3b) Differentiation in time and space
The bottlenecks and key-factors pointed out are the starting
point of activities for tackling the problem of rural poverty.
However, integrated rural development cannot be understood
as a big pot in which all shortcomings are poured and stirred
up. Even after adding many ingredients, such a soup will not
taste good. Because of limitations in resources and capabilities,
all the necessary tasks cannot be undertaken simultaneously.
Bottlenecks have to be recognized accordng to their relative
importance. The first problem to be dealt with is the creation
of the minimum requirements for development, and then the
gradual expansion of the activities can follow.
In this connection, a reasonable proportion of activities
(for increasing production as compared to those for improving
the social conditions is of the utmost importance. Here, the
fact that projects for infrastructure and social amenities
are easier to implement than those to increase production
plays a role. Likewise, the necessary time-span for results
to be achieved has to be taken into account. It will be longer
as regards infrastructure and social projects.
On the other hand, a minimum of infrastructure is a precondition
for an efficient division of labour in the economic process.
Only a network of communication makes it possible to create,
between rural areas and urban centres, relations which allow
each to contribute to the requirements of the other according
to its capabilities. Such a process of differentiation of
structure and integration of function at the regional level
means the creation of a larger economic system which has a
greater potential than the small global society of a subsistence
economy.
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