MODULE 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT What is meant by rural development?

TOPIC GENERAL SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES - Rural development is the improvement in the living standards of
OBJECTIVES people living in the countryside or village.
Learners should be Learners should be able to:
able to: - Rural development is improving the standard of living or quality
- Explain rural development; of life or status of people in villages or remote areas or the country
Rural Develop an - Describe types of traditional side.
Development understanding and rural societies under the
appreciation of the following headings: land use In the context of Botswana, rural areas are settlements where 75% of the
nature of rural and ownership, division of population is employed in agricultural sector, for example, farming.
development. labour, cultural activities,
technology and dependence on TRADITIONAL RURAL SOCIETIES
the environment;
Traditional rural societies were mainly shaped by the natural environment
- Explain the concept of
and changing seasons. They made a living using the natural resources which
colonialism;
surrounded them and they used their simple skills to survive and earn a
- Discuss the impact of
living. Farming was influenced by the natural environment and the level of
colonialism on rural
production was small. As time went on, some communities learnt how to
development with specific make iron, and the tools that they made out of iron enabled them to work
reference to Botswana; the land more effectively.
- Discuss changes in rural areas
in Botswana since
independence;
- Discuss positive and negative
aspects of rural development;
- Discuss strategies to solve
problems of rural
development;
- Assess different rural schemes,
programmes and projects:
- Investigate the changing
family roles in rural areas.

MASUNGA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MODULE 3

 TYPES OF TRADITIONAL SOCIETIES
What is meant by agricultural communities?
Hunter- Nomadic Agriculturalists
gatherers pastoralists - Agricultural communities are societies that depend on cultivating
Land tenure Communal : Communal : Communal crops and rearing livestock.
- Agricultural communities are groups of people or societies that
Everyone had a Members of the :Traditioanal tribal
depend on arable and pastoral farming.
right to use the tribe had rights to land
environment traditional rights State any three ways in which agricultural communities differ from
but none owned to use the hunter-gatherer societies.
it. environment.
- The way in which agricultural communities differ from hunter-
gatherer societies is that agricultural communities get food from
Division of The small Family .Men Family.Men
domestic animals and plants while hunter-gatherers get food from
labour family group. looked after looked after wild animals, wild fruits and vegetables.
Men hunted animals while livestock, smelted
wild animals women gathered iron and women - Agricultural communities live in permanent settlement while hunter-
while women plants , made weaved . Men gatherers are nomadic or built temporary structures as shelter.
gathered wild clothes and cleared the land
fruits, nuts, shelter. Women and cultivated,
- Agricultural communities use sophisticated technology, for example,
roots and other made clothing built huts for
iron tools while hunter-gatherers use simple technology.
foodstuff from and shelter from shelter, collected
the natural animal skins. water and food TYPES OF FARMING
vegetation. from the bush or
veld. SUBSISTANCE/ PEASANT FARMING
Technology Very simple, Simple Iron tools were
Subsistence agriculture is the growing of crops and rearing of livestock for
made from used and fire used
family consumption.
stones, bones to clear the fields.
and wood. CHARACTERISTICS
Cultural Collective Initiation Storytelling, - It is practised on small scale.
Activities decision ceremonies ancestors and idols
making, natural held, natural worshipped, - Labour is provided by the family members.
objects and objects and initiation
- Simple technology is used.
ancestors ancestors ceremonies held.
worshipped worshipped, - There is production of low yields.
storytelling. marriage
festivities held. - Sometimes it uses primitive methods for production.

MASUNGA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MODULE 3

 THE ADVANTAGES OF SUBSISTANCE FARMING THE DISADVANTAGES OF COMMERCIAL FARMING
- It is cheap.
- There is too much damage to the environment, for example, the
- It helps poor farmers sustain themselves and their families. use of chemicals and fertilisers may pollute the environment.
- Machinery replaces human labour leading to the increase in
- It requires semi-skill, hence can be done by almost anyone. unemployment.
- Keeping large numbers of livestock in one area may lead to easy
- There is less destruction to the environment. spread of parasites and diseases.
- It is expensive to run.
DISADVANTAGES OF SUBSISTANCE FARMING - Labour may receive low wages as farmers are after maximising
- It is easily affected by natural disasters such as drought and floods. profit.
- Production is seasonal, and people may starve during the dry THE PROBLEMS FACED BY ARABLE FARMERS
season
- Poor quality products are produced due to the use of poor methods. - Arable farmers are faced with the problem of poor storage facilities
with most of the harvest being lost to pests.
COMMERCIAL FARMING - There is shortage of labour due to rural-urban migration.
- Pests and diseases that destroy crops.
Commercial farming is the growing of crops and rearing of animals for - Drought and low and unreliable rainfall.
sale. - Communal ownership of land hinder farmers from effecting
CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMERCIAL FARMING meaningful developments.
- Soil erosion.
- It is practised on large scale. - A young and more educated nation that shuns hard agricultural
- Labour is provided by paid workers. work.
- Division of labour is practised. - Poor and infertile soils.
- It uses capital intensive mode of production. THE PROBLEMS FACED BY PASTORAL FARMERS
- Owners are companies or rich individual farmers who run the farm
for profit. - Poor management strategies.
- Finance often comes from foreign companies.
- Overstocking and overgrazing.
THE ADVANTAGES OF COMMERCIAL FARMING
- It creates employment as labour is provided by paid workers. - Shortage of water.
- High quality goods are produced.
- It is a source of foreign exchange as products are usually for - Outbreak of parasites and diseases, for example, foot and mouth.
export.
- Productivity tends to be high due to use of machinery and division - Resistance to change, with some refusing to sell even during
of labour. drought.
- It enhances self sufficiency in food production.
- It allows for production to take place throughout the year with the
help of better methods of farming like irrigation.

MASUNGA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MODULE 3

 THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A RURAL AREA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

1. There is an excessive dependence on agriculture. - To generate adequate reliable employment.

2. There is a lot of small uneconomic land and livestock holding. - To eradicate poverty.
3. There is low capital-labour ratio. - To accelerate the growth rate of the economy with stable prices and
4. There is high incidence of poverty, underemployment, and services.
unemployment. - To ensure food and nutritional security for all.
5. There is large number of illiterate, semi-skilled and unskilled - To provide minimum services of safe drinking water, health care
workforce. facilities, and universal education.
6. There is lack of basic infrastructure. - To promote self-reliance.
- To empower women and socially disadvantaged groups.
THE ASPECTS OF RURAL LIFE - To increase agricultural productivity.
- To promote the participation of the people in the development
(a) THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF RURAL LIFE process.
- To contain the growth rate of the population.
- Life is cheap as people depend on agricultural products that they
produced for themselves. THE IMPORTANCE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
- There is less pollution as there are few industries.
- There is still the spirit of communal co-operation in rural areas. 1. It reduces rural-urban migration.
2. It increases agricultural production, thus helping the country to be
(b) THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF RURAL LIFE more self-sufficient in food.
3. It creates employment in rural areas.
- The negative aspect of rural life is dependence on subsistence farming 4. It reduces the gap between the rich and the poor, especially in rural
or poor agricultural production due to overworked soils and poor areas.
farming methods. 5. It increases production of raw materials for industries.
- Rural poverty is common 6. It reduces the inequalities between the rural and urban areas.
- High cost of goods
- Fear of witchcraft/ cultural rigidity THE OBSTACLES OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
- Less job opportunities/ lack of alternative sources of income
- Lack of recreational facilities/ poor infrastructure (a) There is shortage of land in rural areas.
- Shortage of market (b) Most of the people in rural areas are credit unworthiness.
- Lack of variety of goods to choose from (c) There is lack of markets in rural areas.
- Poor educational facilities (d) There is shortage of labour in rural areas.
- Poor roads (e) Poor managerial and market skills.
- Lack of access to health facilities (f) Natural disasters.
- Poor services (g) Poverty.
- Poor soil fertility
- Deforestation because people use trees for firewood
- Poverty or inability to fend for oneself

MASUNGA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MODULE 3

 THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY RURAL DEVELOPMENT - Capacity building/leadership training
- Loss of culture/ cultural distortion due to modernisation/loss of - Marketing rural products/ advertising
craft skills - Research on rural products
- Crime increases - Information dissemination on health issues, for example,
- People may be forced to relocate to give way to industries/ other HIV/AIDS
infrastructure such as roads and dams
- High cost of food
- Commercialisation of life
- Mobility of people increases and this could encourage spread of
diseases, for example, HIV/AIDS
- Pollution
- Deforestation/soil erosion/land degradation may occur
- Low production in agriculture

THE CHALLENGES OF PROVIDING SAFE WATER IN RURAL

BOTSWANA
- It is expensive/ the infrastructure, for example, dam construction is
expensive/lack of funds
- There are few big rivers/ unreliable rainfall
- Scattered settlements making it difficult to take advantage of
economies of scale
- Vandalism by the rural people /livestock vandalising pipe work
- Relocation of people to pave way for dams may be unwelcomed by
people
- Culture/traditional beliefs may block government efforts
- Poor quality of water to be distributed
- Polluted water

THE NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION (NGOs) HELP TO

RURAL PEOPLE
- Fund rural income generating activities/provide capital for people
to start businesses
- Employ rural people in projects
- Train people in practical skills, for example, carpentry
- Buy rural products or crafts
- Provide basic needs to the needy, for example, food and shelter
- Teach people to utilize local natural resources/veld products
- Promote environmental awareness
- Advocate for human rights
- Improve infrastructure

MASUNGA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MODULE 3

 COLONIALISM
Colonialism is a system which a powerful country controls a less powerful
country. A colony is a country that is governed by a more powerful country.
A coloniser is a country that rules another country.
Define colonialism.
- Colonialism is when a country is ruled or controlled or dominated by
another or a foreign country.
- Colonialism is a policy or system of rule or control in which a more
powerful country takes complete or full control over a less powerful
one.
THE IMPACT OF COLONIALISM ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(a) NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM ON THE
TRADITIONAL SOCIETIES
- Africans lost their most fertile land to Europeans.
- Taxes were introduced such as hut tax.
- Rural communities lost able bodied men (productive population).
- Some people lost their lives.
- Culture was lost.
- The powers of the dikgosi were diminished.
- Establishment of unfair trade patterns between the rich and the poor
countries.
- African initiative or craftsmanship was lost.
- Raw materials were lost.
- There was exploitation of cheap labour.
- There was an emergence of migrant labour.
- The family structure changed.
- Native reserves were created.
MASUNGA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL
(b) POSITIVE EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM ON THE
TRADITIONAL SOCIETIES
(a) New and better methods of farming were introduced.
(b) Money as a trading item was introduced.
(c) The colonisers brought infrastructural development, for example,
built roads and railway lines
(d) Christianity was introduced, ending cruel traditional practices such
as the killing of twins in the forests.
(e) The introduction of the modern health care system led to the
eradication of some killer diseases.
(f) New and better technology was introduced.
(g) Cash crop production was introduced.
(h) Modern education was introduced.
THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM ON WOMEN
1. The positive effect of colonialism on women is that of income
generation because some women produced cash crops.
2. The positive effect of colonialism on women is that of introduction
of literacy for women or modern education.
3. The positive effect of colonialism on women is that of a platform
for women to prove themselves that they were able to fend for
themselves.
4. The way by which a country may benefit economically from being
colonised is that of having organized markets as capable as men,
for example, struggle for liberation.
5. The positive effect of colonialism on women is that of modern
health introduced women to family planning and immunisation.
6. The positive effect of colonialism on women is that of job
opportunities outside home, for example, cashiers, cleaners and
nurses.
7. The positive effect of colonialism on women is that of new religion
such as Christianity which removed some bad practices relating to
culture, for example, polygamy and killing of twins in the forest.
8. The positive effect of colonialism on women is that of property
ownership, for example, land.
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MODULE 3
 THE WAYS IN WHICH A COUNTRY MAY BENEFIT
ECONOMICALLY FROM BEING COLONISED
a) The way by which a country may benefit economically from being
colonised is that of having organized markets.
b) The way by which a country may benefit economically from being
colonised is that of having large scale farming or plantation
agriculture or ranching.
c) The way by which a country may benefit economically from being
colonised is that of having commerce or trade or cash economy or
use of money or cash cropping.
d) The way by which a country may benefit economically from being
colonised is that of having paid employment.
e) The way by which a country may benefit economically from being
colonised is that of having technological advancement or skills
development.
f) The way by which a country may benefit economically from being
colonised is that of having resource development, for example,
mining.
THE MAP SHOWING THE ‘SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA’ BY
EUROPEAN NATIONS WHICH COLONISED AFRICAN
COUNTRIES
MASUNGA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
THE REASONS WHY EUROPEAN NATIONS COLONISED
AFRICA
1. The reason European nations colonised Africa was to get minerals
and other natural resources, for example, copper, gold and
diamonds.
2. The European nations colonised Africa to exploit cheap labour.
3. The European nations colonised Africa to set up plantations for
industries in Europe.
4. The European nations colonised Africa to give land to European
settlers.
5. The European nations colonised Africa to expand their markets.
6. The European nations colonised Africa to expand political
influence.
THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM ON PEOPLE IN
RURAL AREAS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
- The negative effect of colonialism on people in rural areas in
developing countries is that of introduction of hut tax resulting in
migration of labour.
- Colonialism lead to decline in food production in rural areas in
developing countries due to introduction of cash crops, for example,
cotton.
- The negative effect of colonialism on people in rural areas in
developing countries is that of land dispossession or Africans lost
their land.
- The negative effect of colonialism on people in rural areas in
developing countries is that of family breakdown due to labour
migration or migrant labour.
- Introduction of unhealthy diets, for example, alcoholic beverages.
- Abolition of initiation schools
- Dikgosi lost their authority or their powers
- Loss of culture
- Increased workload for women due labour migration as women were
not allowed to join their husbands who worked in South African
mines
- Loss of property such as cattle.
MODULE 3
THE REASONS FOR LAND DISPOSSESSION IN AFRICA DURING THE CAUSES OF RURAL POVERTY
COLONIALISM
- For infrastructural development - Population pressure leading to resource not been enough for
- To carryout mining activities everyone.
- For agricultural production, for example, plantations and ranching - Unemployment because of few industries
- For permanent settlement of Europeans population - Lack of skills and technology.
- For extraction of raw materials - Lack of alternative sources of income to use it to invest in rural areas
- Expansion of colonial influence/ political power or to start businesses
- To establish markets - Unequal access to land.
- For strategic reasons, for example, road to the north/ protection of - Lack of money for investment because most of the people are credit
trade routes unworthiness
- Dependence on poor farming methods, for example, broadcasting
RURAL POVERTY method instead of raw planting method.
Rural poverty is a situation whereby people in villages or countryside have - Conservatism because some people do not what to change how they
insufficient of their basic needs. do things or are afraid of change.
FORMS OF RURAL POVERTY - Weak and inappropriate representation by the authorities.

(a) ABSOLUTE POVERTY THE EFFECTS OF RURAL POVERTY

- When a person lacks access to reasonably adequate amount or
quantities of goods and services to satisfy her or his material and non-
material basic needs.
- The income is so low that even a minimum standard of nutrition,
shelter and other basic needs cannot be maintained.
(b) RELATIVE POVERTY
- Relative poverty is when a person’s access to the basic needs of life is
lower as compared to some group of people.
- It shows that while some people’s basic needs are met, they may still
experience economic difficulties or disadvantages as compared to
other people.
1. There are low yields as a result of poor soils due to overgrazing and
shortage of manure.
2. The effect of rural poverty is that of erosion and flooding result from
shortage of land which leads to slope clearance.
3. Deforestation increases as trees are cut and not replaced.
4. Water resources are over-used and polluted by sewage and animals.
5. Malnutrition and other diseases become more common.
6. Labour is lost as able bodied people migrate to urban areas looking for
jobs.
NB: These causes and effects of poverty lead to the vicious cycle of
poverty. Once people are trapped in this cycle, it is difficult to break out as
one factor leads to the other.

MASUNGA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MODULE 3

 VICIOUS CYCLE OF POVERTY THESE SOLUTIONS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH
DIFFERENT STRATEGIES:

1. Bottom-Up Approach

Bottom –Up Approach is a strategy in which local people participate fully

in development decision making.
ADVANTAGES:

- It leads to development that has local support.

- People come up with relevant solutions to their problems.
- It promotes democracy.

DISADVANTAGES
- It takes a long time to implement some decisions.
- A lot of money is used during consultation.
- It may be manipulated by local elites.
- A decision may be unsuccessful if disapproved by government
INTERPRETATION OF THE VICIOUS CYCLE officials.

Since people are poor, they have little money to invest in improving their
farming methods or buy better seeds and animals. As a result, their land
produces very little.
Therefore they are short of food, and they suffer from malnutrition and ill 2. Top-Down Approach
health and they become even poorer.
Top-Down Approach is a strategy in which development decisions are
THE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS OF RURAL POVERTY made and implemented by high ranking government officials who are
mostly based in rural areas.
1. Drilling more boreholes and construction of dams for better supply ADVANTAGES
of water. - Decisions are made with the best interest of the whole nation.
2. The solution to problem of rural poverty is advising farmers on - Decisions are made within a relatively short period of time.
better methods of farming, for example, through radio and - It saves money.
television programmes in order to increase yields. - Decisions are made by experts.
3. Providing loans (and other credit schemes) at low interest rates.
4. Practising family planning methods to reduce population pressure. DISADVATANGES
5. Conserving plants and animals to prevent deforestation and - It is remote from the local people.
extinction. - Decision may be irrelevant to local interests.
6. Encouraging private investors to invest in rural areas so as to - It may be difficult to implement.
create employment for rural and dwellers. - It may be abused by politicians.

MASUNGA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MODULE 3

 1. Integrated Rural Development - Raising cash crops for the market.
- Increasing self -sufficiency in food.
- Forming farmers’ co-operatives.
Integrated Rural Development is a strategy that aims to improve all
aspects of the lives of people living in villages. (c) WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

THE AIMS OF INTERGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT - Providing clean water.

- Helping the villages to construct small dams.
- Improving farming
(d) SOCIAL SERVICES
- Providing basic social services.
- Construction of clinics.
- Reducing dependence on urban economies. - Construction of schools.
- Improve telecommunications.
- Raising people’s standard of living in rural areas. - Construction of tarred roads.

RURAL INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT ENTAILS THE (e) STORAGE AND MARKETING SCHEMES
FOLLOWING:
- Providing markets.

(f) RURAL INDUSTRIES

- Setting up industries in rural areas.

- Establishing financial assistance programmes such as FAP/CEDA

RURAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES

There are many ways through which the governments in developing

countries try to develop rural areas. The government of Botswana has
adopted several of these:
(a) LAND REFORMS
1. LOAN AND CREDIT SCHEMES
- Redistributing land so that everyone has equal access to it.
Government help farmers to borrow loans from banks and other financial
- Helping the landless people.
institutions at very low interest rates so that they can use the money to
- Giving women the same land rights as men.
improve farming.
(b) MODERNISING FARMING
Government agencies are often set up to lend people money at very low
rates so that poor farmers can borrow.
- Providing extension services.
- Introducing credit schemes.

MASUNGA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MODULE 3

When farmers take a loan, they usually use their land as security. This
means that if they fail to repay the loan, the bank will take the land and sell
off to recover its money.
Sometimes it is difficult for farmers to get loans from the banks because
they are small scale farmers. For example, credit schemes such as FAP,
ALDEP, ARAP, SMME, CEDA etc.
(a) ARABLE LAND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME(ALDEP)
ALDEP helped farmers with grants to enable them to produce more.
The grants covered the following:
- 85% of the total cost of purchasing drought animals, for example,
cattle and donkeys.
- Farm machines and implements, for example, tractors, ploughs,
planters.
- Water catchment tanks.
- Fencing materials.
- Farmer education on scientific methods of production.
- Agricultural inputs, for example, hybrid seeds, fertilizers etc.
- Dependency syndrome among farmers who now expected the
government to provide them with everything.
- Most of the grants were used for non-agricultural activities.
- They mostly benefited the rich and literate farmers.
- Most farmers did not co-operate.
- Some farmers were resistant to change.
ACHIEVEMENTS
- Great awareness of modern farming methods was created among
farmers.
- Farming technology was improved.
- Some farmers ended up producing for the market.
- Most communal farmers had access to capital.
2. FARMERS CO-OPERATIVES
This is a group of farmers who join together in order to increase production.
They are able to gain advantages as a group that they would not be able to
make a s individuals.
By buying in bulk, they are able to save on cost of transporting these inputs.

(b) ACCELERATED RAINFED ARABLE PROGRAMME 3. SMALL RURAL PROJECTS

(ARAP)
These try to help people in rural areas by giving them a chance to earn
Farmers received grants in the form of money for the following: money from something other than farming.
For example, such projects are, brick-making, tree-planting, weaving etc.
- Ploughing their fields. In Botswana, these are usually done through the Drought Relief Programme
- Fencing their fields. (NamolaLeuba).
- Practising row planting.
- Weeding the fields. THE CONDITIONS IN RURAL BOTSWANA AT INDEPENDENCE

EVALUATION OF ALDEP AND ARAP Rural areas in Botswana were adversely affected by rural poverty
characterised by:
FAILURES
(a) Lack of infrastructure.
These failed to receive agricultural production. They have thus been (b) High levels of illiteracy.
suspended. They failed because of the following reasons: (c) Low incomes.
(d) Simple and less productive technology.
- Severe and persistent drought. (e) Low agricultural yields.

MASUNGA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MODULE 3

 (f) Lack of capital for investment.
(g) High levels of unemployment or lack of paid employment
opportunities.
(h) Lack of access to safe and clean water.
(i) Few social services.
(j) Food shortages and widespread malnutrition
(k) Poor or standard shelter.
DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS SINCE INDEPENDENCE
The government of Botswana has been engaged in an integrated rural
developmental program with the following objectives:
(i) To increase sustainable production from land and wildlife.
(ii) To improve marketing and credit facilities in rural areas.
(iii) To create productive employment opportunities.
(iv) To improve access to social services such as water, education and
health care.
NB: Consequently the following improvements have taken place in the
rural areas.
(a) IMPROVEMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE
- A network of tarred and gravel roads has been constructed.
- A network of telecommunications, especially in big villages, has been
set up, coupled with a mobile telephone network.
- Powerlines that bring electricity to the countryside have been put up
(rural electrification).
- Dams and boreholes have been constructed.
Describe three infrastructural changes that have taken place in many
rural areas in Botswana.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in
Botswana is that of rural electrification.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in
Botswana is that of piped water.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in
Botswana is that of tarred roads and bridges.
MASUNGA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in
Botswana is that of telecommunications networks.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in
Botswana is that of construction of schools.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in
Botswana is that of construction of market centres such as Botswana
Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB), Cooperatives and cattle
ranches.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in
Botswana is that of construction of dams such as Ntimbale dam,
Lotsane dam, Dikgatlong dam and drilling of boreholes.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in
Botswana is that of recreational or entertainment facilities, for
example, stadia such as Masunga Sports Complex and Molepolole
Sports Complex.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in
Botswana is that of rural industries.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in
Botswana is that of clinics and hospitals.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in
Botswana is that modern houses.
- The infrastructural change that has taken place in many rural areas in
Botswana is that of airports and airstrips.
(b) IMPROVEMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
- Over 90% of rural Botswana has access to clean and safe water
through the Department of Water Affairs.
- Clean water is supplied through boreholes, dams, and water
reticulation systems.
- Water borne diseases have been eradicated by means of treating water
to make it safe for human consumption.
(c) IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
- There has been massive expansion in the education sector with the
construction of primary and secondary schools.
- Education has been made free to cater, especially, for the rural poor.
- Hospital, clinics and health posts have been constructed.
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MODULE 3
- Health care services have been made affordable for everyone with
people paying only P5.00.
- There is supplementary feeding such as Tsabana, especially for
malnourished children at almost all clinics and health posts.

(d) IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURE

- Loans are provided for farmers through National Development Bank

and CEDA.
- Farmers have been provided with grants through programmes such as
ALDEP and SLOCA- Services to Livestock Owners in Communal
Areas.
- Farmers are taught new and better farming methods through
Agricultural Extension Services.
- Marketing facilities have been improved for farmers, for example,
BMC, BAMB.
- Artificial Insemination Centres have been established to improve
livestock breeds.
- Diseases and pests are controlled by the Veterinary Services
Department of Animal Health and Production, and the Crop
Protection Unit.
- Sebele Agricultural Research Station has been established to
developed new hybrid seeds and production methods.
- RIIC and BOTEC have been established to produce relevant
technology for rural areas.
- Government services have been decentralised to rural centres and
Drought Relief Programme has helped create employment
opportunities in rural areas.
- Land Boards have been established to control and regulate land use
and distribution in communal areas.

MASUNGA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MODULE 3