Diversification of Economic Activities and Sustainable Development of Rural Areas

Author(s):  
Predrag Miroslav Vuković ◽  
Biljana Grujić

The current employment structure in rural areas of Serbia is the result of an insufficiently diversified economic structure, highly dependent on the primary sector and the exploitation of natural resources. The main problems of rural areas are: lack of employment opportunities, high dependence on agriculture, and declining quality and availability of basic services and infrastructure. These problems result in a decrease in the attractiveness and quality of rural areas as a place of work and life, demographic decline, and employment reduction in rural areas. Non-agricultural activities contribute to a higher degree of diversification of rural economy, and represent a chance for revitalization of rural areas. This chapter points out the prospects for the development of other profitable activities at Novi Sad's rural areas with a special emphasis on rural tourism in the context of the concept of sustainable development. Expectations are that such an approach would create conditions for rural areas to become attractive for the life of local residents and also for tourists.

Author(s):  
B. Batyuk ◽  
N. Kudla

A latest vision of the development of rural areas should include an increase of productive capacities of the agrarian sector in conjunction with the development of non-agricultural activities through the revitalisation of local entrepreneurship. In the process of stabilisation of the situation in agricultural industry, the priority of raw material sectors will be reduced in relative terms to tip the balance in favour of processing operations and the provision of services, including tourism. This poses new challenges to rural residents, local authorities, non-governmental organisations, and education and science professionals to revitalise economic activities in rural areas. The observations made and surveys conducted by the author are an attempt to make a case for the importance of diversification of the operations of business entities in rural areas with reference to international experience. Research has made it possible to identify both objective and subjective factors that prevent the revitalisation of entrepreneurship in rural areas, specifically, the low purchasing power of rural residents and their quality of life, fully dilapidated technical infrastructure, significant transport costs, and poor implementation of public programmes.


Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 511
Author(s):  
Raquel S. Dias ◽  
Daniela V.T.A. Costa ◽  
Helena E. Correia ◽  
Cristina A. Costa

Over the years, rural areas have faced a number of problems and difficulties, such as an increase in the average age of the population, desertification, loss of employment and the abandonment of rural and agricultural activities, which have led to the emergence of new initiatives aimed at revitalizing these territories from a social, economic and environmental perspective, such as the successful Bio-districts or Eco-regions (e.g., Bio-district of Cilento). Understanding and establishing a proper framework for each territory based on agroecology and participatory methodologies is still a challenge. In this sense, based on the analysis of two European examples—Cilento, Italy and São Pedro do Sul, Portugal—we described each of the building processes and defined a set of drivers that might constitute guiding principles to serve as a basis for the creation of Bio-districts or Eco-regions. The drivers’ matrix identified was discussed in three focus groups carried out in Portugal in 2020. Such drivers included a technical and environmental component (the quality of the environment and landscape, the food system and the implementation of organic farming and agroecological practices), a social and economic component (valorization of the farmers, products and territories and a set of different stakeholders—farmers, consumers, schools, tourism entities and restaurants, local authorities) and a political component (the governance model). Most participants agreed that the recognition of a Bio-district or Eco-region should be informal, bottom-up, with farmers as the main pillar, with a fair and representative participation, namely family farmers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-60
Author(s):  
Nataliia Khomiuk

The purpose of the article is to analyze the environmental situation in rural areas in Ukraine in order to develop proposals for the diversification of agricultural production and non-agricultural activities in these areas on the basis of sustainable development. Based on the anal-ysis of the scientific literature on sustainable rural development, protection, and reproduction of natural resource potential, the methodological basis for the study of the ecological component of sustainable rural development has been formed. In the course of the research monographic, economic-statistical methods and methods of scientific generalization and synthesis were used. Based on the study of the state of agricultural lands, a continuous decrease in fertility as a result of increasing the rate of their degradation is substantiated. It was found that agricultural pro-ducers have reduced capital investment in environmental protection. It is proposed to promote the development of organic production as one of the areas of diversification of agricultural activities in order to reduce degradation processes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Jarábková ◽  
Ľubica Majstríková ◽  
Tomáš Kozolka

Abstract Rural tourism is one of the opportunities, which can positively influence productivity and incomes in rural areas. European Union set the rural development as part of its priorities. This development has been conducted through several measures aimed at education, cooperation, municipality development, ecological agriculture, diversification of economic activities, etc. Rural tourism is a result of diversification of economic activities towards non-agricultural activities. The paper focuses on analysing financial tools of support used for rural tourism development. Development projects realized in the Nitra Self-governing Region (NSR) during programming period 2007 - 2013 (plus 2 years) are evaluated. These projects have been financed through different grant schemes created by the European Union (realised by Ministries, Local Action Groups, Agricultural Paying Agency) and also by the Nitra Self-governing Region. The paper also illustrates the localisation of approved projects and their purpose.


Spatium ◽  
2010 ◽  
pp. 29-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marijana Pantic ◽  
Jelena Zivanovic-Miljkovic

As one of the signs of demographic change, population aging influences various spatial categories: economic activities, social features, land-use, perspectives for future development and more. Even though the process is indicative on a national level, there are significant differences among geographically and functionally distinctive regions. Based on considerable regional differences in the development of Serbia, this paper analyses the key problems of rural areas related to the interdependences of population aging and agricultural activities. Research on aging processes, changes in agricultural activities and their features is based here on the examples of two case studies. The Indjija and Knjazevac Municipalities have been chosen to represent geographically different regions - lowland and mountainous. This study uses both quantitative and qualitative approaches in order to achieve a better understanding of the situation. Statistical data were used to illustrate processes of aging and agriculture where data from two census years indicate a trend of changes. Interviews conducted with representatives of local government, entrepreneurs and local citizens from the villages are the source of information for quantitative analysis. Population aging and agriculture are examined separately, followed by an illustration of their interdependences.


2013 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 33-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goran Rajović ◽  
Jelisavka Bulatović

The paper analyses tourism potential and rural tourism of the Municipality of Andrijevica. Existing tourism and recreation supply is not sufficiently developed and affirmed nor organized and connected both within the scope of the Municipality and with the neighbouring municipalities. One of the prerequisites for tourism development might be good transport infrastructure. However, in the territory of the Municipality of Andrijevica is not adequate. On the territory of the Municipality of Andrijevica, natural and anthropogenic values are distinguished group deployment and characteristics of complexity and complementarily. Natural values are particularly come to the fore, if we know that modern tourism trends emphasize the value of untouched nature. Marketing affirmation of the Municipality of Andrijevica is one of the most important processes that represent a momentum for its tourism development. In this sense, all kinds of tourism propaganda must be enhanced, which affirmed the value of tourism (for example the eco-pasture Štavna), which would lead to a more comprehensive tourism development that would provide a profitable economic performance. Particularly it is very important to encourage and support rapid development of economic activities in rural areas and development of human resources. Furthermore, the economic progress and independence rural settlements of the Municipality of Andrijevica must be improved in accordance with the ecological principles and sustainable development in rural development. In finding a new identity and direction of development of the rural economy, the Municipality of Andrijevica must accept new trends in Europe and the countries that have been through a period of transition, in terms of adapting and complementing so far the role of villages and rural areas within diversified supply and the introduction of tourism as one the essential activities. Such guidelines already exist in spatial and urban plans of the Municipality of Andrijevica, starting as of 2010


Author(s):  
Александр Семин ◽  
Aleksandr Semin ◽  
Т. Бухтиярова ◽  
T. Buhtiyarova ◽  
Юлия Немыкина ◽  
...  

Abstract. Introduction. Analytical study of the current state of rural areas allows us to identify a number of socio-economic problems: the low efficiency of the implementation of modern mechanisms and methods of state management of rural development, the lack of necessary methods to assess the effectiveness of their development. These problems dramatically increase the need to find approaches that can ensure the development of rural areas, vectors of sustainable development of agricultural enterprises of various forms of management. Qualitative improvement of the organizational and economic potential of rural development is objectively necessary in the overall system of solving the problems of management of spatial development of territories, the quality of life of the population. The purpose is to systematize features, conditions of formation of organizational and economic potential for development of vectors of improvement of management of social and economic development of rural territories. To achieve this goal, a list of the following tasks is defined: a review of a set of scientific approaches; determination of the directions of realization of possibilities of indicative approach in an assessment of efficiency; the organizational and economic mechanism of management of potential of rural territory. Methods. The paper uses generally recognized research methods: monographic review of various sources, abstract and logical generalization, economic and statistical, regulatory processes of formation and implementation of organizational and economic potential of rural areas. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the formulation and solution of the question of the need to determine and assess the quality characteristics of the potential of rural areas through the use of tools and mechanisms of an indicative approach. Results. An important condition for the implementation of an effective policy of organizational and economic potential of rural areas is a system of strategic measures and proposals to improve the competitiveness of the rural economy, improve the quality of life in rural areas. Management of rural development is based on the principles of regulation, the interaction of potential elements with the institutional environment. Summary. The monographic review of the literature allowed to systematize measures to improve the level of socio-economic stability; development of strategic programs for the development of rural areas with the definition of indicators of economic growth, indicators of improving the quality of life of the population; evaluation of options and opportunities for the transition to a new socio - economic situation of rural areas.


THE BULLETIN ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 389 (1) ◽  
pp. 208-218
Author(s):  
A. R. Soltangazinov

At the present stage in the domestic scientific environment, the problems of ensuring sustainable development of rural areas are insufficiently studied and require further study. The goal of sustainable development of rural areas is a balanced development of the economic, social and environmental spheres, aimed at ensuring a favorable life of the population. The article considers the economic aspects of the functioning of rural territories of Pavlodar region and provides a comprehensive assessment to solve the problems of socio-economic development of these territories in the current and long-term perspective. As a base of analysis and assessment used statistical data of the official website of the Committee on statistics of MNE of RK, and also empirical observation and informational resources of local Executive bodies region. Based on the results, which identified systemic problems of the rural economy that have a negative impact on the level and quality of life of the rural population. These include, first and foremost, the dominant raw material orientation of the rural economy, low labour productivity, due to the significant moral and physical deterioration of the production-technical base, including the excess of the lifespan of the majority of equipment, as well as the rate of fleet renewal machines relevant regulatory requirements, using a separate are subject obsolete resource-intensive technologies. It is shown positive dynamics of key indicators of agriculture, which developed in the first place, due to government regulation of agriculture and the creation of an enabling environment through the extension of the relevant package of measures of state support aimed at the development of this sector of the national economy. Recommendations aimed at activating the processes of rural economy diversification have been developed. Analysis of the state of domestic beekeeping shows that this market niche in the national economy is not sufficiently developed and this industry has a significant unrealized potential. Significant benefits of the development of the beekeeping industry are shown, which will have a positive impact on strengthening the export positions of non-resource orientation, increasing employment of the rural population, crop yields, solving the problems of degraded agricultural land, etc. The economic feasibility and effectiveness of investment projects in the field of beekeeping development, which simultaneously provide a significant social effect, are justified. For the transition of rural territories to a qualitatively new level of development, based on the conclusions made about the priorities of rural development, the authors justify strategic prospects for further development using the internal mechanism of their functioning, reserves of economic growth and taking into account the specifics and features of administrative-territorial units.


Author(s):  
Hejun Zhao ◽  

The article identifies the current state and the main rural problems that cover many levels due to the complexity and systematization. The way to solve rural problems is connected not only with the rights and interests of farmers, but also with the coordinated progress and development of the whole economy and society. Thanks to the widespread development of high-quality vocational education in rural areas, this can not only increase cultural literacy, skills and incomes of farmers, but also contribute to overall social and economic growth. Vocational education can help farmers improve their professional skills and find effective ways to solve existing problems by improving their own skills and quality. The main problems of sustainable development in rural vocational education at the policy level, management problems in vocational schools at the operational level, farmers' ideology does not meet the needs of modern social and economic development, low overall quality of rural population, unreasonable human resources structure and serious outflow population in rural areas. Reasoned solutions and countermeasures are proposed by studying the main problems of rural vocational education development, namely: to solve the problem of sustainable development of rural vocational education, the government must carefully plan the structure of rural vocational education, increase capital investment, actively implement funding for one student, guarantee the well-being of teachers, seek to narrow the gap between urban and rural education and reflect the fairness of education; organize smart teaching methods to improve the learning effect, strengthen the teaching staff, through "dual qualifications", i.e. have the knowledge and technology; to solve the ideological problems of students and parents is the use of the media for the ideological promotion of "precious skills and glorious work" throughout society. Effectively and qualitatively improve the economic development of rural areas is possible through the modernization of rural areas and the interest of farmers in scientific knowledge and technical skills, increase professional skills to improve the quality of production and labor efficiency.


Author(s):  
Tamara V. Uskova ◽  

One of the most relevant issues causing concern of the world community is the ensurance of sustainable development. The problem was raised in the second half of the 20th century and has not been solved up to the present yet. The main idea of the article is to consider the spatial factor of sustainable development. The author shows that there is a high level of territories’ socio-economic differentiation in the Russian Federation. The problem of increasing polarization both between the center and periphery, and between the town and countryside has become particularly urgent. Rural areas are significantly lagging behind in terms of the population’s level and quality of life, and the rates of socio-economic development. The trends of rural extinction are intensifying and, as a result, there emerge the sparsity of economic space, and the decrease in stability of the national settlement system and development of countries as a whole. The increase of socio-economic problems in rural areas requires strengthening of the state regulation concerning the territories’ spatial development


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