Page 1 of 21
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 03 Issue 11
October 2017
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 42
A Perspective on Rural Development Theories/Models
BY
SALISU AHMED KABIRU
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
UMARU MUSA YAR‟ADUA UNIVERSITY KATSINA
NIGERI
PhD FELLOW: UNIVERSITY UTARA MALAYSIA
Salisuahmed18@gmail.com
&
ROZITA ARSHAT
SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT
UNIVERSITY UTARA MALAYSIA
OCTOBER, 2016.
ABSTRACT
Over the years there has been proliferation of rural development theories, models and strategies
and each profounder claims that his model or theory as the terms are used interchangeably to
be the most effective mechanism for rural, these model, theories or strategies include human
capital, theory, The Backwash and Spread Effects Approach, The Dual-Sector Model Approach,
The Minimum Critical Effort Approach, The Big Push Model Approach,
Endogenous/Participatory Approach, Top-Down Approach, Bottom-Up Approach, Sectoral
Approach ,Integrated Rural Development. Rural development is multifaceted phenomenon that
needs a strategy with multi-effect efficacy in tackling the problem of rural development The
objective of the study was to examine the proliferation of rural development theories, model and
strategies, the study employed secondary data collection and qualitative analytical method
analysis, the study posits human capital theory is the most viable mechanism for rural
development.
KEY WORDS: Rural Development, The Minimum Critical Effort Approach, The Big Push
Model Approach, Endogenous/Participatory Approach, Top-Down Approach, Bottom-Up
Approach, Sectoral Approach.
1.1 velopment Introduction
Rural development which is a
component within the broader national
development has remained a problem for
both developed and developing
countries. This problem has led to the
proliferation of various rural
development approaches and theories as
well as strategies in order to bring about
the desire development in the rural areas.
Page 2 of 21
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 03 Issue 11
October 2017
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 43
Various theories and approaches were
propounded which include Integrated
Rural Development (IDR), Endeneous
Model, Bottom-Up Model, Push Model
and Human Capital Model.
Despite such approaches and theories
as well as strategies the issue of rural
development remained a mirage for both
developed and developing countries. The
issues of rural development is of serious
concern to especially low income
countries this is because evidence has
proved that deteriorating quality of life
is more pronounced in the rural areas
due to a rise in the rate of poverty and
unemployment, for example in Nigeria
the rate of poverty rose from 62.6
percent in2010 to 62.8 in 2011,while
unemployment rose from 31 percent in
2010 to 40 percent in 2014 (Utomi,
2011& Salau,2013).
The recent increase in emphasis on
evidence-based approach or theory must
be applauded from a number of
perspectives. It is good from a social
point of view to come out with an
effective and precisely developed
approach for rural development which
emanate from a rigorous academically
analyzed theory which will foster more
efforts to understand of the mechanisms
for rural development. However, it is the
objective of this study to examine the
various theories/approaches of rural
development with a view of suggesting
an effective and enduring rural
development theory/approach. The
problem of this study stem from the fact
the over the years there has been no
single approach or theory applicable to
rural development regardless of time,
country or region, it this the gab that this
study want to fill by coming out with a
universal theory/approach for rural
development, and the study adopted
Page 3 of 21
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 03 Issue 11
October 2017
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 44
qualitative analytical method for both
data collection and analysis.
1.2 Literature Review
Before delving into the literature review
it is pertinent to define few of the key
terms for a more understanding of the
key terms.
1.2.1 Rural
Rural is defined according to Miller
(1993) as “any place where resident lives
in an unincorporated area or town of less
than 2500 people and over 30 miles
away from an urban center. “similar
definition exist in Canada which is also
from population perspective as the
USA,but Miller (1993) further
ascertained that there are at least four
dimensions to the notion of rural size,
geographic location, culture and access
to amenities. While some scholars view
rural from population perspective, others
conceived rural from the infrastructural
view point, they defined rural as a place
where there is lack of infrastructure such
as healthcare facilities, education, road
electricity, pipe born water, and
sanitation. For the purpose of this study
we conceived rural in general term
which is denote as a place away from
cities, with a relative low population
,homogeneous in nature and lack basic
infrastrustructure,a place where farming
is the predominant occupation.
1.2.2. Rural Development
The concept of rural development
has evolved over the past decade from mere
agricultural development to a broader
meaning which goes beyond agricultural
development. World Bank (2012) conceived
rural development “as a strategy designed
to improve the economic and social life of
specific group the rural poor which means it
has to do with spreading out the gains of
development to the poorest , those who seek
a livelyhood in the rural areas”. The concept
was synonymous with agricultural
