A Paradigm for a Micro‐level Rural Development Strategy

Abstract

EFFORTS DIRECTED at the systematic, accelerated development of most less developed countries (LDCs) can be dated from the early post-war years*(3) and arose from contemporary perceptions of the then existing conditions in those countries. Various attempts have been made to formulate a general theory of development, but the common element of all theoretical approaches is that they represent only partial models, and integration of these into a general theory has not yet been accomplished.*(4) A review of the evolution of thought on economic development*(5) shows, however, that a consensus may be emerging as regards the objectives of a new development strategy, concerning the target group for whose benefit the strategy should be implemented, and the framework within which it should be constructed. One element of this consensus is that there exists a need to increase food production in the LDCs, and the object of this article is to identify a paradigm within which a micro-level strategy towards this end may be formulated. Section 1 below contains a brief summary of the nature of the consensus, and in Section 2 a framework for micro-level development is formulated by means of the capacity-performance model of Ellis.* (6) In terms of Ellis's model, development is defined as the removal of barriers to the ability of a society to achieve the welfare objectives of its members, where such ability depends on the efficient functioning of the welfare feedback loops which operate within that society. In order to translate this definition into operational 1983 SAJE v51 (2) p284 proposals for development, it is necessary to identify existing barriers and to study the nature of social efficiency. These two aspects of the matter are discussed in Section Three. In the fourth and final section an operational model for development at the micro-level is proposed.

Lifting physical and institutional barriers to development on a small‐scale irrigation scheme

“…In a recent article (Vink & Kassier, 1983, pp 283 -296) methods were proposed whereby increased food production could be achieved from an existing small-scale irrigation project in Lebowa. In this context, development was defined as the process of removing existing barriers to efficiency in society.…”