Abstract
Wide diversity among farmers and fields is a prime characteristic of livelihoods and production systems in less-favoured areas. One-size-fits-all policies can therefore not provide adequate solutions to poverty and degradation problems. Sustainable rural development strategies in these areas need to focus on the potential for resource use intensification, based on a careful combination of local and regional measures. Various pathways for development can be identified for enabling rural households to exploit available comparative advantages. This article discusses the key components for the design and implementation of appropriate policies for enhancing sustainable development in less-favoured areas. Attention is focussed on the possibilities for simultaneously addressing poverty alleviation and sustainable natural resource management. An important strategy for improving targeting efficiency in situations of strong rural heterogeneity can be found in the promulgation of democratic decentralization and community-driven development programs. We provide a critical summary of the factors that determine the development potential and shape development pathways in less-favoured areas.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
