APME61-Appraisal of Agricultural and Rural Development Projects

Module Provider: Agr and Food Econ
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Basic knowledge of microeconomics
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Chittur Srinivasan
Email: C.S.Srinivasan@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

You will appreciate the role of project appraisal in making informed decisions on the allocation of resources for agricultural and rural development projects in developing countries. You will learn the concepts and techniques of cost-benefit analysis and their application in the presence of market failures, imperfections and distortions. You will develop skills in the appraisal of real world development projects from an economy wide perspective and in environmental and social appraisal. You will understand how macroeconomic policy and management issues affect the outcome of development projects.

Aims:
This module aims to enable students to: * Appreciate the role of project appraisal in making informed decisions on the allocation of resources for agricultural and rural development. * Understand the distinction between financial, economic and social dimensions of project appraisal. * Understand the need for integrating environmental assessment in project appraisal. * Understand how macroeconomic, policy and management issues affect the outcome of agricultural and rural development projects.

Assessable learning outcomes:
At the end of this module, students should be able to: * Have a sound understanding of the analytical concepts and tools of project appraisal and apply them in the context of real life projects and case studies. * Carry out discounted cash flow analysis and basic economic cost-benefit analysis. * Understand the dimensions of social appraisal including likely impact on different income groups, social groups and gendered impacts. * Appreciate how policy issues are relevant in the context of project appraisal.

Additional outcomes:
In addition, students should be able to: * Understand the relevance of project appraisal in agricultural and rural development. * Appreciate reasons agricultural development projects and programmes may fail. * Develop the ability to assess/forecast project outcomes.

Outline content:
Lectures

• Introduction: Role of projects in agricultural and rural development
• The dimensions and nature of appraisal.
• Financial and economic appraisal.
• Discounted cash flow analysis.
• Economic cost benefit analysis
• Risk and sensitivity analysis.
• Environmental assessment.
• Social appraisal.
• Assessing the impact of policy on projects.

Exercises

• Financialappraisal exercises.
• Economic appraisal case study
• Environmental appraisal exercises.
• Social appraisal case study.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The module will be covered through nine lectures and four sessions devoted to exercises/case studies. Additional sessions will be arranged in the computer lab for students to complete the practical exercises/ case studies.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		20
Practicals classes and workshops		8
Guided independent study:		72
Total hours by term		100
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	50
Class test administered by School	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
Assignment I: 25%
Assignment II: 25%
Module Test: 50%

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 'Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes', which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 50% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:
By re-examination in August/September

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 30 March 2023