Abstract

Development in the context of the third world is synonymous with rural development, and rural development in turn has been viewed as synonymous with agricultural development. Equating rural development with agricultural development has its basis in the fact that in most developing countries agriculture provides a high proportion of the GDP and employment for majority of the (rural) population. It would appear logical therefore, that making development happen would require simply concentrating on the agricultural sector. However, the worsening situation of rural dwellers worldwide is a testimony to the failure of this strategy. This paper argues that development in every sphere of life has been driven by the application of improved technology, and concentrating that technology on the agricultural sector does not serve the interest of the farmer. Historically agricultural extension has been used to improve the productivity of farmers to service urban (and sometimes foreign) industries with raw materials and cheap food for the urban population. The paper concludes therefore that emphasis in rural development efforts should shift from the produce to the producer through a holistic rural extension system that delivers improved technology to the rural areas in housing, sanitation, infrastructure, education, law etc., and not just on agriculture

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