Write an article on rural farmers life.
Answers
SUMMARay
1. Farming is the fabric of rural society and, in many countries of the world, it is the main economic activity. Any sudden and profound changes which impacted on the farm sector could have severe consequences in terms of social and political stability in economically developing countries.
2. Agriculture also plays an important part in rural development, especially due to land use, in countries where the sector is of less economic significance.
3. The main potential contributions of farming to rural development are in terms of supporting employment, ancillary businesses, and environmental services. In peripheral regions, farming may be necessary to support the economic and social infrastructure.
4. Rural development policies should exploit the contribution of farming, both in terms of improving on-farm activities and supporting ancillary services, to secure sustainable development for rural areas.
5. In the context of agricultural reform, WTO rules should contain sufficient flexibility to allow countries to promote rural development, especially to preserve social and political stability.
1. INTRODUCTION: IMPORTANCE OF FARMING
6. In rural areas throughout the world, agriculture represents the predominant land use and a major component of the viability of rural areas. Farming and related activities make up the basic fabric of rural life, contributing significantly to the overall state of rural regions in terms of employment and business opportunities, infrastructure and quality of the environment.
7. The degree to which farming represents a share of the rural economy, and hence its relative importance as a sector, determines its potential economic contribution to rural development. In some countries, farming may be the primary economic activity of a region and support the vast majority of the population in employment. In such regions, it is clear that overall social and political stability is inextricably linked with the condition of the agriculture sector.
8. However, in most economically developed countries, farming accounts for a relatively small part of a diversified rural economy, and in addition the significance of agriculture in terms of the proportion of national wealth and employment is, in most regions, in decline. This does not lessen the potential role of farming in rural development in those countries, but the contribution of alternative economic activities, which may offer durable prospects for employment and economic progress, should also be included.
9. Since the contribution of farming to rural development in different countries varies to a great extent, policy responses need to be correspondingly distinguished, with the aim of maximising benefits to society.
2. CONTRIBUTIONS TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT
10. Rural development is understood primarily in the economic sense of the process of assuring a progressive improvement in economic security of people in rural areas. Rural areas are usually defined in terms of maximum population density, with figures varying from 150 to 500 inhabitants per square kilometre, depending on the structure of society.1 Whileany economic activity in rural areas will have the potential to contribute to rural development, the particular roles farming may play fall into four broad categories:
Employment. In countries whose share of overall employment in agriculture is at high levels, for example where farmers represent over 50% of the workforce, farming is likely to be the key economic activity determining the progress of rural development. With such a substantial proportion of the labour force engaged in agriculture, any policy which led to a swift and artificial reduction in employment could have disastrous consequences for the labour-force and dependants, leading to social and political instability.
Related economy. The farm sector in every country supports a range of ancillary and service industries, generating economic activity in supply and distribution chains as well as processing industries. Where farming is the primary economic activity, the entire rural economy, including services such as health care, education and basic infrastructure, may depend on the profitability of the sector.
In remote and peripheral areas, where society has identified a legitimate priority to prevent depopulation, farming is likely to be one of a limited range of economic activities possible to maintain the economic viability of the region.
Throughout rural areas, farming may contribute to rural development by providing environmental and cultural services to society.
11. These actions include support for rural development by means both of on-farm and non-farming activities for which the state of agriculture is nevertheless a critical factor.