Rural Industrialisation: Some Global and Regional Perspectives and Lessons for the 21st Century

Abstract

The study critically explores global and regional perspectives of rural economic growth strategies, drawing lessons for the 21st century. Rural areas in developing countries face the problem of underdevelopment, widening the rural-urban divide. Rural poverty has made investors to shun doing business in these areas, limiting the opportunities for people living in the countryside. Rural development of industries has emerged as a strategy for rural development, allowing communities to craft better surviving skills. The study is premised on the argument that most perspectives of rural development (agriculture-based approaches, mining and tourism) have failed due to a lack of viable infrastructure to support industrialisation. A qualitative methodology with a case study design is employed. The study utilises secondary information through the use of Google Scholar articles and news reports. The study makes use of thematic data analysis.  The findings of the study reveal that rural industrial development has value-addition of local resources. They also show that rural economic development has been crafted to create sustainable livelihoods for rural residents. The study findings are in sync with the conceptual framework -the sustainable livelihoods framework as rural industrialisation has become a people-centred approach as shown by the role of higher education community engagement. The study concludes that rural industrial development can bridge the rural-urban divide and recommends the creation of rural industrial parks and innovation hubs to accelerate value addition.