'Gender and Governance in Rural Services' provides policy-relevant knowledge on strategies to improve agricultural and rural service delivery with a focus on providing more equitable access to these services, especially for women. It focuses India, Ethiopia, and Ghana, and focuses on two public services: agricultural extension, as an example of an agricultural service, and on drinking water, as an example of rural service that is not directly related to agriculture but is of high relevance for rural women. It provides empirical microlevel evidence on how different accountability mechanisms for agricultural advisory services and drinking water provision work in practice, and analyzes factors that influence the suitability of different governance reform strategies that aim at making service provision more gender responsive. It presents major findings from the quantitative and qualitative research conducted under the project in the three countries, which are analyzed in a qualitative way to identify major patterns of accountability routes in agricultural and rural service provision and to assess their gender dimension. The book is intended for use by a wide audience interested in agricultural and rural service provision, including researchers, members of the public administration, policy makers, and staff from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and international development agencies who are involved in the design and management of reform efforts, projects, and programs dealing with rural service provision.

A collection of true stories told by the hearty Midwest families that lived through them when life was hard and living was even harder.

Where bank deposits are the only profitable savings instrument available in the rural centers of India that have few or no bank outlets, there is ample scope for faster mobilization of deposits. The data presented is enriched by a comparative analysis of the growth of bank deposits in ten economically developed states, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Delhi, and ten developing areas, Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh between the years 1973 and 1999.

Much is going well with the effort to provide universal primary education in Sub-Saharan Africa. Gross enrollment rates have increased from 78 percent in 1998/99 to 91 percent in 2002/03; sizable investments have greatly improved school infrastructure and access; and large numbers of new teachers have been recruited. But educating the children in remote rural areas continues to be a challenge. Schools in hard-to-reach locations find it difficult to attract and retain teachers. Therefore, the deployment, effectiveness, management, and support of teachers in these areas require special attention and action. Such issues are thoroughly examined in this book, which also includes case studies from Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda. The country studies give rich insights into the potential and drawbacks of specific policy options. 'Teachers for Rural Schools' provides information that will be invaluable in its practicality to policy makers and practitioners responsible for educating rural populations. It will also appeal to anyone interested in Africa, development, education, public policy, and social welfare.

The bestselling Church of England report, "Mission-Shaped Church" is having a profound effect on the way local churches view themselves and their futures, yet its focus is very urban. Not only that, it was critiqued by John Hull as lacking in any new theological insights into the task of mission. Alan Smith, bishop of the rural diocese of Shrewsbury, responds to both of these issues in this theological and practical exploration of mission drawing on what is happening in the rural church. Part One explores some of the issues facing the church today, especially in rural areas, and some theological strands in the New Testament that underpin the way we go about mission. Part Two tells the stories of a range of new mission initiatives actually taking place in rural areas and identifies good practice. Part Three identifies opportunities for sustainable growth for churches - tourism, working in association with church schools, making the best use of church buildings, involvement in environmental issues. Part Four summarizes the way ahead for sustaining mission through developing appropriate leadership.

Often used but little understood, the word 'sustainability' is potent in its ability to evoke a better world based on economic, social, and environmental justice. The concept of sustainability, however, has been strikingly under-theorized. "Sustainability and the Civil Commons" provides what has been lacking since the publication of the Brundtland Report - a firm foundation and a clear vision of alternatives.

Using rural communities as her reference-point, Jennifer Sumner exposes the unsustainable impacts of corporate globalization, and develops a framework to explain why current definitions of sustainability are profoundly inadequate. From this foundation, she allies sustainability with the concept of the civil commons - including universal healthcare, environmental protocols, workplace safety regulations, and public education - demonstrating how globalizing the civil commons, not corporate-sponsored trade treaties, opens the way for truly 'sustainable globalization.' "Sustainability and the Civil Commons" moves beyond rural roots through Antonio Gramsci's model of hegemony, JA1/4rgen Habermas's theory of communicative action, and John McMurtry's life-value ethics to build a comprehensive understanding of sustainability that combines global reach with local focus. It will be an invaluable resource for scholars and practitioners interested in sustainability, globalization, community development, and rural studies.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

An exploration of the traditions and experiences in the lives of Highland Scottish women - in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and in the eastern counties of Nova Scotia where so many settled. Oral accounts obtained from descendants, enriched by written sources - precious archival collections and rare books - offer insight into the influences central to the cultural, religious, working, caring and devotional lives of Highland women: the dreams and realities of a better life in Nova Scotia.

This book was originally written as a doctoral dissertation. The research in this book was carried out among banana- farming households in the districts of Masaka and Kabarole in Uganda. A gendered livelihood approach was used. The research focused on the identification of critical factors that need to be taken into consideration in the development of relevant policies for HIV/AIDS-affected agriculture-based households or those that are at risk. The book shows that HIV/AIDS causes significant negative effects on the lives of those affected. Their resources are affected due to HIV/AIDS- related labour loss and asset-eroding effects and disinvestment in production and child education. While in the overwhelming majority of the affected cases the effects of AIDS are negative and lead to increased impoverishment and vulnerability, for some households HIV/AIDS-related effects are manageable. It is concluded that a household's socio- economic status and demographic characteristics influence the magnitude of HIV/AIDS-related impacts experienced and capacity to cope. The book also highlights some historically specific social practices, policies, and ideologies that continue to maintain or reproduce distinct forms of inequality, with certain social groups being marginalized and others being privileged. Unless these are redressed, they will continue to aggravate people's vulnerability regardless of the type of shock that they are exposed to or experience.

"This study is an attempt to evaluate the voluntary efforts being done in rural India in organising the marginalised weaker sections of the society for their development and liberation. The main focus is on the role of NGOs, also called Third Sector (the other two sectors being government and business), which has been gaining increasing importance in the development of the underprivileged. International development agencies such as the World Bank, the IMF etc., have also realised the limitations of formal organisations such as government agencies and the role of private sector in the objective development of various sections of the society. As such, the book concerns with the aims, objectives, organisational structure and initiation of development programmes by the voluntary organisations and the role of voluntary workers in the process of development. It also examines the limitations of seeking funds and their utilisation, the problems and prospects of involving the target groups and its implication in the development process. Further, it also highlights the importance of the voluntary organisations and their impact on the development of weaker sections of the society."

"The book highlights the commonalties and differences in rural women s experiences across the countries and communities of the South Asian region. It argues that the low status and weak empowerment of rural women is on account of the structural conditions of poverty and inequality in the region, the social and cultural shaping of gender ideologies, and the multiple patriarchies and caste and class dominance through which poor women experience power relations. However, a sense of optimism pervades as country experiences reflect the renewed concerns and commitments about rural women s empowerment in both state policy and the significant snowballing of social activism in the region. The essays in the book reiterates the importance of poverty alleviation, providing decent work opportunities, investing in education and health, involving women in decision making and governance such that their substantive empowerment could be fostered by enhancing their capabilities, entitlements and choices."

A Cotswold Village - Or Country Life And Pursuits In Gloucestershire By J. Arthur Gibbs. Originally published in 1898. 452 pages. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Contents include: Flying westwards - A Cotswolds village - Village characters - The language of the Cotswolds with some ancient songs and legends - On the Wolds - A Gallop over the walls - A Cotswold trout stream - When the may fly is up - Burford: A Cotswold town - A stroll through the Cotswolds - Cotswold pastimes - The Cotswolds three hundred years ago - Cirencester - Spring in the Cotswolds - The promise of May - Summer days on the Cotswolds - Autumn - When the sun goes down - George Ridler's oven

Foot and mouth disease and BSE have both had a devastating impact on rural society. Alongside these devastating developments, the rise of the organic food movement has helped to revitalize an already politicized rural population. From fox-hunting to farming, the vigour with which rural activities and living are defended overturns received notions of a sleepy and complacent countryside. Over the years "rural life" has been defined, redefined and eventually fallen out of fashion as a sociological concept--in contrast to urban studies, which has flourished. This much-needed reappraisal calls for its reinterpretation in light of the profound changes affecting the countryside. First providing an overview of rural sociology, Hillyard goes on to offer contemporary case studies that clearly demonstrate the need for a reinvigorated rural sociology. Tackling a range of contentious issues--from fox-hunting to organic farming--this book offers a new model for rural sociology and reassesses its role in contemporary society.

Utilizing his fieldwork done in south Gujarat between 2004 and 2006, Jan Breman critically analyses the historical roots of the ongoing subordination of the rural poor in what has come to be recognized as a booming economy.

"Issues of rural development and women s empowerment receive critical attention in various debates. Trends and patterns of agricultural development in recent years have not always been favourable to women, especially rural women, who face marginalisation. Some of the essays make us rethink the relationship between employment and empowerment in a more nuanced way. An attempt has, therefore, been made in this book, to take stock of the contemporary challenges in rural women s empowerment in India and suggest viable solutions through a process of networking and dialogue to evolve a coherent perspective for the region as a whole. It is towards this end that the book would serve as a launching pad for further discussions."

Women may not fit the common image of a rancher, but on the range and in the ranch office women are at home. With their parents, children, or spouses - or alone - women own, manage, and do the daily work of ranching, as they have since pioneer days. Increasingly, they also fill the productive roles of the highly technological industry growing up around beef cattle. Women of the Range describes the roles of women in the Texas cattle industry of the past, the present, and the likely future. Based on a decade of interviews, observation, and data analysis, Elizabeth Maret, a sociologist and rancher, tells the story of the women who serve as an often unpaid labor force in this classic American enterprise. Through profiles of typical (and some atypical) women, with photographs she took of them at work, Maret shows how women serve not only as "keepers of the land", but also as a force for modernization in the cattle industry. The women she shows include a cattle fitter, sale barn manager, and herd health veterinarian. They are owners and managers of historic family ranches. They write computer software for planning optimal crossbreeding operations, they run equipment in artificial insemination companies, and they encourage industry emphasis on nutrition and consumer interests. Women have always been there, Maret shows, participating in ranching and the cattle industry as silent but active partners. Maret's portrait of their involvement and analysis of its significance will fascinate readers with an interest in ranching, social history, women's studies, and the sociology of work.

George can't throw anything away. But he's in danger of throwing away a chance at loveGeorge Nightingale is a hoarder with a house full of junk. For years he's kept it a secret, rarely leaving his house and keeping social interactions to a minimum, but his carefully balanced system is now under threat... Nessa Millbrook can't wait to get settled into her new home in quaint, rural Applewell. Everyone in the village is so friendly - except her neighbour, George, who wants nothing to do with her. But Nessa isn't one to back down from a challenge and she's determined to win George over. The years have taught George to shield his heart and trust no one. Yet Nessa keeps reaching out to him - does he have the courage to take a chance, and reach back? A gorgeous romance with characters readers will fall in love with, perfect for fans of Holly Martin and Portia MacIntosh. Praise for Waste Not, Want Not in Applewell 'This was such a cosy heart-warming read, which also touches on the subject of hoarding....who knew this could be so interesting - loved it! Another corker of a read from Lilac Mills!' Reader review 'It's a novel that doesn't race through the plot, but rather gently unfolds. And I loved it. It was wonderful. I'm not normally a person who gets emotional while reading, but there were several points during the book where I started to connect with the characters so much that I started to cry.' Reader review 'One of the cutest, heartwarming romance novels I have read.' Reader review 'It's refreshing to read a story where the main characters are older and proves love and lust is not just for the young. There were plenty of emotional and heart-warming moments and the ending was perfect.' Reader review 'I absolutely loved it, finishing it pretty quickly because it's one of those books that has you wanting to know what happens next all the way through. There were moments where I was laughing out loud and moments which brought a lump to my throat - a sure sign that the book is a winner.' Reader review

Multiple caretaking arrangements exist in non-western societies with other members of the household and the community assisting the mother in child care. These others include the children's older siblings especially in subsistence based horticultural and or pastoral societies where sibling caretaking comprises a large portion of children's daily activities. During these caretaking sessions, older siblings may intentionally or unintentionally transmit culture to the younger children. Caretaking of small children thus implies transmitting cultural values to the children in everyday context during everyday activities. As very little research has been conducted in the area of sibling teaching, this study sets out to investigate sibling teaching among the Agikuyu of Kenya by means of video recording. It looks at the different teaching abilities and strategies of the children according to age and social status. It also pays attention to the cultural context, in which the teaching occurs, as well as to the reflection of social relationships found in the children's interaction. The author points out, that and in what way children can be important socialization tools to their younger siblings.

This work documents the history of change during the colonial period in the Abakaliki division and town of south-eastern Igbo Nigeria over four main historical periods: pre- British Abakaliki; the beginnings of colonialism from the early twentieth century until the 1920s; the 1920s until the 2nd World War; and the post-war period through to independence in 1960. Within the context of rapid urbanisation and urban sprawl in Africa, the study focuses on one Nigerian town and its rural environs. It is the story of successful rural farmers and of an emerging town in their midst; and a study of ethnic interrelationships, integration and conflict between the town and the rural areas. It is a study in colonial history within the framework of British control and conquest; and also a story of African responses to colonialism: resistance, accommodation and innovation. The author characterises his work as more descriptive than theoretical, and as having regard for both anthropological and historical approaches and the positive and negative aspects of colonialism, without being overtly ideological.