The aim of the diploma thesis "The role of LAG Blanský les Netolicko in regional development and its contribution to stakeholders" generally was to prove the role of the LAG in regional development, and specifically to evaluate the usefulness and efficiency of activity of this particular LAG. It was based on the analysis of the activities of the local action group Blanský les Netolicko, namely activities consisting in identifying the needs and interests of the whole area, creation of strategic documents, setting goals and with these related measures and challenges involving the selection and implementation of projects, but also in terms of its own activity beyond the Strategic plan "LEADER". The theoretical part focused on the findings of regional development, rural development policy, Strategic plan "LEADER" and also at the concept of a local action group and the possibility of cooperation between municipalities. The following practical part dealt with the characteristics of the local action group Blanský les Netolicko, socio-economic analysis of the area, LAG strategic documents, completed projects and their evaluation in relation to the fulfillment of the Strategic Plan "LEADER", other LAG activities and especially the final evaluation of work efficiency of the LAG Blanský les Netolicko, which was based on current activities of the LAG it was supported by information obtained through a questionnaire survey among mayors of member municipalities.

The master thesis focuses on utilizing of The European Structural and Investment Funds in the rural tourism in the current Programming Period (2014-2020). The main concern of the thesis is defining the options of supporting the rural tourism from the ESI funds in the current Programming Period. In the thesis is introduced a factual exaple of a business plan to create an agrotourism facility in Liberec region using the mentioned funds. The business plan is going to be actualy realized.

Thesis (M. Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016. / The study was conducted to investigate the impact of the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme on poverty alleviation in the Muyexe village of Greater Giyani Municipality in the Limpopo Province. The objective of the programme was to alleviate poverty in the village. The researcher collected data in and observed the projects which were being executed there. The methodology involved interviewing community members who are projects beneficiaries of the programme as well as the implementers of the programme. As such, the sample consisted of 33 project beneficiaries, three implementers and six participants from the food security wing of the CRDP. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to explore, describe and understand the nature of the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme in poverty alleviation. The study found out that the project beneficiaries do not have skills to mobilize funds from other organisations as they depend on the budget which is specifically earmarked for the community. The same budget is also meant to sustain the infrastructure after the handing over of the programme. The study recommends the re-alignment of the timeframe for the programme to be successfully implemented and for the district departments to be the ones responsible for implementing the programme at the local level. This will also assist the government to implement projects in a longer timeframe and to have implementers who have in-depth knowledge about the area. The CRDP has also changed the livesof the community members from depending on social grants to monthly wage income and they no longer travel long distances for basic services. The food security situation of the households which were participating in the food security project has improved. The study also recommends that the CRDP must be implemented in other areas which are struggling from poverty as the CRDP has alleviated poverty in Muyexe village.

This master thesis focuses on the topic of agricultural subsidies and other issues related with agriculture policies and farmers' behaviour. Emphasis is laid on the importance of cooperation between farmers and the creation and institutionalization of their networks. The main aim of this study is to analyze spatial aspects of subsidies flowing from the first axis of Rural Development Programme (RDP) in the Czech Republic and then to compare, explain and verify the results with a research made among farmers in two model regions. The theoretical part of this study provides an outline of agricultural changes in Czech and European agriculture and discusses the most recent trends in multifunctional agriculture, rural development and networks. My research was carried out in two sections. In the first section I tried to evaluate regional differences in allocations of subsidies to Modernisation of Agricultural Enterprises (MAE; RDP, Axis I, measure 1.1.1.) in the Czech Republic between the years 2007 and 2010 on the level of districts (N = 77). I tried to explain these differences through the use of representative physical- and socio-geographical quantitative indicators. In the second section I conducted a qualitative survey (standardized interviews) with 22 farmers and 12 institutional actors in model areas of...

A majority of the South African population live in poverty, particularly those in rural areas. During the year 2009, the South African government identified rural development as a key priority area in socio-economic issues and the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform was created to focus specifically on this issue. This was followed by the development of the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP). The CRDP is a government policy on rural development. The main focus of the programme is on agrarian transformation and land reform as pillars of rural development, alongside infrastructure provision such as housing, energy, sanitation, schools, clinics, boreholes and water reticulation system in rural areas. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to assess the socio-economic impacts of the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP). The study used Muyexe village in Greater Giyani Local Municipality as a case study. The objectives of the study included assessing challenges facing the Muyexe village, such as provision of basic services, job creation, skills development and public amenities. The first phase of the literature review focused on the definitions of rural development, rural development theories, development challenges and approaches on rural development. The second phase of the literature review further explored the developmental challenges for rural areas in South Africa since 1994. For this study, the researcher collected the primary data by making use of face to face interviews, while secondary data was gathered from the compiled frameworks, policies, reports of government departments, books, journals, conference papers, proceedings, presentations and the internet. The findings showed that a lot still needs to be done with regards to the development of infrastructure such as road, transport and adequate access to basic services. It was also found that the unemployment rate in the area is a serious concern. It was raised that most of the jobs that were created were only on a short term basis, with lower wages. While the enterprises and cooperatives established were struggling with vii production and generating income. The recommendations intending to strengthen the implementation of rural development initiatives such as the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme to have a better model of addressing rural development that will yield tangible results of sustainable development were also provided / Geography / M. Sc. (Geography)

This thesis focuses on support of tourism, namely grants of private entities. There are described ex post assessments of Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 impacts in this thesis. The programme focused on accommodation and sports devices in the region Jihočeský kraj (CZ). The influence of the support and the utilization range of new services are analysed here. There is measured a success rate of support in conclusion and there is also given an advice, how to improve the support efficiency.

The essence of the thesis is to evaluate the efficiency of investments supported from the Rural Development Programme in the selected farm. A number of investments has been solved now, some practical highest investment firm, to invest in biogas. The evaluation of investment effectiveness were compared assumptions when planning an investment of information resulting from the two-year service biogas. It was also based on selected indicators, assess the implementation of the objectives and programs.

The aim of the thesis was to introduce the principles of common agriculture policy and the farming processs of ecological farmer on the farm in the Klatovy region. Furthermore I wanted to point to the legal basis of this kind of business and to other options for possible activity diversification of a farmer due to the agriculture tourism. There are suggested three projects in the thesis that the farmer could ask for within the Rural development programme to extend his business. The first project for building own slaughter would support the partnership principle, the farmer will slaughter stock to other farmers in the neighbourhood. The second project deals with the present production enlargement and ensures the quality of stock life, the third project provides the diversificated activity in agriculture that should give support to enterprise revenues.

MRDV / Institute for Rural Development

Conventional agriculture has impacts on the environment such as soil degradation, biodiversity loss and pollution of ecosystems, which could be enhanced further by climate change. The effects can be more or less extensive depending on whether adaptation is carried out. Agriculture in Sweden is controlled by EU- and national regulations that set the rules and possibilities for adaptation through financial and advisory support. This study aimed to examine what impacts climate change will impose on the agriculture in Sweden, as well as how the theoretical and practical side of the adaptation measures available through policy regulations, is perceived on farm level. The question of research was: ‘How sufficient are the agricultural policy regulations in enabling Swedish farmers to adapt to climate change?’, which was investigated by interviewing Swedish farmers. The results were analyzed through the theoretical framework adaptive capacity, as a criterion for successfully enabling climate change adaptation. The results showed that several barriers exist within the regulations which can obstruct adaptation due to bureaucratic complexity and a gap between theory and practice in regard to the effectiveness of measures. The results also showed that economic, human and social capital included in the adaptation capacity concept can be strengthened for better adaptation. The discussion presented several points of improvement for regulations to adopt a practical farm-perspective in order to enable farmers to adapt to climate change. / Konventionellt jordbruk har negativa effekter på miljön, såsom markförstöring, förlust av biologisk mångfald och förorening av omgivande ekosystem, vilket kan förvärras av klimatförändringar. Effekterna kan bli mer eller mindre omfattande beroende på om anpassning genomförs. Jordbruket i Sverige styrs av Europeiska- och nationella lagar som anger regler och möjligheter för anpassning genom ekonomiska och rådgivande stöd. Studien syftade till att undersöka vilka konsekvenser klimatförändringarna kan innebära för jordbruket i Sverige, samt hur den teoretiska och praktiska sidan av anpassningsåtgärder tillgängliga genom regelverket, uppfattas på gårdsnivå. Frågeställningen för undersökningen var således: ‘Hur tillräckliga är existerande regelverk i att möjliggöra svenska jordbrukares anpassning till klimatförändringar?’. Forskningsfrågan undersöktes genom en intervjustudie med svenska lantbrukare. Resultatet analyserades genom det teoretiska ramverket Anpassnings-kapacitet som är ett kriterium för att möjliggöra klimatanpassning. Resultatet visade att det existerar hinder inom regelverket som begränsar anpassning på grund av byråkratisk komplexitet samt en klyfta mellan teori och praktik gällande utvecklingen och effekten av åtgärder, vilket gav slutsatsen att regelverkets ansträngningar i att möjliggöra anpassning är överlag otillräckliga. Resultatet visade att ekonomiskt, human- och socialt kapital som ingår i konceptet Anpassnings-kapacitet kan stärkas för att bättre anpassning ska ske. Diskussionen presenterar flera förbättringar för att regelverket ska kunna anta ett gårds-perspektiv för att göra det möjligt för lantbrukare att anpassa sig till klimatförändringarna.