Sustainable development for rural areas.

Abstract

The concept of ‘sustainable livelihoods’ is an increasingly important word in today’s agenda on the developmental debate about rural development and poverty reduction. It is also important to note that just like development, sustainable livelihoods mean different things to different scholars and practitioners, though there is consensus that improvement in the living conditions or the livelihoods of the people is regarded as development, although there is a debate of how it could be achieved. Enhancement of the rural areas cannot be discussed without putting more emphasis on improving the quality of life and well-being of people living in those areas, exploiting land-intensive natural resources such as agriculture and forestry. Education, physical infrastructure, and social infrastructure also all play an important role in developing these areas, which are by and large characterized by their emphasis on locally produced economic development strategies. This chapter will, therefore, focus mainly on the sustainability of the livelihood of rural areas. The scope will cover aspects such as sustainable livelihoods framework, strategies, approach, and the role of agricultural extension in rural areas.