- When a person lacks access to reasonably adequate amount or quantities of
goods and services to satisfy her or his material and non-material basic needs. 3. Deforestation increases as trees are cut and not replaced.

- The income is so low that even a minimum standard of nutrition, shelter and 4. Water resources are over-used and polluted by sewage and animals.
other basic needs cannot be maintained.
5. Malnutrition and other diseases become more common.
(b) RELATIVE POVERTY
6. Labour is lost as able bodied people migrate to urban areas looking for jobs.
- Relative poverty is when a person’s access to the basic needs of life is lower
as compared to some group of people. NB: These causes and effects of poverty lead to the vicious cycle of poverty. Once
people are trapped in this cycle, it is difficult to break out as one factor leads to the
- It shows that while some people’s basic needs are met, they may still other.
experience economic difficulties or disadvantages as compared to other
people.
VICIOUS CYCLE OF POVERTY
THE CAUSES OF RURAL POVERTY

- Population pressure leading to resource not been enough for everyone.

- Unemployment because of few industries

- Lack of skills and technology.

- Lack of alternative sources of income to use it to invest in rural areas or to

start businesses

- Unequal access to land.

- Lack of money for investment because most of the people are credit
unworthiness

- Dependence on poor farming methods, for example, broadcasting method

instead of raw planting method.
Fig.3
- Conservatism because some people do not what to change how they do things
or are afraid of change.

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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
 INTERPRETATION OF THE VICIOUS CYCLE 2. Top-Down Approach is a strategy in which development decisions are made
and implemented by high ranking government officials who are mostly based in
Since people are poor, they have little money to invest in improving their farming rural areas.
methods or buy better seeds and animals. As a result, their land produces very little.
Therefore they are short of food, and they suffer from malnutrition and ill health and ADVANTAGES
they become even poorer.
- Decisions are made with the best interest of the whole nation.
THE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS OF RURAL POVERTY
- Decision are made within a relatively short period of time.
1. Drilling more boreholes and construction of dams for better supply of water.
- It saves money.
2. Advising farmers on better methods of farming, for example, through radio
programmes in order to increase yields. - Decisions are made by experts.

3. Providing loans (and other credit schemes) at low interest rates. DISADVATANGES

4. Practising family planning methods to reduce population pressure. - It is remote from the local people.

5. Conserving plants and animals to prevent deforestation and extinction. - Decision may be irrelevant to local interests.

6. Encouraging private investors to invest in rural areas so as to create employment - It may be difficult to implement.
for rural and dwellers.
- It may be abused by politicians.
THESE SOLUTIONS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH DIFFERENT
STRATEGIES: 3. Integrated Rural Development

1. Bottom-Up Approach is a strategy in which local people participate fully in

development decision making. Integrated Rural Development is a strategy that aims to improve all aspects of the
lives of people living in villages.
ADVANTAGES:
THE AIMS OF INTERGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT
- It leads to development that has local support.
- People come up with relevant solutions to their problems. - Improving farming
- It promotes democracy.
- Providing basic social services.
DISADVANTAGES
- Reducing dependence on urban economies.
- It takes a long time to implement some decisions.
- Raising people’s standard of living in rural areas.
- A lot of money is used during consultation.

- It may be manipulated by local elites.

- A decision may be unsuccessful if disapproved by government officials.

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RURAL INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT ENTAILS THE FOLLOWING: (e) STORAGE AND MARKETING SCHEMES is providing markets.

(f) RURAL INDUSTRIES is setting up industries in rural areas. For

example, Establishing financial assistance programmes such as
FAP/CEDA

RURAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES

There are many ways through which the governments in developing countries try to
develop rural areas. The government of Botswana has adopted several of these:

1. LOAN AND CREDIT SCHEMES

Government help farmers to borrow loans from banks and other financial
Fig.4 institutions at very low interest rates so that they can use the money to improve
farming.
(a) LAND REFORMS is redistributing land so that everyone has equal Government agencies are often set up to lend people money at very low rates so that
access to it. poor farmers can borrow.
When farmers take a loan, they usually use their land as security. This means that if
- Helping the landless people. they fail to repay the loan, the bank will take the land and sell off to recover its
money.
- Giving women the same land rights as men. Sometimes it is difficult for farmers to get loans from the banks because they are
small scale farmers. For example, credit schemes such as FAP, ALDEP, ARAP,
(b) MODERNISING FARMING SMME, CEDA etc.
(a) ARABLE LAND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME(ALDEP)
- Providing extension services.
ALDEP helped farmers with grants to enable them to produce more.
- Introducing credit schemes. The grants covered the following:

- Raising cash crops for the market. - 85% of the total cost of purchasing drought animals, for example, cattle and
donkeys.
- Increasing self -sufficiency in food. - Farm machines and implements, for example, tractors, ploughs, planters.
- Water catchment tanks.
- Forming farmers’ co-operatives. - Fencing materials.
- Farmer education on scientific methods of production.
- Agricultural inputs, for example, hybrid seeds, fertilizers etc.

(c) WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT is providing clean water. (b) ACCELERATED RAINFED ARABLE PROGRAMME (ARAP)

- Helping the villages to construct small dams. Farmers received grants in the form of money for the following:
- Ploughing their fields.
- Fencing their fields.
(d) SOCIAL SERVICES is construction of clinics, schools, improvement of - Practising row planting.
telecommunications and tarred roads. - Weeding the fields.

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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
 EVALUATION OF ALDEP AND ARAP For example, such projects are, brick-making, tree-planting, weaving etc.

FAILURES In Botswana, these are usually done through the Drought Relief Programme
(Namola Leuba).
These failed to receive agricultural production. They have thus been suspended.
They failed because of the following reasons: THE CONDITIONS IN RURAL BOTSWANA AT INDEPENDENCE

- Severe and persistent drought. Rural areas in Botswana were adversely affected by rural poverty characterised by:

- Dependency syndrome among farmers who now expected the government to (a) Lack of infrastructure.
provide them with everything.
(b) High levels of illiteracy.
- Most of the grants were used for non-agricultural activities.
(c) Low incomes.
- They mostly benefited the rich and literate farmers.
(d) Simple and less productive technology.
- Most farmers did not co-operate.
(e) Low agricultural yields.
- Some farmers were resistant to change.
(f) Lack of capital for investment.

ACHIEVEMENTS (g) High levels of unemployment or lack of paid employment opportunities.

- Great awareness of modern farming methods was created among farmers. (h) Lack of access to safe and clean water.

- Farming technology was improved. (i) Few social services.

- Some farmers ended up producing for the market. (j) Food shortages and widespread malnutrition

- Most communal farmers had access to capital. (k) Poor or standard shelter.

2. FARMERS CO-OPERATIVES
DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS SINCE INDEPENDENCE
This is a group of farmers who join together in order to increase production.
The government of Botswana has been engaged in an integrated rural developmental
They are able to gain advantages as a group that they would not be able to make a s program with the following objectives:
individuals.
(i) To increase sustainable production from land and wildlife.
By buying in bulk, they are able to save on cost of transporting these inputs.
(ii) To improve marketing and credit facilities in rural areas.
3. SMALL RURAL PROJECTS
(iii) To create productive employment opportunities.
These try to help people in rural areas by giving them a chance to earn money from
something other than farming. (iv) To improve access to social services such as water, education and health
care.

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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
NB: Consequently the following improvements have taken place in the rural
areas. (b) IMPROVEMENT OF WATER SUPPLY

- Over 90% of rural Botswana has access to clean and safe water through the
(a) IMPROVEMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE Department of Water Affairs.
- Clean water is supplied through boreholes, dams, and water reticulation
- A network of tarred and gravel roads has been constructed. systems.
- A network of telecommunications, especially in big villages, has been set up, - Water borne diseases have been eradicated by means of treating water to
coupled with a mobile telephone network. make it safe for human consumption.
- Powerlines that bring electricity to the countryside have been put up (rural
electrification). (c) IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
- Dams and boreholes have been constructed.
- There has been massive expansion in the education sector with the
Describe three infrastructural changes that have taken place in many rural areas construction of primary and secondary schools.
in Botswana. - Education has been made free to cater, especially, for the rural poor.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in - Hospital, clinics and health posts have been constructed.
Botswana is that of rural electrification. - Health care services have been made affordable for everyone with people
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in paying only P5.00.
Botswana is that of piped water. - There is supplementary feeding such as Tsabana, especially for malnourished
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in children at almost all clinics and health posts.
Botswana is that of tarred roads and bridges.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in (d) IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Botswana is that of telecommunications networks.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in - Loans are provided for farmers through National Development Bank and
Botswana is that of construction of schools. CEDA.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in - Farmers have been provided with grants through programmes such as ALDEP
Botswana is that of construction of market centres such as Botswana and SLOCA- Services to Livestock Owners in Communal Areas.
Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB), Cooperatives and cattle ranches. - Farmers are taught new and better farming methods through Agricultural
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in Extension Services.
Botswana is that of construction of dams such as Ntimbale dam, Lotsane - Marketing facilities have been improved for farmers, for example, BMC,
dam, Dikgatlong dam and drilling of boreholes. BAMB.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in - Artificial Insemination Centres have been established to improve livestock
Botswana is that of recreational or entertainment facilities, for example, breeds.
stadia such as Masunga Sports Complex and Molepolole Sports Complex. - Diseases and pests are controlled by the Veterinary Services Department of
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in Animal Health and Production, and the Crop Protection Unit.
Botswana is that of rural industries. - Sebele Agricultural Research Station has been established to developed new
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in hybrid seeds and production methods.
Botswana is that of clinics and hospitals. - RIIC and BOTEC have been established to produce relevant technology for
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in rural areas.
Botswana is that modern houses. - Government services have been decentralised to rural centres and Drought
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in Relief Programme has helped create employment opportunities in rural areas.
Botswana is that of airports and airstrips. - Land Boards have been established to control and regulate land use and
distribution in communal areas.
-

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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
 Check your progress 11. Describe the problems involved in the implementation of rural development
schemes & strategies such as those in the figure above
Describe obstacles to rural development in Botswana
1. (a) What is meant by rural development?
(b)Describe three negative aspects of rural life. 12. How did colonialism benefit people in rural areas?
Positive effects of colonialism on Africa
2. (a)Define colonialism.
(b) Describe three ways by which a country may benefit economically from being 13Describe the characteristics of subsistence farming
colonised.
14. What are the problems faced by subsistence farmers?
3.(a)What is meant by agricultural communities?
15. Describe the characteristics of commercial farming
4.(a) Define rural poverty?
16. What are the problems faced by commercial farmers?
(b) Describe any three causes of rural poverty.
5.(a)What is commercial farming?
Explain how govt. schemes help solve problems faced by commercial farmers in
Botswana
(b) State three advantages of commercial farming.
6.What are hunter-gatherer societies?
17. How can the foot & mouth (or cattle lung) disease affect the rural economy in
Botswana?
7.Describe the division of labour in the hunter-gatherer societies
8.Aims of rural development
18. Study Fig.2 and use it to answer question 18(a)(i) and (ii) below
9.Explain the importance of rural development

10.The figure below shows some essentials for rural development

Rural Industries Schools

Transport

Essentials for Rural Land Reform

Loans &
Credit Development
Fig.2
Agric. Extension
(a)(i) Describe the causes of rural poverty in developing countries.
Resettlement Appropriate Services
Schemes Technology (ii) Describe the major impacts of poverty on people and the natural environment in
rural areas.
Choose one of the labels from the figure above and explain why it is essential for
rural development (b)(i) Explain how women contribute to rural development in Botswana.

(ii) How is the government attempting to solve the problems of rural poverty in
Botswana?

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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
19. Study Fig. 3, which shows element of integrated rural development. (a)(i) Describe how rural areas in Botswana have improved since independence.

(ii)Explain the importance of any three rural development projects in Botswana.

(b)(i) Describe challenges which result from development in rural areas.

(ii)Suggest ways by which duties of family members in rural areas have changed as
a result of the development process.

- Grandmothers/mothers/wives/daughters look after large livestock

- Grandmothers/mothers/wives/daughters do paid work/jobs
- Husbands/sons/grandfathers/fathers babysit/look after children
- Grandmothers/mothers/wives make decisions
- Children attend school
Fig.3 - Grandfathers/fathers/husbands grow food crops
- Husbands do household chores
(a)(i) Describe each element of integrated rural development shown in Fig. 3 - Mothers/grandmothers head families/ female headed households
- Child headed families
(ii) Explain the problems which are caused in rural areas of Botswana as
development occurs. [RULE: Award even when men/women terms are used]

(b)(i) Explain the challenges that the government of Botswana faces when trying
to provide safe water in rural areas.

(ii) Suggest ways by which Non-Governmental Organisations can help people in

rural areas to improve their standard of living.

20. Study Fig. 4, which is an extract on rural development.

Since Botswana’s independence in 1966, the major challenges facing the country
has been rural development, and the critical issue that needed urgent attention has
been, and still is, poverty alleviation. In an effort to achieve rapid social and
economic development, as well as promote social justice, various policies,
programmes and strategies have been formulated to address development issues in
the country.

Fig.4

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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT