What do you mean by rural development? Bring out the key issues in rural development.

Rural development implies the development of all those rural sector activities which have lagged behind in the developmental processes. Different surveys, economists, processes of development have made it clear that until and unless some spectacular changes occur, the rural sector might continue to remain backward. There is a greater need today to make rural areas more vibrant through diversification into dairying, poultry, fisheries, vegetables and fruits and linking up the rural production centres with the urban and foreign (export) markets to realise higher returns on the investments for the products. Besides, infrastructure elements like credit and formulating farmer-friendly agricultural policies and a constant appraisal and dialogue between farmer groups and state agricultural departments are essential to realise the full potential of the sector.