Rural development, potential

The potential buffer capacity against environmental risks and the capacity of selforganization are getting lost in those cases where the pressure on the agricultural land is high and industrialization and urbanization processes determine more and more the rural development. 

Lundgren, B. 1980. Plantation forestry in tropical countries-physical and biological potentials and risks. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. International Rural Development Centre. Rural Development Studies 8. Uppsala, pp. 134. 

Although medicinal plants have been used extensively in many countries, including Canada but also Mexico, especially in the context of traditional medicine as well as more recently by the natural products and phytotherapeutic industry, there are few studies that have focused on the commercial aspects of this phenomenon and its potential as productive engine of rural development and enhancement of livelihoods for the local communities living in semi-arid and arid zones. There is also a vacuum of information from a development perspective, where commercial factors, from small business creation and income generation are addressed. 

Organic farming is a highly relevant tool, which contains the potential to participate in solving simultaneously a range of problems related to food production, environment, animal welfare, and rural development. 

Strengths 1. Reduction of the environmental impacts 2. Cost reduction 3. Weight reduction in composites 4. Rural development 5. Strong market potential 6. Biodegradability 7. Recyclability Weaknesses 1. Reduction of mechanical performance 2. Reduction of thermal resistance 3. Biomass cropping... 

Schneider, U.A., and McCarl, B.A. (2001) Economic potential of biomass-based fuels for greenhouse gas emission mitigation. Working Paper 01-WP 280, Center for Agriculmral and Rural Development Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 50011-1070, www.card. iastate.edu (accessed June 2009). 

Saxcma M, Murali S, Nandan Ml et al (2005) Sisal Potential for employment generation and rural development In 3rd International Conference Rural India, pp 208-212... 

Hodsman L, Smallwood M, Williams D (2005) The Promotion of Non-Food Crops. A report for the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Available via http // www.biomatnetorg/secure/other/s2025.htm Hooper L, Cassidy A (2006) A review of the health care potential of bioactive compounds. J Sci Food Agric 86 1805-1813 lENICA. (2002). Camelina The National Non-Food Crop Centre. Available via http //www.nnfcc. co.uk. Cited 28 Aug 2007... 

McCoy, S. and Parlevliet, G. 2000. Export Market Potential for Clean and Organic Agricultural Products. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra. 

So when the subject of extension has been determined, namely sustainable development, the method of extension has to be found. Top-down extension methods have failed. But how to get a bottom up or a right mix between top-down and bottom-up approaches In Northern Ghana the participatory technology development approach, as a mixture of bottom-up and top-down approaches, has shown fascinating results in pilot projects and shows great potential to boost sustainable development in rural areas. 

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