The present report commences by presenting a study carried out by FAO on the risks associated with processes of decentralization. An account is then provided of the valuable knowledge-base and experience which FAO has built up, which places it in [...]

World agriculture has undergone drastic changes during the last decades. Agricultural production has increased and world food supplies are 18 % higher than 30 years ago. Yet, while the sector on average has kept up with population growth and demand [...]

Rural development efforts have failed to deliver on their promises. What has gone wrong? Recent years have seen growing criticism of rural development strategies followed, with only minor adjustments, since the 1960s. These conventional strategies have seen development primarily as a [...]

Decentralisation of socio-economic planning process and plan implementation to the grassroot levels has been a matter of continuing concern. Strengthening of the Panchayats, as effective local self-governing institutions, is enshrined as a Directive Principle of State Policy in the Constitution.  [...]

The aim of this booklet is to highlight some of the issues that cooperativists must confront in meeting this challenge and provide some answers on how that can be done.