What is Rural Area?
The term rural is perceived in different ways and many criteria which may
include; socio, demographic, economic, geographic depending on the writer could
be used to define the term.
Using the demographic point of view, a rural settlement is that with a
population less than 20,000. This demographic criterion is however relative with
different countries. In the USA and Britain for the instance settlement with
population is less than 2,500 and 5000 respectively are termed rural.
A rural population may be dispersed or clustered. It may also refer to a
population of a small town that mediates between the primary production and a
world that is predominantly metropolitan.
Using the occupational criterion, rural area is described as one in which the
people are either directly or indirectly dependent on primary production such as
agriculture, fishing and lumbering for their livelihood. A rural area in Nigeria may
also mean an environment where most of the basic needs such as water,
electricity, good roads etc that make life worth living are lacking.
Also using the spatial perspective, a rural area can be defined as one with
extensive land uses such as agriculture and forestry and that such an area must
contain spatially distinctive settlement with none urban environment. The unit of
settlement in the rural area is the village. The arrangement of the building is
compact and footpaths linked the village to one another.
Nature and Characteristics of rural areas in Nigeria
i. Low Technological Base
ii. Poor Infrastructural Facilities
iii. High rural-urban migration
iv. Gross illiteracy
v. Low income, low savings and low investment
Concept of Development
Development means improvement in economic, socio and political condition of
the whole society in terms of reduction or elimination of poverty, inequality,
insecurity, ecological imbalance in the context of a growing economy. It goes
beyond increase in financial or per capital of the people. And it entails improving
the quality of people’s lives.
It is described as the process of change that is progressive. It includes changes in
institutional, social and administrative structure, social behavior and attitude of
people including beliefs.
Development is indicated in the qualitative improvement in the living standards of
the people through eradication of poverty, disease, hunger, squalor and social
deprivation.
It entails raising the people’s standard of living and quality of life thereby
contributing to their wellbeing and comfort.
Dimensions of Development
Development can focus on.
i. Social Development
ii. Economic Development
iii. Political Development
iv. Cultural Development
v. Religious Development.
vi. Equal access.
Rural Development
Rural development is the improvement in rural living conditions. It is the process
of improving the living standard of the people resident in the rural areas and
making the process of their development self-sustaining. Rural development is
also described as a process in which a set of technological, socio-cultural and
institutional measures are implemented for the rural residents with the aim of
improving their living conditions. The nature and characteristics of rural areas
(poor technological base, poor infrastructure, etc) will reflect the need to develop
or improve the areas.
