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Small Scale Farmers Agricultural Contribution

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Small Scale Farmers Agricultural Contribution
Developing or third world countries, as they are known, are said to all have one common characteristic. They are known to be characterised by agrarian based economies. This is a common trend amongst them although others have almost left this trend and are being referred to by various terms such as ‘newly industrializing countries’ and so on. Developing countries are also said to have a population mainly consisting of people in the rural areas. The aim of this essay is to highlight the role that the agricultural and rural sectors play in the development process of developing countries. To achieve this, it shall begin by defining the main concepts. It shall then go into the main discussion, bringing to light the role that is played by small scale farmers as well as the conditions required for the development of the agricultural sector. Finally, a conclusion shall be drawn based on the discussion.
Perhaps one major concept to begin with is that of development. According to Todaro (2003:826) development is defined as the process of improving the quality of all human lives encompassing three important aspects, namely: raising peoples living levels which includes basic needs such as food, income, medical services and education; creating conditions conducive to the growth of peoples self esteem; and increasing peoples freedom by enlarging the range of their choice of consumer goods and services. Development must basically aimed at satisfying human needs by improving the quality if people’s lives as can be drawn from this definition.
The agricultural and rural sectors of LDCs through various techniques are meant to contribute to the development process. The agricultural sector is of great dominance in both the social and economic spheres of the third world. As with regards to the rural sector, the majority of the population of the third world live in the rural areas. According to Todaro (2003:452) people living in the country side (rural areas) comprise considerably more



Bibliography: Berdegue, Julio A et al (2008). Regoverning Markets: Innovative Practice in connecting Small-Scale producers with Dynamic Markets. London: International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) Meijerink, Gerdien and Pim Roza (2007) Mellor, John. W (1986). Agriculture on the road to Industrialization. Washington D.C: Overseas Development Council. Mier, G. M (1964). Leading Issues in Development Economics. London: Oxford University Press Nadav, C Timmer, P. (1997). “How well do the Poor Connect to the Growth Process.” CAER Discussion Paper No.178, Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID), Cambridge, MA. Timmer, P. (2002). “Agriculture and Economic Development,” In Handbook of Agricultural Economics, Vol.2. Will

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