rural

The case study builds on an ongoing large-scale quantitative research project undertaken by BIDS/IRRI since 1987 originally in 64 unions from 57 districts of Bangladesh. It adds a qualitative research component to examine the impact of modern rice varieties on livelihoods in a structured sample of eight of these villages across a range of favorable and unfavorable contexts.

The study attempts to measure the total benefits from rice varietal improvement research in China and India using variety adoption and performance data over the last two decades. The results indicate that rice varietal improvement research has contributed tremendously to increase in rice production, accounting for 14-23 percent of total production value over the last two decades in both countries.

This paper reviews contemporary empirical and conceptual thinking on the economics of diversity, non- agricultural growth and the rural non-farm economy.

The paper focuses on the relationships between social capital and governance at the regional level from a theoretical and empirical point of view. The results of the case study analysis are referring to selected rural areas in the eastern and western parts of Germany.

The Sierra Business Council guide suggests new ways for rural regions to achieve long-term prosperity. The 148-page guide brings together many of the latest innovations rural communities across North America are using to grow their economies, improve their towns and build their social capital. The product of three years of research, Investing for Prosperity includes 44 case studies and a resource list for more information.

The brief issued by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices suggests that rural strengths include natural resources, local business networks and an under-exploited entrepreneurial culture. The brief also suggests that states can utilize economic development strategies that rely predominantly on growing a regions assets rather than relying on an outside investment.

Conducted for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the report suggests that factors such as globalization, trade liberalization and consumer preferences have changed the way agricultural research is conducted. The report also states that the U.S., however, is not ready to adapt to the changing environment with its traditional organizational structure.

The working paper from Iowa State University addresses the resistance of Presidents of southern African countries to accept genetically modified food aid in 2002, given near certain starvation and long-term negative health effects of malnutrition of their constituents.

The National Center for Small Communities resource is a compilation of more than 50 original in-depth community and economic development case studies drawn from small communities, most with a population of less than 10,000. It is a fully searchable electronic database, available free of charge to anyone with Internet access.

The guidebook by the National Center for Small Communities identifies and explores effective technology-based economic development strategies for distressed, rural communities. Concrete guidance on how to put computers, the Internet and advanced telecommunications to good use is distilled from practical research of 14 distressed rural communities and supplemented by recent articles and reports.