Improving rural-urban linkages through small town market-based development
Abstract
Small towns can be effective instruments in developing countries to improve ruralurban
linkages, expand market-based agricultural activity, and stimulate non-farm
employment opportunities. This article illustrates the basic aspects of a small
towns programme in situations where market-based development is the goal. It
specifies a set of selection criteria and guidelines for the choice of small towns to
be included in such a programme. It discusses a variety of implementation
problems which can be anticipated and provides a general schedule for implementation.
Finally, it introduces Kenya's Rural Trade and Production Centre Programme,
which can be considered a prototype of a small towns programme. and
discusses the processes of location selection, implementation and evaluation of
the programme.
This article analyses the logic behind market-based programmes to enhance ruralurban
linkages through small town development. Market-based regional policy is
introduced as a departure from traditional subsidy-oriented planning. Selection
criteria and guidelines for choosing sites for investment are presented as linked to
this market-based approach. Steps towards policy implementation are then
discussed and the Rural Trade and Production Centre Programme in Kenya is
introduced as an example of a market-based approach for achieving rural-urban
balance.
Citation
Department of Geography, University of Colorado. Boulder. USAPublisher
University of Nairobi