Feasibility and application of rural development participation: a state-of-the-art paper.

Updates findings on rural development participation and attempts to define what is meant by participation what might usefully be included under this term and what kinds are productive and possible. 2 strategies based on popular participation--community development and "animation rurale" are reviewed. Possible institutions roles and group factors which might impinge on the decision for participation in rural development programs are also considered. A major concern in rural development programs geared toward local participation is knowing who is participating in what ways and with what effect. To highlight this concern attention is directed to the group of potential participants least often investigated--the landless and near landless women and disadvantaged ethnic groups. A range of rural development activities--agricultural research production and extension efforts water management health care and public works are profiled with respect to past experiences with the participatory approach. These activities were chosen as a representative selection of the most pressing concerns for rural development agencies. Included in 2 appendixes are: 1) a discussion of the framework for analyzing rural development participation; 2) a review of issues and approaches to participation.